Community Health Partnerships annual meeting sparks community building and collaboration
On October 24, 2023, Community Health Partnerships hosted more than 150 researchers, public health professionals, and community members at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis to discuss the state’s most pressing public health challenges.
The keynote speaker was Lindsay Weaver, MD, who is the commissioner of the Indiana Department of Health. She shared exciting updates on the Health First Indiana Initiative, which will give county health departments the opportunity to direct funds to the public health services they have identified as priorities.
Participants also listened to panel discussions featuring speakers from county health departments across the state, and heard about a diverse and exciting range of research from this year’s Trailblazer Awardees. Heidi Beidinger-Burnett, PhD, MPH, who is director of the Masters of Science in Global Health Program at the University of Notre Dame, offered closing remarks that encouraged participants to continue their work together.
Throughout the day, participants had structured opportunities to workshop ideas and network.
“I am exhilarated by the conversations, insights and collaborations generated today by our participants, who bring an incredible depth and breadth of experience and perspective to public health,” said Sarah Wiehe, MD, MPH, director of Community Health Partnerships. “Our state has significant public health challenges, but events like this demonstrate how readily we can meet them.”
TRAILBLAZER AWARDEES
“Building Trauma-Informed Communities through NEAR Science and Change Theory” (video)
Nancy Michael, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame
Carey Gaudern, Beacon Health System
“Mitigating the Effects of COVID-19 on Maternal Mental Health Through a Community-University Partnership”
Kalyn Renbarger, School of Nursing, Ball State University
Cori Hess, Muncie Maternal Health Coalition
Jean Marie Place, Department of Nutrition and Health Science, Ball State University
Examining the Effect of Community-Based Programs in Coping with Stress During COVID-19 Recovery”
Nan Kong, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University
Sheri Moore, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) West Central Indiana
“Examining Multilevel Determinants of Cervical Cancer and Acceptability of Screening Innovations to Address Disparities among Hispanic Women in Lake County, Indiana” (video)
Natalie Rodriguez, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University
Kelly Kajamulo, Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana and Kentucky
“Rural Environmental Health Assessment and Neighborhood-Specific Public Health Plan for Hartford City Using a Community-Engaged Approach”
Ellen Wells, School of Health Sciences, Purdue University
Eric Evans, Blackford County Concerned Citizens
Sherrie Steiner, Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Purdue University Fort Wayne
“Peer Recruitment in HIV Prevention”
Karla Galaviz, School of Public Health, Indiana University Bloomington
Jill Stowers, Indiana University Health Bloomington
“A Community Partner-University Collaboration for Increasing African American Men’s Access to Professional Mental Health Services: A Structural Equation”
Virgil Gregory Jr, School of Social Work, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Joseph Palus, Fathers & Families Center