Community Health (Human and Veterinary)

Community Health (Human and Veterinary)

Colleges: EFSCOM, CAS, CON, CVM, VCEA

Scientific discoveries in the past century have enabled a dramatic increase in human longevity. But along with advances have come the challenges of chronic health problems and skyrocketing health care costs. As the world faces the triple threat of a pandemic, issues of racial justice, and looming financial uncertainty, focus on community resilience becomes critical. We must continue to delineate and deploy solutions to prevent emerging zoonotic threats, enhance community-based efforts to promote health, and empower communities to retain (or reclaim) economic viability. WSU scholars are working to advance the physical, mental and social health of individuals and communities. Researchers across all academic colleges and throughout the WSU system are collaborating to discover new ways to prevent and treat diseases. In other lines of work, WSU researchers are striving to make living with chronic disease less burdensome. This synergy of ideas and activities is poised to yield new answers to health questions that affect us all. This research not only expands our understanding of the bases of health, wellness, and disease, but also illuminates the social, cultural, and environmental determinants of health and wellness. Outreach programs translate research findings into effective interventions and policy. This ranges from efforts to enhance the global efficacy of antibiotics to enabling rural communities to better respond to the opiate crisis. Home to the Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH) which promotes the use of community-based participatory research methods that facilitates partnerships with diverse communities. The Partnerships for Native Health (PNH) focuses specifically on research, education, advocacy, and training for and with American Indian and Alaska Native populations working with over 150 communities, tribes, and organizations, especially in the western US.