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Characteristics of Academic Health Departments: Initial Findings From a Cross-Sectional Survey
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Characteristics of Academic Health Departments: Initial Findings From a Cross-Sectional Survey

Paul Campbell Erwin, Patrick Barlow, Ross C Brownson, Kathleen Amos and C William Keck
Journal of public health management and practice, Vol.22(2), pp.190-193
03/2016
DOI: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000000237
PMCID: PMC4757462
PMID: 25668013

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Abstract

Academic Health Departments (AHDs) represent collaborative relationships between public health academia and practice. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of AHD characteristics, to document the extent of collaboration between organizations in an AHD, and to explore the benefits of AHDs. An electronic survey on the AHD was sent to members of the AHD Learning Community--a virtual learning community with 338 members. There were 110 valid responses to the survey, with 65 indicating they were currently in an AHD partnership. Thirty-two percent of AHDs had been established for more than 10 years; 64% were engaged in joint research activities; and, while 92% of respondents placed a high value on improving the competencies of students, almost half placed a high value on improving the competencies of faculty. This study can be a springboard for further research on the impact of AHDs on practice, academia, and ultimately community health.
Academies and Institutes - classification United States Public Health Service - classification Cross-Sectional Studies United States Humans United States Public Health Service - trends Surveys and Questionnaires

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