Using an Academic Health Department Framework to Address Challenges and Extend Applied Learning Experiences to Promote Public Health Practice.

Abstract

Keywords: Academic Health Department, Collaborations, Applied learning experience

As defined by the Public Health Foundation, an academic health department (AHD) partnership is formed by the formal affiliation of a health department and an academic institution that trains future health professionals. AHD partnerships can enhance public health education and training, research, and service and may offer a variety of benefits, both for the organizations involved and for the community. AHD partnerships help to strengthen the links between public health practice and academia and to lessen the separation between the education of public health professionals and the practice of public health. The Macon-Bibb County Health Department established an AHD with Mercer University, College of Health Professions, in January 2022, which allows undergraduate, masters, and doctoral level students the opportunity to discuss and implement projects as applied learning experiences that are beneficial to both parties. The current agreement is based on previous work with the North Central Health District when an AHD agreement was in place from 2012-2019. Former and current AHD projects will be discussed as a starting point to explore the benefits of initiating AHDs, the role undergraduate and graduate students can play in addressing public health issues, and if this model could be applied to other academic institutions willing to partner with local health departments to address current challenges.

Keywords

Keywords: Academic Health Department, Collaborations, Applied learning experiences

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Using an Academic Health Department Framework to Address Challenges and Extend Applied Learning Experiences to Promote Public Health Practice.

Keywords: Academic Health Department, Collaborations, Applied learning experience

As defined by the Public Health Foundation, an academic health department (AHD) partnership is formed by the formal affiliation of a health department and an academic institution that trains future health professionals. AHD partnerships can enhance public health education and training, research, and service and may offer a variety of benefits, both for the organizations involved and for the community. AHD partnerships help to strengthen the links between public health practice and academia and to lessen the separation between the education of public health professionals and the practice of public health. The Macon-Bibb County Health Department established an AHD with Mercer University, College of Health Professions, in January 2022, which allows undergraduate, masters, and doctoral level students the opportunity to discuss and implement projects as applied learning experiences that are beneficial to both parties. The current agreement is based on previous work with the North Central Health District when an AHD agreement was in place from 2012-2019. Former and current AHD projects will be discussed as a starting point to explore the benefits of initiating AHDs, the role undergraduate and graduate students can play in addressing public health issues, and if this model could be applied to other academic institutions willing to partner with local health departments to address current challenges.