Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Elizabeth W. Anderson, MPH¹, Joy M. Pinkerton, RN MS¹, Briggett Ford, PhD, MSW, MPH², Jody Lori, MS, CNM³, Tamiko Noll, PhD³, Scott B. Ransom, DO, MBA, MPH⁴, and Lynn P. Wooten, PhD⁵. (1) OB/GYN, University of Michigan, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, Domino's Farms, Lobby K Level 3 Box 531, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, 734-930-5616, lisand@med.umich.edu, (2) School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Dr., Lobby K level 3 Box 531, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, (3) School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 N. Ingalls Bldg., Room 3320, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (4) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, L4000 Women's Hospital, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (5) Ross School of Business Administration, University of Michigan, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, Domino's Farms, Lobby K Level 3 Box 531, Ann Arbor, MI 48106

Despite the commitment of multiple stakeholders to close the health disparities gap, we have little understanding of how leaders effectively organize to achieve these goals. This is not surprising since a limited dialogue exists between health researchers and organizational theorists. Using a multi-case study methodology our interdisciplinary team set out to, 1) document strategic leadership successes and barriers in reducing disparities in perinatal health outcomes; 2) describe how leaders facilitate learning and diffuse knowledge, and 3) assess the benefits of previously implemented policies and funding.

We collected case study data of leadership behavior at five sites: an urban community health coalition; a midwifery clinic implementing Centering Pregnancy; a university medical center's women's health program; prenatal clinics belonging to a private urban health care system; and a state health department. Data collection methods included: review of archival data; semi-structured, open-ended interviews; and ethnographic conversations with administrators, healthcare providers, project managers and clients. Data from coded interviews were categorized, analyzed and summarized by the team. Case studies were compared.

Preliminary findings include how leadership: addresses organizational and system barriers; uses data to drive program priorities; implements strategies to translate epidemiologic and evaluation data into practice; uses resources creatively; and envisions policy change, for example, quantifying the long-term implications of bad birth outcomes for moving policy forward. Teams reviewed relevant literature to develop a theoretical model of health disparities leadership. Findings and the proposed model will be used to frame a symposium in February 2007.

Learning Objectives: