Saundra Glover, PhD¹, Andrea Williams, MEd², Gwen Preston, MEd², and Winifred W. Thompson, MSW³. (1) Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, 803-777-3618, sglover@gwm.sc.edu, (2) Institue for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities, University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health, 216 Health Sciences Center, Columbia, SC 29208, (3) Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Institute for Partnerhsips to Eliminate Health Disparities, University of South Carolina, 800 Sumter Street, 216F, Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC 29208

Health disparities exist among racial and ethnic populations in the United States and are among the most complex and intractable public health problems threatening the nation. Reducing and eliminating health disparities will require academic and community partnerships that will promote multidisciplinary research, education, training and service. The Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities at the Arnold School of Public health was created to allow the University of South Carolina to enhance its public and private partnerships focused on improving the health status of communities statewide and worldwide. Current partners include the state’s public health agency, a local hospital system, colleges and universities, and secondary schools. Current Institute projects include student development programs, a faculty development program, research development and training programs, and community outreach and support programs. The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate how to establish a community-academic partnership to eliminate health disparities and how this structure assist in the academic and professional development of African American researchers and public health professionals in the area of public health.

By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Identify steps to establish and maintain community and academic partnerships 2. List steps to create student and faculty development programs focused on health disparities 3. Discuss steps to establish research programs and partnerships 4. Identify ways to support community partners engaged in activities focused on eliminating health disparities

Learning Objectives: By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to

• Identify steps to establish and maintain community and academic partnerships
• List steps to create student and faculty development programs focused on health disparities
• Discuss steps to establish research programs and partnerships
• Identify ways to support community partners engaged in activities focused on eliminating health disparities

Keywords: Partnerships, Health Disparities

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.