Fall 2023
article summary
Our new strategic plan for practice provides guidance in our work with communities to make a meaningful difference in health equity and outcomes.
The Gillings School has approved a six-year strategic plan for practice, which will place the School in an excellent position to capture resources from new federal public health investments and maximize benefits for communities as we make a meaningful difference in health equity and outcomes.
Highlights from our work in practice:
- The School has been selected by the CDC to develop a five-year work plan for a Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response coordinating center, to be established in 2024. The work will be for a center in Region 4, which would serve as a resource for training, strategy and technical assistance to public health agencies in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
- The Gillings School has reached out to health department directors in Cumberland, Durham, Halifax and Jackson counties to explore interest in forming a public health partnership hub relationship. “The Hub” is a Gillings initiative to provide high-intensity support and resources for 5-10 years with a limited number of well-defined communities with critical equity opportunities.
- The N.C. Public Health Academic Practice Network is an emerging opportunity for public health program leaders at colleges and universities in N.C. to convene. The Academic Practice Network aims to collaborate on how to better serve public health practice in N.C., further practice training and experience opportunities, and foster a sense of community to advance academic practice work.
- The Practice Advisory Committee brings leaders from public health and other sectors together with Gillings School leaders to create a community of practice and catalyze collaborations, strengthen the workforce, sustain N.C.’s public health infrastructure, exert influence in support of the public health system and identify practice-based research opportunities.
- The newly established Practice Coordinating Committee brings together representatives from across the Gillings School to achieve the practice vision.
- In the next year, our goals include establishing a Public Health Collaborative, integrating student practicum with the community Hubs, formalizing of the Academic Practice Network and creating a work group to support funding.
Stay up to date with strategic plan initiatives using the progress tracker: gillings-projects.unc.edu/practice/plan
