Universities, health departments, providers and health advocates are embracing the emerging concept of Academic Health Departments (AHDs) to combine their resources and better serve their constituencies.
The Association of Ohio Health Commissioners (AOHC) recently presented their fall conference where local health department commissioners, who share AHDs with Northeast Ohio Medical University and OAPH partners University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, Wright State University, and Ohio University, shared their experiences about the benefits of AHDs.
AHDs are similar to Academic Medical Departments, which have been a mainstay of physician training and engagement for some time, with the difference being AHDs provide the links between public health education and practical applications in the field. Universities provide students, faculty, library access and research resources to local health departments, who in turn offer real world experiences for students, opportunities for faculty research, practical insights for classes, and opportunities for service in local communities.
The fruit of the collaboration is career opportunities and education for students, workforce development, understanding of local problems, and collaborations that deliver enhanced services to local communities.
At the AOHC conference, Summit County Health Commissioner Donna Skoda listed the benefits of AHDs as being:
- Improves the potential for graduates to enter the public health workforce
- Facilitates lifelong learning among public health professionals
- Creates real world experience for students
- Assists with accreditation standards for the workforce of the future
- Identifies and addresses areas of quality improvement for local health departments
- Extends project-based real-world learning that is important to younger generations
- Provides, during times of crisis like pandemics, subject matter expert for the local health department and provides valuable resources such as epidemiological support
Williams County Health Commissioner Jim Watkins mentioned “Health departments bring a unique, practical perspective as guest speakers to students and the opportunity to instill passion for the field to future generations."
Athens City/County Health Department Administrator Jack Pepper talked about specific projects where they collaborated with Ohio University including:
- ACCHD/CHSP/HCOM/OhioHealth Pandemic Response — March 2019
- AthensHOPE – SUDs Coalition Founders — est. 2017
- Age Friend Athens County Designation — est. 2019
- Internship/Practicum/Volunteer Coordination — Ongoing
- Ohio University – AmeriCorps Site Host — est. 2004
- HCOM/CHSP “CHWs addressing health gaps” — est. 2018
- HCOM ‐ Community Health Programs Partnership — est. 2005
Toledo/Lucas County Health Commissioner Dr. Eric Zgodzinski dwelt upon AHD strategies to improve environmental health standards and develop sanitarians to meet emerging needs, in addition to other initiatives in Northwest Ohio.
Montgomery County Health Commissioner Jennifer Wentzl discussed the processes and challenges of forming sustainable AHDs.
Universities have much to gain from the AHD relationship as well. Wright State University Professor Dr. Sara Paton says “Academic health departments create a win-win for health departments and universities. This relationship allows academia to bring evidence-based public health to health departments, and allows health departments to bring current practice and relevancy to academia. Wright State and PHDMC have partnered together in many ways, including workforce development, research, internships, teaching, accreditation, and participation on committees. It makes both organizations more effective at what we do.”