Ohio University Health Collaborative to host research symposium

The Ohio University Health Collaborative will launch its first official research event on Nov. 4, the 2022 Health Scholars Research Symposium which will feature keynote speaker Maureen Corcoran, director of the Ohio Department of Medicaid. The event is free and open to the public. Those who cannot attend in person can join virtually via Microsoft Teams from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. here. 

The OHIO Health Collaborative comprises the College of Health Sciences and Professions (CHSP), the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Voinovich School for Leadership and Public Service. The initiative employs cross-college collaborations to support the health and wellbeing of communities across Ohio, with a focus on social determinants of health.  

While the colleges have worked together on a number of activities, such as administering COVID-19 vaccinations during the pandemic, the research symposium is the first joint event conceived and organized by the collaborative.

“Research is one of the most critical elements needed for advancements in health care. It’s the key to curing disease and evolving the practice of medicine,” Ken Johnson, D.O., Heritage College executive dean and OHIO’s chief medical affairs officer, said. “So, it made sense that the collaborative looked to highlight innovative student research, which is addressing the most pervasive medical needs of our communities.”

At the symposium, 63 health research studies by students and postdoctoral fellows from Ohio University will be presented. The research includes topics such as suicide prevention, breastfeeding practices, second-hand smoke exposure, type 1 diabetes, femur fractures, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, and much more.

“The goal of the symposium is to raise awareness of the research being conducted by health scholars at the university that impacts the state of health in Ohio and beyond,” said Voinovich School Dean Mark Weinberg, Ph.D. “Collectively, our efforts will lead to stronger outcomes for public health, more robust experiences for students and increased opportunities for partnership inside and outside the university.”

The research symposium will be held Friday, Nov. 4 on the Athens, Dublin and Cleveland campuses. In Athens, the event will take place in Heritage Hall with remarks from the deans at 11 a.m. followed by a poster awards presentation and the keynote speech by Corcoran at noon.

Corcoran was appointed director of Medicaid in 2019. She began her career as a nurse serving as assistant director of nursing for University Hospitals in Cleveland and a clinical instructor for Case Western Reserve University. She later worked as assistant deputy and acting deputy for Medicaid at the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. She also founded and served as president of Vorys Health Care Advisors, a health care policy consulting firm.

“Sometimes the most innovative research takes place when different fields come together. That collaboration is reflective of the interprofessional nature of health care today,” said College of Health Sciences and Professions Interim Dean John McCarthy, Ph.D. “With that mindset, the faculty of our colleges routinely partner whether it’s in the lab or in the field exploring innovative interventions focused on social determinants of health.”