The American Public Health Association (APHA) has awarded the Delaware Academy of Medicine/Delaware Public Health Association (Academy/DPHA) with its 2020 Outstanding Affiliate of the Year award. The award was given at the APHA Annual Conference (held virtually this year) Council of Affiliates Reception Saturday evening, October 24, 2020.
The CoA Outstanding Affiliate of the Year Award celebrates an APHA Affiliate that has made significant contributions through innovative programs and activities that impact the public’s health. The Affiliate of the Year Award is given to an APHA Affiliate that provides a model for other Affiliates for work or project(s) of high value to public health such as innovative workforce development programming or impactful advocacy for public health policy within its state.
Tim Gibbs, MPH, executive director of the Academy/DPHA said “Just six years ago we became Delaware’s affiliate to APHA, and it has been an amazing experience which has led us to grow in ways few of us could have anticipated.” Mr. Gibbs was joined in accepting the award by President of the Board, Omar A. Khan, MD, MHS who stated “This means the world to our diverse membership of physicians, dentists, researchers, public health practitioners, community health workers, academics, and student interns.
The Delaware Academy of Medicine ( www.delamed.org ) was founded in 1930 and originally operated as Delaware’s medical library and conference center. In 2006, the Academy moved from its historic location in the City of Wilmington to Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware. Shortly after the move, Mr. Gibbs was promoted to the position of interim, then permanent executive director, and has overseen the transformation of the Academy into a public health, education, and research organization.
In 2014, after three years of realignment work, the Academy applied to the American Public Health Association to become Delaware’s affiliate and was accepted at the APHA annual meeting held in Boston, MA that fall. Since then, programming and revenue streams to the Academy/DPHA have diversified to include funding from the CDC, and contracts with the Division of Public Health.
In 2015, the Academy/DPHA started publishing the Delaware Journal of Public Health ( www.djph.org ), its signature, peer-reviewed publication. Other programs of the Academy/DPHA include the operation of the Immunization Coalition of Delaware (www.immunizedelaware.org), Student Financial Aid Programs, consumer health education programs, several clinical conferences, and student internship programs.
Partners of the Academy/DPHA include the Delaware Health Science Alliance and its member institutions, the Delaware Chapter of the American Planning Association, the Delaware State Dental Society, the Medical Society of Delaware, and the Delaware Stroke Initiative. The Academy/DPHA is a founding member of the Midlantic Public Health Partnership (www.midlantic.org).
The Academy/DPHA, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt membership organization is run by a board of directors, and supported by a public health advisory council, and investment advisory council. Membership in the Academy/DPHA is open to all healthcare provider degrees, public health degrees, researchers, academics, and students. The mission of the Academy/DPHA is “To enhance the well-being through education and the promotion of public health.”
Melissa Alperin, EdD, MPH, MCHES said:
“The CoA Outstanding Affiliate of the Year Award celebrates an APHA Affiliate that has made significant contributions through innovative programs and activities that impact the public’s health. This year we are honoring the Delaware Academy of Medicine/Delaware Public Health Association.
The DPHA is uniquely positioned as an APHA Affiliate embedded within a state medical academy. With this relationship, the Academy/DPHA has provided a model for a seamless partnership between traditional medical communities and public health.
The Academy/DPHA draws together primary care providers along with public health workers including those at the state division of public health, local academic institutions, and non-profits into one community focused on creating a healthier Delaware.
The Academy/DPHA uniquely combines a hands-on approach to public health community building with a commitment to science and data. Several activities of note include:
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- The Delaware Journal of Public Health serves as a model for data and information sharing through their Delaware Journal of Public Health.
- The Academy/Association strengthens the state approach to creating a healthier Delaware through its engagement with the Delaware State Health Improvement Plan; and their Delaware Immunization Coalition program.
- The Academy/DPHA is committed to providing professional education in the medical, dental, and public health realms.
- The Academy/DPHA is also strongly committed to providing quality learning opportunities to both young and old which increase awareness and health literacy.
- They support students and young professionals through their student internship program which is focused on public health opportunities/projects.
- They work closely with the Pennsylvania and Maryland Affiliates through the Mid-Atlantic Public Health Partnership.
- And many board and staff of the Academy/DPHA are active leaders within APHA.