Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111658

Lori Keeling Buhi, MPH¹, B. Lee Green, PhD², Brian Rivers, PhD, MPH², Sharon McWhinney, PhD, MS³, Steve Dorman⁴, and Daphne C. Watkins, BA². (1) Bryan-College Station Community Health Center, 3370 South Texas Avenue, Bryan, TX 77802, 979-595-1703, lbuhi@bvcaa.org, (2) Texas A&M University, Center for the Study of Health Disparities, 112 Harrington Tower, TAMU 4222, College Station, TX 77843, (3) Department of Nutrition, Prairie View A&M University, P.O. Box 4329, Prairie View, TX 77446, (4) Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, TAMU 4243, College Station, TX 77843-4243

To eliminate health disparities, health education and public health entities must effectively work together. Yet working in partnership can be challenging for three very different organizations/institutions. The purpose of this session is to present the challenges faced by a research institution, a federally-qualified health center, and a historically black university in working together and the methods employed to effectively overcome these challenges. In 2003, Texas A&M University's Center for the Study of Health Disparities formed a partnership, funded by the National Institutes of Health, with Prairie View A&M University and the Bryan-College Station Community Health Center to eliminate health disparities in childhood obesity and diabetes. The challenges encountered in working together will be discussed, including: bringing together three different organizational missions, administrative structures, cultures and philosophies; establishing a research agenda within two organizations not traditionally focused on research; delineating roles and expectations; and time constraints. The methods employed to overcome these challenges will also be discussed, including: increasing communication, both formally and informally among the partners; clarifying expectations as they relate to the overall purpose of the grant-funded project; joint planning of research and intervention activities; building trust by following through on commitments; jointly owning successes; sharing responsibility for shortcomings; employing patience as research agendas are developed; providing technical assistance; increasing capacity to engage in research and implement health education interventions; and remaining flexible. Implications for future academic and community partnerships will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• • To discuss the establishment of an effective partnership between a research institution, federally qualified health center and historically black university to eliminate health disparities
• • To discuss challenges faced by three different entities in working together
• • To discuss methods employed to effectively overcome these challenges

Keywords: Collaboration, Challenges and Opportunities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.