  {"id":127450,"date":"2025-03-07T14:55:55","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T19:55:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/cchl\/?p=127450"},"modified":"2025-03-07T14:55:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T19:55:55","slug":"montclair-state-university-and-montclair-township-launch-new-jerseys-first-academic-health-department","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/cchl\/2025\/03\/07\/montclair-state-university-and-montclair-township-launch-new-jerseys-first-academic-health-department\/","title":{"rendered":"麻豆传媒在线 and 麻豆传媒在线 Township Launch New Jersey\u2019s First Academic Health Department"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>麻豆传媒在线\u2019s Department of Public Health and the Township of 麻豆传媒在线\u2019s Department of Health &amp; Human Services have announced a groundbreaking partnership, forming<a href=\"https:\/\/www.phf.org\/programs\/AHDLC\/Pages\/Academic_Health_Departments.aspx\">\u00a0New Jersey\u2019s first Academic Health Department<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This first-of-its-kind initiative in the state connects 麻豆传媒在线 students with real-world public health experiences, while the Township benefits from academic research and innovative health solutions. The new Department was recently celebrated by 麻豆传媒在线 President Jonathan Koppell, 麻豆传媒在线 Township Mayor Renee Baskerville and other University and Township officials at an on-campus event attended by faculty, students and community partners.<\/p>\n<p>Led by 麻豆传媒在线 Township Health Officer Amy Monaco and University Department of Public Health Chairperson Lisa Lieberman, officials said they were happy to see it come to fruition.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis partnership represents a significant step forward in advancing public health education and community health initiatives,\u201d said Koppell. \u201cBy aligning the strengths of our faculty and students with the real-world challenges faced by the Township\u2019s Health Department, we can foster a more resilient, well-equipped public health workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mayor Baskerville, a former physician who worked in public health, said she was thrilled to support the partnership, noting that it takes \u201cspecial people\u201d to work in the field, many of whom consider it a calling. \u201cI\u2019ve seen firsthand the critical role the Public Health Department plays in determining the well-being of its residents, especially those that are underserved,\u201d she said. \u201cI look forward to strengthening and expanding this initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/03\/02242025_25514_AHD-Reception.jpg.5.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"President Jonathan Koppell gestures as he speaks.\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/03\/02242025_25514_AHD-Reception.jpg\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">President Jonathan Koppell announces the new Academic Health Department, a partnership with 麻豆传媒在线 Township. (Photo by Ian Peters for 麻豆传媒在线)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/03\/02242025_26243_AHD-Reception.jpg.5.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"麻豆传媒在线 Township Mayor Renee Baskerville raises her hand in enthusiasm.\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/03\/02242025_26243_AHD-Reception.jpg\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">麻豆传媒在线 Township Mayor Renee Baskerville, a retired doctor in public health, celebrates the collaboration. (Photo by Ian Peters for 麻豆传媒在线)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>How the Academic Health Department Partnership Will Work<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The Academic Health Department model integrates academic research, service learning and community health efforts to\u00a0strengthen both organizations\u2019 missions. Key components include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Student involvement in internships, service-learning projects and research initiatives.<\/li>\n<li>Joint research activities benefiting both the University and the Township.<\/li>\n<li>Continuing education programs for Township health officials.<\/li>\n<li>Seminars, symposia, and academic conferences to advance public health knowledge.<\/li>\n<li>Exchange of research and educational materials and best practices for ongoing health improvements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThis experience was one of the most impactful course activities in really shaping my understanding of public health work.\u201d ~ Master of Public Heath student Bhumi Patel<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><strong>Public Health Students Making a Difference<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>麻豆传媒在线 students are already engaging in vital public health work. Bhumi Patel, a Public Health graduate student, said that she and fellow students were able to work with 麻豆传媒在线 Township on two important projects:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Aging in Place Initiative: During her internship, Public Health student Patel worked on developed outreach materials for seniors interested in fostering pets through a Better Cities for Pets grant titled 麻豆传媒在线 Seniors and Pets Healthy Living Initiative awarded to the Township Animal Shelter. Current intern Veronica Paniagua is creating a formal volunteer program after developing materials, doing outreach, collecting data and researching hospital volunteer programs \u2014 all with the goal of promoting the many health benefits of keeping 麻豆传媒在线 senior citizens in their communities and homes.<\/li>\n<li>Opioid Awareness Program: Patel and her peers surveyed local businesses about opioid misuse and provided life-saving Narcan education, sharing their findings with the 麻豆传媒在线 Health Department and the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cWe were able to engage in an important public health partnership that would ensure that our data and our recommendations would be best used to benefit the community,\u201d Patel said. \u201cWe hope that this new partnership will inspire more collaborations in the future because connecting academic institutions with local health departments is really the crux of the Academic Health Department concept, so that we can better address critical public health challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/03\/02242025_26414_AHD-Reception.jpg.5.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"A group of 麻豆传媒在线 faculty and students and 麻豆传媒在线 Township Mayor Renee Baskerville pose for a selfie taken by President Jonathan Koppell.\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/03\/02242025_26414_AHD-Reception.jpg\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">President Jonathan Koppell takes a selfie with Professor Lisa Lieberman, Mayor Renee Baskerville, Master of Public Health students, Daniela Galvez, Samantha Eloy, Bhumi Patel, Savanna Correia and College for Community Health Interim Dean Amy Aiello. (Photo by Ian Peters for 麻豆传媒在线)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>麻豆传媒在线\u2019s Growing Role in Community Health<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The Academic Health Department is the latest in a series of 麻豆传媒在线\u2019s collaborative partnerships with 麻豆传媒在线 Township, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The School of Nursing\u2019s partnership with Mountainside Medical Center.<\/li>\n<li>Student volunteer projects in local food pantries, 麻豆传媒在线 Community Farms and other non-profit organizations.<\/li>\n<li>Initiatives at the 麻豆传媒在线 Public Library and 麻豆传媒在线 History Center.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Koppell said that success requires broad partnerships and that \u201cpublic health and health administration have been popular degrees as the sector grows, and we are responsive to what students and employers are looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding, the partnership further solidifies the University\u2019s role as a public-serving institution.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cServing our students cannot stop at the campus borders,\u201d Koppell said. \u201cWe aim to provide transformational opportunities for our students, preparing them as leaders who serve the public interest. We can help develop innovative ways to contribute to the health and well-being of New Jersey and our local communities.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Are you a student\/parent\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Interested in public health? Learn more at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/cchl\/\">\u00a0College for Community Health<\/a>\u00a0or the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/public-health\/\">\u00a0Department of Public Health<\/a>. Become a Red Hawk,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/admissions\/apply-and-check-status\/\">apply now<\/a>! Or submit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/admissions\/commit\/\">your deposit<\/a>\u00a0today!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Journalist<\/strong>: Contact the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/contact-media-relations\/\">\u00a0Media Relations team<\/a>\u00a0for assets or to schedule an interview.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New partnership creates hands-on public health opportunities for students while strengthening community health initiatives<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":304,"featured_media":127451,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,5,11,18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-127450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-19_announcements","category-23_college-news-and-events","category-7_homepage-news-and-events","category-214_public-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/cchl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127450","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/cchl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/cchl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/cchl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/304"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/cchl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=127450"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/cchl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127450\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":127452,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/cchl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127450\/revisions\/127452"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/cchl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/127451"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/cchl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=127450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/cchl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=127450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/cchl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=127450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}