4 Pillars
  • The establishment of a series of systematic strategies targeted toward the early cultivation of students as they pursue professional careers in the health, basic sciences and other disciplines.
  • The installation of administrative and programmatic mechanisms purposed to stimulate the sharing of intellectual talent and technical expertise among and between the faculty of the member institutions.
  • The identification and implementation of collaborative strategies for securing research funds thus leading to creative approaches to the reduction of barriers which perpetuate disparities in access to health care and resulting health outcomes.
  • The identification and implementation of collaborative strategies for securing funding (infrastructure, training, program development, etc.) which will further enhance the educational environment of the partner institutions.

background

Statement of Affiliation

Whereas, the nation continues to experience increasing diversity but also profound disparities in access to quality health care and ultimately health outcomes largely based on racial/ethnic status, economic and social circumstances, and the lack of racial diversity within the health care policy, administration, and practitioner communities and;

Whereas, Historically Black Colleges and Universities provide a nurturing educational environment of excellence for African-Americans and other under represented minority students in the face of steadily shrinking infrascructure, technical, and professional resources and;

Whereas, health science education centers offer a complex array of world-class professional and technical resources while seeking to diversify their student bodies and faculty as a means of enriching their campus environments, their neighboring communities, and ultimately to address the pervasive issues which contribute to disparities in health care throughout the nation;

Whereas, academic health science centers are resources for education, and research for their states and nation. As such will collaborate on innovative educational and research programs to address the needs of their respective states;

Whereas, academic health science centers such as the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Virginia Commonwealth University are respected as leaders in identifying and responding to emerging national healthcare issues (bioterrorism, health disparities, HIV/AIDs, etc.) and are committed to establishing collaborations with each other and with the HBCU to address these national concerns;

Be it therefore resolved that: the Charter Members of the Virginia-Nebraska Alliance shall establish a representative Steering Committee for the exploration, design, and implementation of academic initiatives which will reflect the needs and resources of each individual Charter Member as that member seeks to preserve and expand its unique historical mission. A key element of the Alliance will be the establishment of collaborative activities with the goal of raising the necessary funds in support of these academic initiatives.