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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Renee O. Mika, OD, Michigan College of Optometry, Ferris State University, 1310 Cramer Circle, Pennock 422, Big Rapids, MI 49307, 231.591.2182, mikar@ferris.edu and Harry E. Mika, PhD, Department of Sociology, Anthroplogy, and Social Work, Central Michigan University, Anspach Hall 142, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859.

With the number of uninsured and low-income patients on the rise and mounting health care disparities, the need for a competent community-health workforce has never been greater. Academic institutions that are deeply-rooted within the community have a greater capacity to organically raise such a workforce –from the ground up. Accredited schools and colleges of optometry must publish sufficient evidence of their ability to ‘prepare graduates for entry-level practice' by meeting a minimum threshold of clinical and didactic competencies. How well do the same institutions prepare graduates to meet the challenges of social, cultural, and economic barriers to health care within their communities? Specifically, to what extent do optometry schools and colleges engage in community health education, practice, research, and policy?

The mission, objectives, and strategic plan of an institution are key indicators of its core values and commitment to public purpose. While exclusive reliance on those statements may not reflect an accurate level of responsiveness to community, they may reveal the methods by which community engagement is measured (if at all). Alternative approaches to community research provide an orientation to community engagement and effective methods for assessing the impact of human agency and the performance of community-based strategies. Assessment of performance and outcomes are mandatory if academic institutions seek to move from mere aspiration and salutary goals to sustainable, integrative, and non-marginal strategies that have the capacity to build a highly skilled workforce to ultimately advance community health and health care.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session participants should be able to

• recognize the need for a clinically, culturally, and socially competent health care workforce;
• identify the requisites of responsive community engagement and intervention strategies; and
• describe effective methods of assessing community engagement

Keywords: Assessments, Community-Based Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation