Outreach Building community partnerships that Fight against infectious disease

EPI members continuously engage in community outreach within their research and private ventures, from partnering with the Alachua County Health Department to coordinating nighttime pediatric healthcare services.

CPET

Collaboration with UF Center for Precollegiate Education and Training

The Center for Precollegiate Education and Training (UF CPET) promotes and supports the use of the facilities and faculty of the research university in the preparation and enhancement of science and technology teaching at the secondary education level. Members within the EPI have led infectious diseases seminar series and workshops, provided training to high school teachers and visited high school classrooms. UF CPET science education programs enable individualized and team-centered direct, and ultimately pervasive, public dissemination of research and knowledge through enhanced teaching.

Participants in the SSTP pose for a picture in front of the George A. Smathers Library at the University of Florida.

Members making a difference

Pediatric Call Center

Moto Meds Healthline

Moto Meds Healthline is a pediatric call center and mobile pharmacy delivery service based in Ghana and Haiti. It aims to prevent pre-emergent illnesses, such as fever and diarrhea, from transitioning into emergencies at night when children are most vulnerable and isolated. Moto Meds provides a critical service where medical resources are often expansive and inaccessible. EPI member Dr. Eric Nelson serves as the principal investigator that leads this international pediatric health care effort.

A grouof workers wear personal protective equipement and pose for a photograph arond a long lab table with supplies and microscopes.

Advisory council

Scientific Medical Advisory Council

The Scientific Medical Advisory Council (SMAC), made primarily of EPI members, served as an unofficial advisory group to the Alachua County Healthy Department. The council provided medical expertise on management of COVID in the Alachua County School System during the pandemic.

A group of people gather at a desk with paper and laptops to discuss data and create a plan.

Community Engagement

Hurricane Ian Response

EPI members in the Department of Environmental Global Health partnered with Redlands Christian Migrant Association to help provide relief for farmworkers and their families impacted by Hurricane Ian. Members traveled to southwest Florida to aid in cleanup and to donate essential items. This project was supported by the UF Southeastern Coastal Center for Agriculral Health and Safety, funded through NIOSH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A man carries a peice of debris to move it elsewhere.

Influenza Outreach in Schools

Fight against FlU and Covid

Control Flu Program

The Control Flu Program began in 2009 after testing a pilot program in 2006. The program is a collaboration between the EPI, Alachua County School System, Alachua County Department of Health, UF Department of Pediatrics and UF College of Nursing. The program aims to improve control of influenza infection within the community by working to slow the spread of infection in school-age children.

School kids being immunized

27 Community partner organizations help make the program possible

40 UF student interns serve on the UF and EPI team.

90% Ninety percent of parents said they would participate in the program again.

Control Flu Program

Collaboration with the Alachua County DOH

The Control Flu Program is made possible through a trust drawn from the CHOICES program in Alachua County. The funds are handled by the Alachua County Health Department. The health department purchases and stores vaccines, delivers them to schools and helps provide infrastructure for the program.

student interns work an information booth for the Control Flu program.

Control Flu Program

Infection Prevention

With parental consent, the program continues to provide annual influenza immunization free of charge for children in Alachua County. The program has also assisted with COVID communications for school children, and has expanded efforts in high schools to provide immunizations for HPV, MCV, HepA, MenB and Tdap.

Student interns, a nurse and a school administrator pose with a gator mascot as they promote the Control Flu program.