A new partnership between Tohono O’odham Community College and the Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona will provide a direct transfer pathway for community college students to transfer from TOCC programs to the college’s BS in Public Health degree program, a pathway that enables students to start at TOCC and finish with their BS from University of Arizona to pursue health services careers.
A new partnership between Tohono O’odham Community College (TOCC) and the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) at the University of Arizona will provide a direct transfer pathway for community college students to transfer from TOCC’s associate degree in Community and Public Health to the college’s BS in Public Health degree program, a pathway that enables students to start at TOCC and finish with their BS from University of Arizona in preparation for health services careers.
To establish the new partnership, Dr. Gaby Valdez, director of global education, and Andrea Gaub, director of undergraduate advising and operations, along with other members of MEZCOPH’s Office of Academic and Faculty Affairs (OAFA) and Office of Student Affairs (OSA) worked with TOCC Dean of Academics Dr. Laura Sujo-Montes, Science Instructor Dr. Teresa Newberry, Curriculum Specialist Julie McIntyre, and others at TOCC. Christina Bell Andrews, Executive Director of the Wassaja Carlos Montezuma Center for Native American Health, and Martha Lee, program coordinator for the UA’s Native American Initiatives program in the Office of the Provost, also supported the year-long collaboration to establish the pathway partnership.
This collaboration reflects our commitment to expanding educational opportunities and supporting our diverse communities. By bridging our programs, we aim to empower students from TOCC to become the next generation of Indigenous public health leaders.
Dr. John Ehiri
“We are thrilled to partner with Tohono O’odham Community College to establish this transfer pathway for students pursuing a career in public health," said Dr. John Ehiri, Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs at MEZCOPH. "This collaboration reflects our commitment to expanding educational opportunities and supporting our diverse communities. By bridging our programs, we aim to empower students from TOCC to become the next generation of Indigenous public health leaders who will make meaningful impacts in our communities and beyond." Dr. Ehiri and Katie Lupo from OAFA also supported the development of this partnership.
Now, students who want to pursue career paths in the expanding fields of public health and health services have the opportunity to earn course credits at TOCC that will then count towards the completion of their BS degree at MEZCOPH. This pathway will enable many students to go further in their education and thus expand their career potential.
“Tohono O’odham Community College students bring a wealth of life experiences and Indigenous ways of knowing and competence to their studies, particularly for service fields such as community and public health. TOCC is excited to join in this partnership with the Zuckerman College of Public Health to create a pathway that will facilitate Native American students moving forward in public health careers and benefitting their local communities,” said Dr. Laura Sujo-Montes, TOCC’s Dean of Academics.
TOCC Certificates and Degrees
At Tohono O’odham Community College, students can earn certificates and/or an Associate Degree in Community and Public Health before transferring to the University of Arizona. Graduates in TOCC’s Associate of Arts in Life Science (Community and Public Health) will meet their general education requirements while exploring health professional careers, relevant topics in health and wellness, and the fields of community health and public health. TOCC’s program provides students with opportunities for hands-on experiences, including internships, while earning their degree, experiences that give them additional preparation before they enter their bachelor's degree programs.
TOCC also offers a Certificate in Community and Public Health, which is designed for students entering the workforce directly or increasing their skills in health fields.
Zuckerman College of Public Health BS Degree
The BS in Public Health offers students the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, ethics, and cultural competencies needed to build healthier communities, develop safer workplace environments, and improve regional health programs. MEZCOPH graduates go on to build health services programs, change policies, improve health equity across communities, and make the world a better place.
Experiential learning is a cornerstone of the BS in Public Health program. This experiential learning model combines classroom study with practical, hands-on experience, providing students with the opportunity to put knowledge and skills into practice, and to gain the competitive edge they need to advance their career. The practicum and internships are in a variety of settings such as homes, communities, governmental organizations, businesses, health care centers, hospitals, schools, faith-based organizations, and other non-governmental organizations.
The BS in Public Health at MEZCOPH offers seven different degree tracks:
- Public Health Practice
- Global Health
- Health Promotion
- One Health
- Environmental and Occupational Health
- Quantitative Methods in Public Health
- Health Systems Theory and Practice
Students can choose the track they want to pursue based on their career interests.
Everyone involved, from the leadership and staff at the TOCC to the leadership and staff at the College of Public Health, is excited about the new opportunities the pathway partnership will offer. The leadership at both MEZCOPH and TOCC is grateful for the support of everyone involved in the complex process.
Special thanks to Agnes Attakai, Director of the Circle of Indigenous Empowerment at the Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities at the College of Medicine, for making the initial connection that started this partnership. Collectively, we look forward to future collaboration to make the program a success and empower students to learn the skills they need to shape a healthier future for all!
Read the UA Health Sciences news release about our partnership with Tohono O'odham Community College.