Region IV Public Health Training Center

Note: This is a recording of a webinar held on March 28, 2016. Training Overview Population Health is the term du jour in healthcare. The session will explore the operational approach driving the most recent evolution in clinical care contrasted with recent trends in public health. Tenets of population health including the transition from volume pricing to value-based payments and how this impacts the delivery of care will be covered. The evolving public health issues and financing of public good programs contrast with the medical delivery system in the U.S. The evaluation of population health performance includes a mix of conventional and new measures. These discussions summarize the tension and contrast for innovative approaches to public health vs. population health as the latest in a series of experiments to dampen the medical inflation and long term condition increases in prevalence within the U.S. economy.  The course contains two modules: a content module and a resources and evaluation module. After accessing both modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. When the certificate is available, learners will see a Certificate button on their dashboard. This recording is approximately 90 minutes. There are no prerequisites. Participants will need a broadband internet connection (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred browsers) and computer speakers. For technical support, please contact emoryphtc@emory.edu. About the Trainers John Vena, PhD is the Founding Chair of the Dept of Public Health Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). He currently serves on the SC Clinical and Translational Research Institute Workforce Development & Training Committee and is the Director of the SC PHTC.  Philip Smeltzer, PhD joined MUSC in October 2014 as the Program Administrator, Total Population Health. He is responsible for health improvement activities and strategies for patient populations served by MUSC Health.   This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more

Note: This is a recording of a webinar held on July 30, 2020. Training Overview This webinar is co-sponsored by the Alabama Fire College Workplace Safety Training Program and the Deep South Biosafety Worker Training Program. This webinar will discuss Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) applicable to the COVID 19 crisis. It is assumed that students are aware of standard PPE certification/requirements ( e.g. the US Department of Labor: OSHA standards for both personal and respiratory protection ). This webinar will focus on how to adapt these to the current situation, as well as crisis standards applicable when PPE may be limited/unavailable.  The course contains two modules: a content module and a resources and evaluation module. After accessing both modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. When the certificate is available, learners will see a Certificate button on their dashboard. This recording is approximately 90 minutes. There are no prerequisites. Participants will need a broadband internet connection (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred browsers) and computer speakers. For technical support, please contact emoryphtc@emory.edu. About the Trainer Dr. Cocciardi has spent more than 35 years in the fields of public safety and public, occupational, and environmental health. An emergency responder himself, he formerly developed and managed the Emergency Response Program for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s largest state agency. Dr. Cocciardi is an internationally published author. He has developed Health and Safety Plans for most national and international events of consequence since 2001. He holds various state and federal licenses to work with toxic materials. He has been qualified and testified as both an expert witness and a litigative consultant. Dr. Cocciardi is a Board Certified Safety Professional, a Board Certified Industrial Hygienist, and a Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian. He is a member and/or Chair of more than a dozen international Health and Safety Committees. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more

Practical Approaches to Mental Health in Crisis and Disaster Response Note: This was a webinar on May 12, 2026. Training Overview:  Natural disasters and large-scale crises don’t just disrupt systems. They reshape how individuals, communities, and organizations experience safety, connection, and meaning. This training explores how behavioral health professionals, educators, and leaders can respond with intention by integrating self-care, trauma-informed care, cultural humility, and systems thinking into their practice.  Participants will examine how crises impact mental health across multiple levels from individual stress responses to organizational strain and community-wide disruption. Through a human-centered lens, this session emphasizes expanding perspective: understanding not only what is happening, but how it is experienced differently across cultures, identities, and roles.  Framing the session through the lens of the "In the Arena," quote from Theodore Roosevelt, participants will strengthen their ability to remain grounded, responsive, and effective in high-pressure environments through practical frameworks, and reflective exercises. They will  also learn to recognize that how they care for themselves directly impacts how they care for others, even in crises. About the Presenter:  Lamarr Lewis, LAPC, is a dedicated public servant, mental wellness advocate, published author, and change agent. As a community-based practitioner, he has worked with such diverse groups as; individuals living with psychiatric disabilities, people in recovery, At-Hope (He does not use the term At-Risk) youth, and more. He tirelessly gives back to his community through homeless outreach initiatives, public speaking, mentoring, coaching, and finding ways to develop the next generation of leaders. He is an alumnus of Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and received his master’s degree from Argosy University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He is currently a mental health therapist, trainer, and consultant. His lifelong mission is to leave the world better than when he found it.  CERTIFICATE: The course contains two modules: a module to access the webinar and an evaluation module. After accessing these modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more

