The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

5089.0: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 12:30 PM

Abstract #67142

The Urban Health Institute: A Comprehensive Approach to Urban Health

Ellen-Marie Whelan, NP, PhD, School of Nursing / Urban Health Institute, Johns Hopkins University, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410 614-5302, emwhelan@son.jhmi.edu and Claude Earl Fox, MD, MPH, Urban Health Institute, Johns Hopkins University, 111 Market Place, Suite 850, Baltimore, MD 21202.

The development of the Urban Health Institute (UHI) was a principal recommendation of the Johns Hopkins Urban Health Council, a group of community residents, clergy, local leaders, city officials, and faculty, staff, and students from the Johns Hopkins Institutions. The President of the University charged the group with exploring ways that the research, teaching, and clinical expertise of the university could be better harnessed for the benefit of the residents of East Baltimore.

Since economic redevelopment was the most important issue raised by the planning group, the UHI entered a partnership with other CBOs to begin a Technology Training Center in East Baltimore. Using recycled computers, this center will provide residents of East Baltimore access to training that will enhance employment skills.

Academically, the UHI is committed to promoting community-based participatory research (CBPR) methodology. Through the use of newsletters, workshops, and a speakers’ series, we are supporting both university researchers and CBOs. To better understand access-to-care issues in East Baltimore, we are beginning to warehouse data describing the neighborhood including socio-demographic information, health care utilization data from the Johns Hopkins Health System, and a collection of needs assessments done locally. These data sets will be linked to better describe the health of East Baltimore and are available to both researchers and community residents.

This presentation will discuss these and other initiatives of the UHI - specifically - how an urban academic health center is addressing a range of health issues in a broad social context.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Urban Health, Infrastructure

Related Web page: www.urbanhealthinstitute.jhu.edu/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Innovative Strategies to Address Urban Health

The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA