On March 17, Michigan State University College of Education and Henry Ford Health leaders hosted a conversation on education, health and well-being. The event is part of a broader collaboration under the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences partnership. Leaders and officials from the organizations are collaborating to understand capabilities and challenges and identify and enact opportunities to create change.
Scott Dulchavsky, M.D., Ph.D., the Henry Ford + MSU Innovation Committee co-chair and Henry Ford Innovation Institute CEO said, “The MSU and Henry Ford Health partnership extends beyond the traditional health science areas. The recent Meet and Greet between the College of Education and Henry Ford Health capitalizes on the extensive capabilities of both organizations to collaborate synergistically to solve tomorrow’s health care challenges.”
The collaboration between Henry Ford Health and MSU began in 2021. The agreement will yield groundbreaking research, offer interprofessional training and address healthcare and health disparities in urban and rural communities, according to an announcement made at the partnership’s launch.
The Henry Ford + MSU partnership — and this event — also highlights MSU’s and the College of Education’s continued, health-centered focus for the Spartan community, as evidenced in the MSU Strategic Plan and the college’s Imagin[ED] 2030 Strategic Plan.
“The work ahead of us is ambitious, but it is necessary,” said Jerlando F. L. Jackson during his remarks at the kickoff event. Jackson is dean of the College of Education and MSU Research Foundation Professor of Education. “[This work] requires a shared commitment to research, to practice and most importantly to the well-being of everyone we serve. It will take all of us — educators, researchers, clinicians, policymakers and community leaders — to ensure this partnership achieves its full potential.”
Ongoing and forthcoming research, learning and outreach opportunities will stretch from Lansing, to Detroit and across the state, and combine efforts with other educational institutions and health-based entities, including other MSU units.
Ideas specific to the College of Education, which will develop into concrete plans, include further integrating health education into teacher training, expanding mental health services within schools and more.
“The College of Education looks forward to our continued working relationship with Henry Ford Health,” said Emily Bouck, the College of Education’s associate dean for research. ” We feel there are opportunities for collaboration, research and outreach that extends not only with our Department of Kinesiology but also our other departments across the college, from our work with autism to leadership development.”