Online Program

286541
Application of multidisciplinary collaborations for the advancement of public health


Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 3:10 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Jennifer Pharr, PhD, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Courtney Coughenour, PhD, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Shawn Gerstenberger, PhD, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
The history of public health and urban planning are intertwined, yet it is a recent phenomenon that the fields are once again working together. Such collaborations can have significant positive implications for community design and overall health. This project will discuss the process and lessons learned from a collaborative effort between public health professionals and a multidisciplinary team towards the overall goal of a plan for sustainable development of Southern Nevada. The City of Henderson, NV was awarded a three year planning grant to assess the sustainability of Southern Nevada and develop a planning document to guide growth and promote sustainable development over the next 20 years. Step one of this process was to provide a baseline assessment of the existing conditions of the region which pertain to issues of sustainability including health, transportation, economic development, housing, environment and social equity. Our team consisted of planners from four local jurisdictions, the Regional Transportation Commission, local utilities companies, the health district, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (School of Community Health Sciences, the Lincy Institute, Urban Sustainability Initiative). We will present the strategies of the overall process, including important data sources for gathering diverse information, the selection process for peer regions and benchmarks against which to measure, share highlights from the final document, and discuss the next steps towards meeting the end goal. Collaborative efforts such as this are critical for the betterment of public health. Sharing strategies and lessons learned only serves to further advance the field of public health.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the importance of collaborative efforts in the advancement of public health. Describe effective tactics necessary for working with a multidisciplinary team, as well as failures experienced during our process.

Keyword(s): Sustainability, Community Collaboration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have first hand knowledge and experience on the information being presented
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.