Ohio University to formally establish Academic Health Sciences Center

Ohio University is set to formally establish the Academic Health Sciences Center, a coordinated partnership between OHIO’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and College of Health Sciences and Professions. The Academic Health Sciences Center will seek to address healthcare workforce shortages in the region as well as health challenges that arise in rural and Appalachian communities. 

According to an article on Ohio University’s website, Ken Johnson, D.O., who serves as the vice president of Health Affairs and senior strategist for Health Partnerships at Ohio University, was quoted as saying of the Academic Health Sciences Center, “For many years, faculty, staff and students across our colleges and throughout the University have worked together on research initiatives, training and community-focused efforts. The AHSC formalizes those partnerships and provides structure to support and amplify the important health-focused activities already underway. Experience has shown that we are stronger and have greater impact on health outcomes when we work together. Each of us brings unique strengths, and aligning those strengths allows us to do more for our students, our communities and our state.”

The Ohio University Academic Health Sciences Center will more formally integrate the work of the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and the College of Health Sciences and Professions through an official shared framework to unite and align the work being done by both colleges, while maintaining their distinct identities.

The Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine is the largest medical school in the state and produces the most graduates who perform primary care in Ohio. The College of Health Sciences and Professions offers programs in nursing, physical therapy, athletic training, and public health. 

Ohio University President Lori Stewart Gonzalez said, “The Ohio University Academic Health Sciences Center strengthens how we prepare Ohio’s health workforce and serve our communities. By aligning our health-focused colleges, we can expand access to care, advance research, and improve health outcomes—especially in rural and underserved areas.”

The goals of the Ohio University Academic Health Sciences Center include stronger research collaboration between both colleges as one unified team, more experiential learning opportunities for students, more partnerships with local health organizations, the ability to receive more funding for projects, and stronger community impact.

The Academic Health Sciences Center will follow similar models from around the country, and the implementation of it will be gradual.

For more information about Ohio University, visit the school’s website.