RD167 - Virginia Consortium for Public Health and Population Health Sciences (VCPHPHS) - Proposal -- June 29, 2015


Executive Summary:
Background

Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) and Old Dominion University (ODU) began a joint Graduate Program in Public Health (MPH Program) in 1997 with two tracks – Epidemiology and Health Management and Policy. Additional tracks in Health Promotion and Global Environmental Health were added in 2009. The MPH Program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

In 2013, the Virginia General Assembly provided funding for EVMS and ODU to explore the further development of the MPH Program into a collaborative School of Public Health. A feasibility assessment was conducted and a panel of outside experts (Deans from current Schools of Public Health) was convened to review the plan. The conclusion was that such an endeavor was both supported and needed, and would be a worthwhile investment for improving the health of citizens in the Commonwealth of Virginia. However, it was also recognized that CEPH would not support a collaborative model for a School of Public Health, unless it met the requirement that one or both of the institutions have sufficient resources to independently administer the School and its functions in its entirety. EVMS and ODU do not have the resources to fulfill that accreditation standard. The strong opinion of the Deans of the Schools of Public Health we engaged was that CEPH will not change its standards. Therefore, the planning for a collaborative EVMS/ODU School of Public Health was tabled.

EVMS and ODU next explored the possibility of establishing an Institute of Public Health, which would allow for the expansion of the MPH Program efforts within the existing CEPH accreditation requirements. However, it was determined it made more sense to build a consortium among existing university programs rather than create yet another organizational entity. Additionally, the organizational differences between the two institutions lends itself to a less formal, less rigid structure. It was agreed that a collaborative model would create substantial value for the Commonwealth and region, while maximizing efficiency and flexibility. The recommendation, therefore, is that EVMS and ODU build an expanded program in public health and population health sciences that will fulfill a need in the Commonwealth for substantial additional research and education capacity in health data analytics, health services research, health economics, and social work related to healthcare. The collaboration will bridge four Virginia institutions – EVMS, ODU, the College of William and Mary, and Norfolk State University – and be known as the Virginia Consortium for Public Health and Population Health Sciences (VCPHPHS).

Rationale

The health of Virginians needs improving

• Public/population health concerns have been and remain a challenge for Virginia.

Health services research and data analytics can be applied to these health concerns

• Innovative solutions are needed to address Virginia’s public/population health concerns.

• Health analytics is a powerful tool that will be used by faculty to explore these health concerns and identify best practices, via comparative outcomes research.

• Research findings will be disseminated to stakeholders via seminars, workshops, meetings, webinars, and other non-academic activities.

• Research findings may be used by stakeholders to influence development of intervention programs, identify opportunities for more efficient/effective service delivery, and inform public policy.

Health concerns that VCPHPHS can target

• Maternal and child health
- Infant mortality
- Pre-term and low-weight birth
- Childhood immunization

• Suicide and mental health

• Chronic diseases
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Asthma

• Resilience communities and environmental health

Outcomes Expected from VCPHPHS Activities

• Long-term health improvement in the Commonwealth.
• A model for the state/nation/world relative to best practices and dissemination of research findings.
• Service to private and public stakeholders relative to the health concerns in their populations.
• Findings that can inform health policy (e.g., workforce development).

Organizational Structure

VCPHPHS will leverage resources through collaboration with existing related entities within the four institutions.

• The EVMS-ODU joint Graduate Program in Public Health
• The Ph.D. in Health Services Research Program at ODU
• The Center for Health Analytics and Discovery at EVMS
• The M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community and Global Health at EVMS
• The Center for Global Health at ODU
• The Schroeder Center at William and Mary
• The School of Social Work at Norfolk State University

A total of 16 new faculty lines will be distributed across academic partners as follows:

• 6 to be appointed at EVMS in the Graduate Program in Public Health and other EVMS departments as appropriate
• 6 to be appointed at ODU in the College of Health Sciences
• 2 to be appointed at William and Mary in the Schroeder Center
• 2 to be appointed at Norfolk State University in the Strong School of Social Work

VCPHPHS will be governed by a Board of Directors, made up of 3 representatives from EVMS, 3 representatives from ODU, 1 representative from the College of William and Mary, and 1 representative from Norfolk State University. Operations will be directed by a Council of Directors, which will be assisted by an Advisory Committee.

Timeline and Budget

Creating the infrastructure and allocating resources will be completed in the first 1½ years, with outcomes work beginning in year 2. The estimated ongoing annual cost of this proposal is $6.5 million dollars, phased in over the first two years. Funding would allow for the four institutions to hire 16 new faculty, distributed as follows:

• 6 to be appointed at EVMS in the Graduate Program in Public Health and other EVMS departments, as appropriate
• 6 to be appointed at ODU in the College of Health Sciences
• 2 to be appointed at the College of William and Mary in the Schroeder Center for Health Policy
• 2 to be appointed at Norfolk State University in the Strong School of Social Work