​This presentation introduces the Academic Health Department (AHD) Learning Community and the AHD concept. The AHD concept is illustrated by case studies describing the well-established AHD relationships of the Jefferson County (AL) Department of Health and the newly-formed partnership between the University of Tennessee Department of Public Health and the Knox County (TN) Health Department. The slides were originally presented at the American Public Health Association 139th Annual Meeting on November 1, 2011 in Washington, DC.