With a growing interest to support the expansion of Academic Health Departments (AHDs) across the nation, it is worth taking time to mention the benefits of being an AHD and then briefly explore a “stepped approach” to AHD development. Recognizing that a series of steps may be involved in AHD development could encourage more participation and open the door for local and state health departments to further enter into these relationships with academia.

 

Participating as an Academic Health Department brings benefits to the field and practice of public health, as well as the health department itself. One timely benefit is seen in enabling a health department to achieve the requirements of national accreditation, as seen under Domain 8 of the proposed PHAB standards, which addresses the need for a competent public health workforce. Apart from accreditation, engaging with students and faculty in learning experiences, consultation/services, and practice-based research better prepares our future public health workforce, giving students a jump start in making meaningful contributions to the field; increases health departments’ capacities for providing and improving services; and enhances academia’s ability to improve its training. As well, being an AHD provides the opportunity to collaborate in the development of core competencies and public health training for future and current professionals. All of this supports the ultimate goal of improving the health of our communities.

 

The development of an AHD may be viewed on a continuum of growth characterized by a series of steps. An AHD may start with a health department providing student learning experiences and move to the formalization of a comprehensive array of mutually beneficial activities and relationships between parties. In addition to providing a defined path for AHD development and improvement, a stepped approach should describe benefits for both health departments and academia at each tier, which would be especially valuable in light of limited and reduced budgets. Another important aspect of a well-defined, stepped approach should be the inclusion of guidance materials to assist in the achievement of various tiers.

 

The AHD model is currently being championed in a number of ways, including through strong leadership support in health departments, champions within the staff of health departments, connections to public health activities and discussions at the national level, and the development of a culture of learning within health departments. Health department leadership and staff support for the development of an AHD are vital. A strong leader sets the course for an AHD, but an AHD (as with other public health programs and services) can keep moving when a strong leader is absent for a period of time, if staff support and other components are in place.