Abstract

Imagine a partnership of university and community which addresses the needs of the community to keep its citizens healthy as long as possible.Through a planning exercise to address the community’s needs in primary health care and health promotion, the university has developed key strategic directions to help support the needs of the community it serves. This inter-professional education initiative serves to change health care delivery through the education of primary care and generalist nurses and nurse practitioners who, by working in teams with the community will actively improve health and health outcomes. With specific interest in the explosion of diabetes within the surrounding community, teams of students and faculty will be working to improve high risk groups for diabetes by involvement in health education, physical fitness and coaching activities.Through positioning of inter-professional teams in our community engagement center we are addressing this key health issue.This center is located in a high poverty and immigrant area, with a predisposition for diabetes. Academic and community partnership is addressing this epidemic and is highlighted in this presentation.