Emphasis Area Health of Agricultural Population MPH program Of the 42 semester hours required for the program, 20 hours must be directly related to agricultural health,safety, and injury prevention. DrPH program DrPH students will participate in advanced public health practice and research endeavors, including a dissertation topic in agricultural health or safety. No other college of public health offers this concentration. PhD in Gerontology In 2006, the Health of Agricultural Populations emphasis area was expanded to include students who are pursuing doctoral level work in Gerontology. The Graduate Center for Gerontology at the University of Kentucky seeks to develop in students a truly integrative and holistic way of thinking about gerontology. Thus, it aims to equip students to be able to critically assess any disciplinary approach to studies of aging and older persons. At a time when the average age of principal farm operators in the United States is 55 years and rising, the Health of Agricultural Populations emphasis area offers unique learning and career development opportunities for students in Gerontology.

Prospective and current students in the University of Kentucky College of Public Health - MPH, DrPH, and Gerontology PhD programs who are interested in public health issues involving agriculture and rural populations should consider linking their research and learning interests with the Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention.You must complete the Declaration of Interest form (pdf format).

The Southeast Center is one of a select number of agricultural research centers nationwide funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH). The Southeast Center has developed a trans-departmental series of courses, seminars, and field practice experiences open to students in the MPH, DrPH, and Gerontology PhD programs who are interested in public health issues involving agriculture and rural populations. Known as the Health of Agricultural Populations (HAP) emphasis area, this special concentration is directed by Robert McKnight, MPH, ScD, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health in the UK College of Public Health and an internationally recognized authority on agricultural health and safety.

The Health of Agricultural Populations (HAP) emphasis area is designed to help students:

• Understand the economic, social, and business variables that affect populations in fishing, forestry, and agriculture.
• Identify occupational and life-style related health risks for various population segments, including farm children, older workers, farm women, minorities, persons with disabilities, hired farm workers, loggers, and fishers.
• Assess how rapid changes in forestry, fishing, and agriculture may affect the health of agricultural populations in years to come
• Appreciate the benefits of working to identify and address issues in health and injury prevention as part of larger, transdisciplinary teams that may include farmers, Extension agents, teachers, nurses, physicians, engineers, and other stakeholders.
• Develop an in-depth understanding of agricultural health and safety issues within the student's chosen discipline, with an emphasis on the application of theoretical, analytical, and management principles to agricultural populations.
• Envision and apply research-to-practice initiatives that will benefit agricultural populations and promote public health.

It is anticipated that graduates with the Health of Agricultural Populations emphasis will be employed in state and county health departments, Cooperative Extension offices, colleges of agriculture and public health, and federal agencies such as NIOSH, EPA, and USDA. The knowledge and skills acquired will enable graduates to attain leadership roles in agricultural safety and health, particularly in the areas of needs assessment, policy development, and translation of research to practice.

In the first few years of the program, more than forty graduate students in public health and nursing have taken at least one course in the Health of Agricultural Populations emphasis area. In addition to classes, graduate students have been able to attend important conferences and seminars related to agricultural health and safety. These have included, but are not limited to, the Fifth International Symposium on the Future of Rural Peoples, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, October 2003; the 7th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, Vienna, Austria, June 2004; and the Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American Public Health Association, Washington D.C.

Limited funding is available to support capstone projects, dissertations, and practicum experiences for MPH, DrPH, and PhD (Gerontology) students. Funds are also available to qualified applicants for data collection and for travel to professional meetings.

As of 2006, the HAP curriculum began expanding from the aegis of the Southeast Center to a separate training program grant (TPG) funded by NIOSH and backed by generous institutional support from the University of Kentucky Graduate School. Under the new training program, substantial tuition support will be available to two doctoral candidates, four full-time MPH trainees, and two part-time MPH trainees. Qualified students may apply for this NIOSH Traineeship, which provides additional funding (stipend and possible tuition support up to $10,000 per year).

The Health of Agricultural Populations emphasis can be combined with work in any of the concentrations within the College of Public Health. It is anticipated that graduates with this emphasis would be employed in county and state health departments, Cooperative Extension offices, colleges of agriculture and public health, and federal agencies such as EPA, NIOSH, and USDA. The skills acquired will allow graduates to maintain leadership roles in agricultural health, particularly in areas of needs assessment, policy development, and translational research.