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In response to the specific needs of epidemiology department chairs and program directors, fourteen Chairs, Directors and one Dean, representing the majority of the largest epidemiology programs met at the 2008 ACE Annual Meeting in Tucson, Arizona. They proposed the establishment of an organization aimed at addressing the issues and challenges inherent in their academic positions. According to Dean Roberta Ness, President, American College of Epidemiology, it was an historic meeting.
Nasar U. Ahmed, Chair of the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Florida International University, agreed to organize the group in its inaugural year. Under his leadership, the group has collaboratively established the National Council of Epidemiology Chairs, developed a mission statement and proposed organizational goals.
Mission statement:
To provide a forum for the development of recommended standards and best practices for epidemiology in the academic environment, including departmental administration, student instruction and assessment, and epidemiologic research Proposed goals:
- Develop best practice departmental models and standards
- Provide mentoring for epidemiology department chairs/directors
- Share student training models to ensure a highly qualified, equally well-trained workforce
- Exchange expertise in epidemiology research policy
According to Ahmed, “I am very excited at the possibilities of the Council. This mission statement and the proposed goals are a starting point for our organization. There will be an opportunity to discuss and formalize the group functions and structure at the forthcoming ACE meeting. I encourage all epidemiology department chairs and program directors to attend our meetings and become involved.”
The National Council of Epidemiology Chairs will be meeting at the 2009 ACE Annual Meeting on the following dates:
Sunday – September 13
3 - 5pm: Business meeting to formalize the group’s structure and governance; nominations and voting for leadership positions
Monday – September 14
12:15 – 2:00 – Annual Epidemiology Chairs Luncheon, including seminar on “Navigating Administrative Troubled Waters – Strategies for managing departments in difficult financial times”. Keynote speaker: Dr. Roberta Ness; followed by panel discussion.
For more information please contact Dr. Ahmed at ahmedn@fiu.edu.
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