141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

281203
Academic health department learning community: Supporting collaboration in public health

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 10:30 AM - 10:50 AM

Kathleen Amos, MLIS , Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice, Public Health Foundation, Washington, DC
Academic health department (AHD) partnerships, formed by the formal affiliation of health departments and academic health professions institutions, offer a significant opportunity for linking public health education and practice and ensuring an effective public health workforce. The AHD arrangement may be viewed as the public health equivalent of the “teaching hospital” affiliation prevalent within medical education; among other roles, AHDs can serve as training sites for students of public health and other health disciplines, and education may be enhanced through student interaction with health department staff and involvement in practice-based research and the delivery of public health services.

To further the adoption of the AHD model, the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice established the AHD Learning Community in January 2011. This national community connects educators, researchers, and practitioners to engage in collaborative learning and resource development to support the creation, maintenance, and expansion of AHDs. Community members are able to build relationships; explore current issues in collaborative education and training, research, and service; share their experiences; learn from the experiences of others; and identify ways to apply new knowledge in practice.

This session will provide public health professionals with an introduction to the AHD Learning Community. Basic elements of the AHD model and examples of AHD activities will be described, and resources and activities of the AHD Learning Community will be highlighted. Participants will be offered the opportunity to join in this community for continued learning far beyond the conference session.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Define academic health department. Explain the purpose of the Academic Health Department Learning Community. Identify at least one Academic Health Department Learning Community activity in which you could participate.

Keywords: Collaboration, Partnerships

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been working with the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice since 2010 and coordinate the Academic Health Department (AHD) Learning Community, providing support for public health organizations and professionals exploring and implementing AHD partnerships. I was involved in the launch of the AHD Learning Community in 2011 and have been working to develop this national community and advance the use of the AHD model for the past two years.
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.