Forming an academic health department: a case example

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Academic-Practice Linkages
• Health Workforce Development

Background:

• A significant disconnect exists between public health practice and academic foundations.
• This gap impacts public health workforce training, research, and overall population health improvement.
• Informal collaborations between academic institutions and health departments are common but often lack formal structure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a formal academic health department to bridge the gap between the University of Tennessee Department of Public Health and the Knox County Health Department.
• To define the scope of activities, responsibilities, and create a shared coordination mechanism for academic-practice collaboration.
• To foster sustainable linkages between academic public health and practice settings.

Main Methods:

• Formation of an academic health department through a memorandum of understanding between the University of Tennessee Department of Public Health and the Knox County Health Department in early 2011.
• Development of a shared coordinator position and an active steering committee.
• Implementation of collaborative activities including student field placements and joint learning sessions.

Main Results:

• Improved efficiency and effectiveness of student field placements within the first 18 months.
• Established collaborative learning sessions involving university faculty and health department staff.
• Initiated exploration of opportunities for practice-based research.
• Formalized structure and shared coordination proved fundamental to progress.

Conclusions:

• The establishment of an academic health department successfully created a sustainable linkage between public health practice and academia.
• Formalized collaboration enhances student training, facilitates practice-based research, and strengthens the public health workforce.
• Shared coordination and active governance are critical for the success of academic-practice partnerships.