College of Human Medicine: Center of Excellence

UC VC Eugene Washington Discusses Community Partnerships

"Building Community Partnerships" was the topic of discussion as delivered by Eugene Washington, M.D., Executive Vice Chancellor of the University of California in San Francisco.

Washington posed these questions: Why build community partnerships?
Who are the best community partners?
Who should take the lead/be responsible for forging university and community partnerships?
How do you build community partnerships?
How do you best use the partnerships to establish collaborations to eliminate health disparities?

One by one, he supplied answers to the posers. For instance, why build community partnerships:
a) To advance mission -- education, clinical care, research, service;
b) To promote institution - education, clinical care, research, service.

Dr. Eugene Washington

Who are the best community partners? Churches, business groups, government/public agencies, political leaders, other community leaders/groups, civic clubs/organizations, philanthropic organizations, media.

Who should take the lead/be responsible for forging university and community partnerships?
Investor/faculty level, departments, deans/schools, university/presidents/chancellors
Centralized vs. decentralized responsibility
Coordinated vs. uncoordinated
Preferred: decentralized and coordinated

How do you build community partnerships?
1. Clarify objectives/goals
2. Be honest
3. Be realistic
4. Identify best university person/group
5. Identify best community person
6. Approach community contact as equal partner
7. Listen
8. Be specific about value added
9. Be flexible and adaptable
10. Be patient-commit to long term

How do you best use the partnerships to establish collaborations to eliminate health disparities?
A. Health disparity in disadvantaged community
B. Same as above but magnify 2-3 fold because of history
C. African Americans-Tuskegee, AL
D. American Indians-Pima, AZ
E. Concern still present-resulting in heightened sensitivity and level of mistrust
F. Remembering determinants of minority-proportion (premature mortality).

Finally, Washington reminded the audience of some vital stats that shape everyone's health. They are, genetic predisposition 30%, behavior patterns 40%, environmental exposures 5%, social circumstances 15% and health care 10%.

Washington chatting with Dean Davis

Washington chatting with attendees during reception

MSU Jazz band entertaining

Brief biodata: Washington is chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences for UCSF since 1996. He is an internationally renowned clinical investigator and health policy analyst who has served UCSF, the UC system, and various local, state, federal and international agencies in several capacities.

Washington, the campus' next executive vice chancellor, is a 1976 graduate of the UCSF School of Medicine. He also studied at the Howard University and both the UC Berkeley and Harvard Schools of Public Health.

Washington is also the director of the UCSF Medical Effectiveness Research Center for Diverse Populations which focuses on research aimed at improving the health of minority and underserved populations.