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Why Collaborate?
Power of Collaboration - Dating Back to 1577
Adam and Eve in Paradise
P.P. Rubens (1577-1640) en J. Brueghel (1568-1625)
This masterful painting is the result of a collaborative venture by two specialists: Rubens painted the two nude figures while Brueghel executed the landscape and animals. Ruben's wide brushstrokes are clearly distinct from the refined painting that is the hallmark of the 'Velvet' Brueghel. The intensity of the collaboration is clear from a variety of details. The lion and tiger painted by Brueghel, for instance, are quotations from the oeuvre of Rubens. The overall composition, on the other hand, was probably an invention of Brueghel, whose oeuvre contains other similar pieces.
Top Ten Reasons to Collaborate within Public Health and Health Professions
If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go with others.
We want to go far!
~African proverb
1. Why not? We have always collaborated!
2. A major research focus of our college is disability. The health professions have addressed issues of disability at an individual level. Nationally, public health professionals have not considered the health of populations with disabilities in a comprehensive way. Collaboration between PHHP rehabilitation investigators and PHHP public health investigators will lead to advances in interventions for people with disabilities at both the individual and population levels.
3. Approaches and interventions must address all aspects of health...as the WHO definition implies. Collaboration across disciplines facilitates comprehensive approaches to improving health.
"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference. New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.
4. By expanding our knowledge of interventions for individuals with disabilities, we will advance quality of life for all.
5. Important problems require multiple perspectives.
6. Under one roof, we have the capacity to address a health-related problem from its identification to policy solution.
We track the extent of the disease and disability.
We research the causes and nature of disease and disability.
We develop, deliver, and evaluate treatment to improve quality of life and overall health.
We educate populations and individuals about their health.
We evaluate and research the effectiveness of programs, delivery systems, and policy solutions.
7. Use of different methodologies from the health professions and public health can lead to consensus regarding best practices.
8. Statements from NIH and the CDC call for increased collaboration across disciplines. Collaboration will make us more competitive in our pursuit of funding.
9. Our students will have an expanded view of health and their roles as clinicians, advocates, researchers, and policymakers.
10. Insights gained from the treatment of the individual may provide an important understanding of the health needs of the community. Knowledge gained from studying the health of communities and populations increases our understanding of what needs to be addressed in the care of the individual.