National Health Outreach and Engagement Conference 2024

Cheryl Eschbach & Lauren Kennedy (Michigan State University)
Allison Myers (Oregon State University)
Erin Martinez (Kansas State University)
Health Extension includes health-focused research, education, programming, and interventions delivered by the Cooperative Extension System (CES) as the outreach and community engagement part of Land-Grant Universities and Colleges. This session is a panel discussion on capacity building and organizational strategies to prepare the CES workforce for Health Extension and ways Extension can gain credibility in human health disciplines. In general, academic disciplines have (1) an object of research, (2) a body of accumulated knowledge, (3) organizing theories and concepts, (4) specific terminology, (5) common research methods, and (6) institutional manifestation (Krishnan, 2009). Extension as an academic partner working on interdisciplinary research and educational activities needs these same discipline qualities, especially shared understanding and standardized approaches of research methods, collaborative science, and publication processes. Building capacity in Health Extension to be a well-established area of study and program dissemination and implementation within CES and among aligned partners will need these standards for health to be operationalized into all Extension priorities. In realizing the potential for Health Extension in the 21st century, specific steps must be taken to ensure that CES can realize its potential as an intellectual leader in community-based healthcare and public health and a full partner in the scientific process. Intellectual leadership, especially in emerging disciplines, challenges existing power and leadership structures, emphasizes the importance of publication-based authority in the domain of ideas, and “can establish roots when women and minority scholars utilize opportunities for dissent and public engagement” (Oleksiyenko & Ruan, 2019, p. 8). To maximize the potential for CES to lead in health-related fields, Extension professionals must be trained in health behavior change theory and frameworks and principles of community organizing and community building for health. Professionals also need training in human subjects’ protocol (e.g. IRB), research design, and dissemination and implementation science. In addition, administrative and institutional leaders must provide support, mentoring, and encouragement to junior and mid-career intellectual leaders, acquire new talent where needed, and commit to developing a more diverse workforce and new collaborations with university and community-based health professionals. Finally, grant-writing, peer-reviewed publication, and partnership-building skills must be prioritized to formalize the intellectual leadership of CES in Health Extension and broaden the scope of potential funding and partnerships beyond traditional domains. This panel, comprised of junior and mid-career scholars from multiple universities, will address the skill development, leadership priorities, and funding, publication, and partnership opportunities needed to establish Health Extension as a sustainable area of study and program implementation with CES as a foundational leader and authentic partner. Panelists include Extension Specialists in health-related program areas who are providing statewide and national leadership and state level Extension administrative leaders (e.g. Associate Dean, Institute Director) who are focused on human health.
Krishnan, A. (2009, January). What are Academic Disciplines? Some Observations on the Disciplinarity vs Interdisciplinarity Debate. University of Shouthampton National Centre for Research Methods. Report. https://eprints.ncrm.ac.uk/id/eprint/783/1/what_are_academic_disciplines.pdf
Oleksiyenko, A & Ruan, N. (2019). Intellectual leadership and academic communities: Issues for discussion and research. Higher Education Quarterly, 73(4), 1-13.