School Honors Community Partners

More than 200 community members came together with School of Public Health leaders to recognize the partnerships that advance the education, research, and outreach efforts aimed at improving population health locally.

“We all know that public health has always been a discipline that has valued the concept of collaboration. That is what sets us apart from other areas of scientific study,” said SPH dean John Finnegan in his welcoming remarks at the seventh annual Community Partners event. “It is the commitment we all share for making an impact on improving health and preventing disease at the community level.”

24 individuals and 2 organizations honored

In addition to 24 individuals who received awards for their work as mentors, research colleagues, and other key partners, two organizations were singled out for exceptional community engagement.

Clear Channel was honored for helping to educate the public about the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. In the weeks when H1N1 was rapidly spreading worldwide, the media conglomerate invited public health experts to appear across its family of radio stations to discuss ways in which people could protect themselves and their communities.

The Health Economics Program at the Minnesota Department of Health was recognized for collaborating with SPH colleagues to provide data on levels of insurance coverage across the state. This work was critical in advancing state-level health reform efforts over the past several years, and it will play a vital role in assessing national health reform efforts as they take effect in the coming years.