January 19, 2007                                                       

SIU School of Medicine Offers New Master’s in Public Health

A master of science degree concentrating in public health laboratory sciences is now  offered by the Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (SIU) in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).  

“This exciting degree program includes opportunities for studying bioterrorism agents and emerging infectious diseases of public health significance,” said David Carpenter, Ph.D., associate professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology at SIU and program director. 
Extensive hands-on, practical experience in state-of-art state public health laboratories is provided by IDPH and includes work in biosafety level 3 labs, clinical sample analysis for bioterrorism and other infectious agents, food and water analysis for enteric pathogens, and clinical and environmental chemistry. 

The program is offered through the molecular biology, microbiology and biochemistry graduate program at SIUC and uses similar academic coursework.  Classes are available in person or via teleconference in three locations -- Springfield, Chicago and Carbondale.  Some classes held in the Springfield Combined Laboratory Facility and its new addition on the SIU medical School campus. 

Registration deadline is March 30 for the fall semester of 2007.  A limited number of students are admitted each semester. 

For more information about the program, contact David Carpenter, Ph.D., associate professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, P. O. Box 19626, Springfield, IL 62794-9626; phone: 217-545-8465; fax: 217-545-3227; or e-mail: dcarpenter@siumed.edu.  Students also can visit the Web site: http://www.siumed.edu/mmi/phls/phls.htm.

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