SHU Public Health Students Update Bridgeport on Coronavirus

FAIRFIELD, Conn.—Students taking Sacred Heart University’s class on community health in times of crisis are learning first-hand about real-time response to a health emergency as they assemble information for Bridgeport’s Emergency & Homeland Security Department (EHSD) about the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus. 

Professor Sofia Pendley, who teaches the course in SHU’s master of public health program, said that when an emergency or outbreak occurs, communities must have credible information. “The opportunity for misinformation is high,” she said. 

When news broke about the coronavirus, Pendley realized compiling weekly updates on it would be a valuable exercise for her students and also beneficial to Bridgeport. Alumnus Scott Appleby ’93, director of the city’s EHSD, said he welcomes the useful updates. 

“Sacred Heart’s public health, nursing and other key departments always partner with our department,” Appleby said. “We have always collaborated on planning issues, emergency response strategies, volunteer initiatives and emergency training. We are always here to work with and help mentor students in the various fields.”

Pendley’s students collect information for the reports from reputable sources such as the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and others. They include information on the outbreak’s origin, the number of confirmed cases, symptoms, recovery time and the death toll. Students also delve into how the disease is transmitted and how it is diagnosed. 

“We also look at the risk of it spreading internationally and the people who are at high, medium and low risk of contracting it,” said Pendley. Additionally, the report includes a section on prevention and avoiding exposure. “We present the information so it’s easily digestible for city officials,” she said.

The class meets once a week to work on the report. Then, students in Professor Jacqueline Vernarelli’s epidemiology class review it for accuracy before the report is sent to the city the following morning. 

Pendley believes students are benefiting quite a bit from the exercise. She said they are working on their communication skills and learning how to present information in a professional manner. They’re also learning how to browse information, decipher facts and figures and tailor information for a community. “Plus, they’re learning about an emergency, something that is fast-paced and changing each day,” she said. 

“The information these students provide us is another tool in the toolbox of information that we can analyze and utilize for our situational awareness and planning strategies,” Appleby said. “Sacred Heart has been an essential partner of Bridgeport’s emergency management, police, fire and health departments and the emergency operations center. Their collaboration has launched some great programs and strategies and has assisted the city over the years in developing key partnerships needed to bring the community together. The University also assists students in understanding our department’s goals and objectives to ensure our community is safe.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Sacred Heart University Professor Sofia Pendley works with master of public health students at the Center for Healthcare Education. Photo by Tracy Deer-Mirek 2/25/20

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Submitted by Fairfield, CT

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