Mode of Program Participation
Community Organizing and Educational Programming
Participation Type
Poster
Presentation #1 Title
Building the evidence for successful Academic-Community Partnerships: The New River Academic Health Department
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
The Virginia Tech Department of Population Health Sciences (PHS), and the Virginia Department of Health New River Health District (NRHD), located in Southcentral Appalachia have recently signed a memorandum of agreement to form an Academic Health Department (AHD). An AHD coordinator, funded by both entities, oversees joint projects and serves as a liaison between the two institutions; she also serves as a mentor in the Public Health Foundation AHD learning community mentorship program. This mutually beneficial partnership is designed to enhance public health training, practice, research and workforce development and to improve community health in the New River Valley. MPH students conduct practica at NRHD, supplementing their classroom experience. Additionally, NRHD staff present practice-based lectures to MPH students and PHS faculty provide technical assistance, consultation and data analysis to NRHD. The AHD offers faculty, staff and students opportunities for enhanced public health practice and collaborative research. The poster presentation will include information and guidance on building strong collaborative relationships between academia and health departments, garnering support internally and externally, developing partnership agreements, promoting the AHD concept, funding an AHD, sharing personnel across organizations, and measuring AHD outcomes. The New River AHD will be showcased as an example of a successful and productive academic-community partnership that can be replicated in the US and abroad to enhance public health practice and research.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Sophie Wenzel, MPH is a Lecturer and the Associate Director for the Center for Public Health Practice and Research, which is housed in the Department of Population Health Sciences at Virginia Tech. Ms. Wenzel's research and professional interests include maternal child and adolescent health, youth risk behaviors, international health, sexual and reproductive health, healthy eating/active living, community engaged research and participatory methods, and evaluation of public health programs.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Kathy Hosig, PhD, MPH, RD serves as Director for the Virginia Tech Center for Public Health Practice and Research and is a faculty member in the Master of Public Health program in the Department of Population Health Sciences at Virginia Tech. She has extensive experience in community-based participatory research in particular development of community advisory boards, partnership development and maintenance, outreach, and involving target audiences in program design, implementation and evaluation for federally funded projects.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Until October 2016, Dr. Margaret O'Dell served as the Health Director for the New River Health District. She has extensive experience working in Appalachian communities as a Health Director and a solo health practitioner.
Building the evidence for successful Academic-Community Partnerships: The New River Academic Health Department
The Virginia Tech Department of Population Health Sciences (PHS), and the Virginia Department of Health New River Health District (NRHD), located in Southcentral Appalachia have recently signed a memorandum of agreement to form an Academic Health Department (AHD). An AHD coordinator, funded by both entities, oversees joint projects and serves as a liaison between the two institutions; she also serves as a mentor in the Public Health Foundation AHD learning community mentorship program. This mutually beneficial partnership is designed to enhance public health training, practice, research and workforce development and to improve community health in the New River Valley. MPH students conduct practica at NRHD, supplementing their classroom experience. Additionally, NRHD staff present practice-based lectures to MPH students and PHS faculty provide technical assistance, consultation and data analysis to NRHD. The AHD offers faculty, staff and students opportunities for enhanced public health practice and collaborative research. The poster presentation will include information and guidance on building strong collaborative relationships between academia and health departments, garnering support internally and externally, developing partnership agreements, promoting the AHD concept, funding an AHD, sharing personnel across organizations, and measuring AHD outcomes. The New River AHD will be showcased as an example of a successful and productive academic-community partnership that can be replicated in the US and abroad to enhance public health practice and research.
