Michigan Public Health researchers launch collaborative to transform public health practice and training
A team of researchers at the University of Michigan School of Public Health have launched the Collaborative for Transformative Public Health, a new initiative working with public health institutions, universities, and community organizations to improve how the field trains professionals, conducts research, and addresses persistent health disparities.
Co-led by Melissa Creary, Paul Fleming, Whitney Peoples, and Lindsey Thatcher, the collaborative serves as a think tank and resource center, studying what works in public health transformation and helping institutions adopt more effective, equity-focused practices.
"In our current moment, we know that public health institutions have to rethink how they prepare the next generation of professionals and how they engage with the communities they serve," said Melissa Creary, associate professor of Health Management and Policy at Michigan Public Health. "We're developing practical tools and training that help them meet those challenges and ensure their work reaches everyone who needs it."
So far, the collaborative's work includes three major projects: the HEART Project, which provides specialized training for public health educators; the ARCC Project, which partners with cities and counties to strengthen local health departments; and the ARISE Project, a $1.1 million Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded initiative project is aimed to better identify, describe, and assess the key levers for how governmental public health can disrupt structural racism and ultimately contribute to health equity and justice.
