D’Youville College, Catholic Health, agree to collaborate on new Health Professions Hub
D’Youville College and Catholic Health have agreed to partner to advance D’Youville’s unique and innovative community health care model, the Health Professions Hub. Catholic Health has joined D’Youville to provide necessary resources to ensure the model fulfills the vision of serving those in need and building a stronger health care workforce. The Hub will provide local residents with a fully-integrated health care experience, and in the process, advance patient and family-centered care on the college’s campus on the West Side of Buffalo.
Catholic Health President & CEO Mark Sullivan initiated the conversation with D’Youville College President Lorrie Clemo to discuss how the system could become involved in the Hub. With its large network of Primary Care Centers, offering adult, pediatric and OB-GYN services at locations throughout Erie and Niagara counties, Catholic Health has the infrastructure in place to operate and staff a community-based
health clinic.
In announcing their collaboration, the two organizations underscored their shared values of quality, education, service, compassion, care and affordability. D’Youville’s Health Professions Hub will expand the college’s renowned health professions programs, inter-professional virtual simulation trainings, and professional development programs.
“D’Youville values its strong relationships with our area health care systems and we have benefited from each institution’s willingness to collaborate in unique ways that make a positive impact for those we serve,” shares D’Youville President Lorrie Clemo, PhD. “This new dynamic partnership of two of the region’s leading mission-driven institutions signifies our joint promise to make the Health Professions Hub a model that serves our community in perpetuity.”
“When D’Youville announced its HECap grant funding in July, I sat in the audience thinking about the synergies that exist between our two organizations and the potential to collaborate on this project,” said Sullivan.
“There is no doubt that our missions align, but we also share a commitment to improve access to high quality health care for the underserved, while expanding educational opportunities for students at all levels. Given the future demand for skilled health professionals, the clinic will enable students to work hand-in-hand with experienced Catholic Health providers, while meeting the health needs of families on Buffalo’s West Side. We look forward to this partnership, as well as the opportunity for many D’Youville graduates to apply the skills and real-life experiences they will gain through the Hub and the clinic, working for Catholic Health in the future.”
As part of the agreement, Catholic Health will provide expertise and resources to operate the community clinic inside the Health Professions Hub. Other highlights of the partnership include opportunities for healthcare workers to upskill and upscale their training through the Hub’s simulation center and workforce development programs.
The Hub will prepare future healthcare providers through innovative educational methods with an emphasis on inter-professional practice. This will assure that all health professions students can truly function on an integrated team focused on high-quality, patient-centered care. Construction is scheduled to begin July 2019 with completion projected for Fall 2020.
