Navigating practice and academic change in collaborative partnership with a community advisory board

Area of Science:

• Allied Health Education
• Nutrition and Dietetics Programs
• Higher Education Administration

Background:

• University allied health programs face evolving practice landscapes and resource constraints.
• Accreditation bodies and governmental agencies increase scrutiny on health care education.
• Diverse perspectives are crucial for addressing challenges in health professions education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt corporate and non-profit board strategies for a university dietetics program's community advisory board.
• To assess the impact of a community advisory board on program development and resource acquisition.
• To provide a model for engaging the community in allied health professional education.

Main Methods:

• A community advisory board was established for a dietetics program at a public university.
• Board strategies were modeled after corporate and non-profit development approaches.
• The board's activities and impact were tracked over a 4-year period.

Main Results:

• The advisory board successfully established an annual scholarship conference and an endowed scholarship.
• The board organized a student mentorship program and secured new program equipment.
• The board was instrumental in developing and gaining approval for a Nutrition Center.
• The advisory board's role was recognized in a recent accreditation site visit report for meeting education standards.

Conclusions:

• An active advisory board significantly supports strategic program innovation and resource development.
• Community engagement through advisory boards helps prepare health professionals for 21st-century practice.
• This approach offers a transferable model for other professional education programs seeking community involvement.