Note: This is a recording of a webinar held on December 17, 2018. Training Overview Health officials regularly face tough decisions involving ethics such as allocating scarce resources or ensuring that risks and benefits are equitably distributed.  This webinar introduces participants to public health ethics, describes practical skills for ethical decision-making, and provides links to resources for meeting the new Public Health Accreditation Board standards for addressing ethical issues. We also call attention to the human-centered design approach and highlight Brokered Dialogue, an innovative method for dealing with controversial topics such as establishing Syringe Service Programs to address the opioid crisis. We will conclude by discussing an ethics case study centered on childhood obesity. The course contains two modules: a content module and a resources and evaluation module. After accessing both modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. When the certificate is available, learners will see a Certificate button on their dashboard. This recording is approximately 90 minutes. There are no prerequisites. Participants will need a broadband internet connection (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred browsers) and computer speakers. For technical support, please contact emoryphtc@emory.edu. About the Trainers Dr Ortmann was a CDC Public Health Ethics Fellow, addressing ethical issues surrounding chlamydia treatment. He was previously a Senior Associate for Programs at the Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care. Dr. Ortmann holds a BA and PhD in philosophy from Yale University and The Pennsylvania State University, respectively. He currently is conducting research on Brokered Dialogue and editing a book on narrative ethics that use Dr. Trott came to CDC in 2016 as a Presidential Management Fellow as the special assistant to the director of the Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention. Prior to coming to CDC, he worked as a staff reviewer for the University of Wisconsin - Health Sciences IRB. Kory received his BS in Biological Anthropology from the George Washington University before getting his Masters of Public Health from Drexel University and his JD from the University of Wisconsin. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more

Note: This is a recording of a webinar held on June 16, 2021. Training Overview The field of public health is booming with opportunities for students to put public health into action beyond the classroom. From the public sector to the private, and both in governmental and nongovernmental spaces – there are endless directions that students can take public health degrees. This session, featuring Montrece Ransom, JD, MPH, Director of the National Coordinating Center for Public Health Training, is designed to introduce students to the purpose of coaching, mentorship and sponsorship and how to leverage these relations for career growth. Session discussions will focus on preparing students for their next role now while in practicums and the do’s and don’ts of being an effective mentee. By examining their skill gaps and opportunities for growth, students can shape their practicum experiences to position them to get the job they want upon graduation. Students will leave this session with strategies to build their skillsets and invest in valuable relationships to land their next role with confidence!  The course contains two modules: a content module and a resources and evaluation module. After accessing both modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. When the certificate is available, learners will see a Certificate button on their dashboard. This recording is approximately 90 minutes. There are no prerequisites. Participants will need a broadband internet connection (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred browsers) and computer speakers. For technical support, please contact emoryphtc@emory.edu. About the Trainer Montrece McNeill Ransom, JD, MPH, ACC currently serves as the Director of the National Coordinating Center for Public Health Training. Montrece is an award-winning expert in public health law and policy, training and workforce development. Prior to this role, Montrece led training and workforce development efforts in public health law at CDC. During that time, she was awarded the Jennifer Robbins Award for the Practice of Public Health Law from the American Public Health Association (2017) and the American Bar Association Champion for Diversity and Inclusion Award (2019).    This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more

Note: This is a recording of a webinar held on March 22, 2022. Training Overview This session, featuring Gillian Landgraff, Senior Learning Consultant, Learning & Organizational Development, Emory University, is designed to introduce proven techniques to demonstrate confidence when speaking publicly, describe components of an effective presentation, recognize common errors in the use of A/V equipment, PowerPoint, and props, and identify ways to assess and gain control of the audience. Session discussions will focus on preparing participants with presentation techniques and the do’s and don’ts of being an effective presenter. By examining their skill gaps and opportunities for growth, participants can enhance presentation skills for career success. Participants will leave this session with strategies to build their skillsets to deliver the presentations with confidence while captivating the audience! This recording is approximately 2 hours. There are no prerequisites. Participants will need a broadband internet connection (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred browsers) and computer speakers. For technical support, please contact emoryphtc@emory.edu. CERTIFICATE:  The course contains two modules: a module to access the webinar and an evaluation module. After accessing both modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. When the certificate is available, learners will see a Certificate button on their dashboard.   About the Trainer Gillian Landgraff Gillian Landgraff is a Senior Training Consultant for Emory University. She has over 20 years of experience developing and delivering engaging leadership programs in healthcare and academic settings. While working at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Gillian managed the New Employee Orientation program which reached up to 2,000 employees annually. Her role at Children’s afforded her the opportunity to work with the Marcus Autism Center, Human Resources, the Hematology/Oncology department and multiple departments across the Children’s system. Since joining Emory University, she has worked with multiple departments including the Humphrey Fellowship Program in the Rollins School of Public Health, the Radiology Leadership Academy Program and Oxford College.  She currently manages the Mentor Emory and Aspiring Leaders programs in addition to facilitating sessions for the Administrative Professionals, Essentials of Leadership, Emerging Leaders, and New Leaders Orientation at Emory programs. She has also worked with Georgia State University. Gillian is an expert in delivering the DiSC Assessment tool and is certified in Crucial Conversations, DDI, Situational Leadership, Presentation Skills and Increasing Personal Effectiveness. In her personal time, Gillian enjoys volunteering at Habitat for Humanity and Clifton Sanctuary Ministries, art projects, hiking and jogging, and spending time with family and friends. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more