Developing trusted and long-lasting partnerships with community agencies are essential for public health projects. Assistant Professor Rodlescia Sneed, PhD, MPH, shares her experiences involving community engagement as a researcher and instructor and explains what makes it successful.
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has granted $25 million to expand the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine’s public health presence in Flint. The grant will create an endowed fund to increase public health faculty, academic research and community health collaborations.
“Being embedded in the Flint community allows Michigan State University public health faculty and researchers to understand the assets and needs of the community with the people of Flint on issues important to them,” said Wayne R. McCullough, PhD, Interim Director of the Division of Public Health and Director of the Master of Public Health Program. “This important and significant grant allows us to enhance the research and education mission in service to Flint, to port learning to other parts of the state, strengthens interventions with a community-participatory public health model, and maximizes impact that will ultimately improve the overall health in Flint.”
The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine is one of the first community-based medical schools in the country and has been in Flint since its founding more than 55 years ago. C. S. Mott Endowed Professors of Public Health have been the boots on the ground, building trust, advocating for the people of Flint, and partnering world-class research with opportunities to make a difference.
If you want to go far, go together.