Paul Campbell Erwin, MD, DrPH, Professor and Department Head, Department of Public Health, University of Tennessee

Academic health department (AHD) partnerships bring together academic institutions and health departments to strengthen public health education and training, research, and practice. High quality and relevant research is vital to advancing the field of public health and building the knowledge base upon which public health practice, education, and training are based. However, the impact of research on the work and training of public health professionals, and ultimately on the public’s health, depends greatly on the translation of that research into practice. AHDs, with their strong relationships between researchers, practitioners, and educators, offer a unique opportunity to facilitate the translation, or application, of research into practice, but are we taking full advantage of this opportunity?

We are interested in connecting with AHDs with a focus on translating research into practice, especially in relation to practitioner training, and are seeking answers to the following questions in order to learn more about the process:

• How do AHDs identify relevant research and then translate research into public health practice?
• What are the needs, barriers, challenges, and facilitators vis-à-vis translating research into practice?
• What advantages do AHDs – because of their academic-practice linkages – have in translating research into practice?
• Can you provide examples of identifying and then successfully translating research into public health practice?

Is your AHD involved in translating research into practice or do you know of another AHD which is? Your help identifying AHDs or answering any of these questions is greatly appreciated. Comments are encouraged below or by email to kamos@phf.org. Thank you for helping us explore ways to bridge the gap between research and practice!