May 9, 2014

Dennis Gallagher, MA, MPA, a professor in the School of Public Health's Department of Health Management and Policy, with funding from the Universal Companies of Philadelphia, will conduct an objective assessment of the need for a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in the Point Breeze and Gray's Ferry area of Philadelphia.

The work was first announced by the Center for Public Health Practice at the School of Public Health, which creates a bridge between academia and the public health workforce. 

The Drexel University team will assess the unmet health needs and the barriers to health care that are present in the neighborhood surrounding Audenried High School. Drexel University will be engaging community families and leaders, city and HRSA officials, and stakeholders to inform their report. Based on these results as well as demographic and financial data analysis, Drexel University will present one of four potential action plans to establish a FQHC at Audenried HS. For the most viable option, Drexel University will develop a financial and organizational plan to guide the establishment of a fully compliant FQHC. This feasibility study will guide Universal Companies as the organization considers how best to maximize its effect on the health and education of Philadelphia communities.

In addition, Professor Jennifer Kolker is leading a community assessment as part of the Philadelphia Health Department's accreditation process. WHYY

At the same time, Joann Morales, MPH '13, was recently hired by Drexel University in Sacramento, CA to assist with a county-wide needs assessment and planning process called Mobilizing Action through Partnerships and Planning (MAPP) with funding from the Sacramento County Department of Public Health and the Sierra Health Foundation.

The MAPP assessment will be used to inform efforts to improve health within the County. It will also be submitted as one required document for the Health Department's accreditation application to the National Association for County and City Health Officials (NACCHO).

“I’m excited to be able to use the concepts and principles that I learned in the Executive MPH program at Drexel University and apply them to a planning and assessment process such as MAPP," said Morales.