Clark University, Worcester to open innovative academic health dept.

The Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise at Clark University is joining forces with the Worcester Division of Public Health to create an Academic Health Department in Massachusetts.

Based upon consideration of local needs and resources, the department will focus on the following:

• Community engagement and improving the public’s health by ensuring that prevention and intervention efforts are supported by science and effective practice.

• Student education and workforce development

• Practice-focused research as identified by stakeholders, emphasizing the iterative cycle where research translates to practice and practice informs research.

• Shared funding opportunities in which existing resources may be leveraged or new ones identified through collaboration.

“Creation of the Academic Health Department marks the beginning of a new offensive to improve health outcomes for Worcester residents facing poor nutrition, untreated mental illness, violence and injury. The goal is to foster healthy behaviors that will curtail more serious illnesses later on—in effect improving lives, cutting treatment costs and preserving communities,” according to a release.

The effort is in tune with Worcester’s community health improvement plan, a roadmap to make Worcester “the healthiest city in New England by 2020,” by improving health outcomes and access to quality care.