A COMMUNITY CONNECTED

Tuskegee University Partners with OnMed to Provide Virtual Health

Tuskegee University students, faculty, staff and extend community have access to health care services thanks to a partnership between the University and virtual health provider OnMed. These services are being provided via an OnMed Care Station and will complement the student health center resources.

Student health center clinicians and OnMed work together to ensure students receive follow-up or extended care, if necessary. The Tuskegee University OnMed Care Station is university branded and located in the Margaret Murray Washington Hall building atrium.

The Tuskegee University care station is the first OnMed care station site in the state of Alabama and will also continue to build upon the Center for Rural Health and Economic Equity’s charge to help citizens by offering free services to the Macon County community.

“Tuskegee University has a long history of bringing trusted healthcare to rural spaces in the state of Alabama and worldwide,” said President Dr. Charlotte P. Morris.

The Tuskegee University OnMed Care Station is a pilot station and University officials hope its success will lead to additional care stations being placed across Alabama’s “black belt” counties to provide access to quality healthcare for more citizens.

Tuskegee, Auburn University create umbrella partnership

Tuskegee University and Auburn University announced a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, to expand partnerships between the universities and collaborate on community outreach at a special signing ceremony on campus.

The MOU is a commitment to share resources and intellectual capacity to address racial and health disparities in communities across the state of Alabama. Through faculty research and outreach collaborations, both universities will work to address the lack of healthcare access and other social and health inequities in the local areas.

“The impact of this partnership will benefit the students of both schools and the surrounding communities where we are based,” said Tuskegee Provost S. Keith Hargrove. “By blending our resources, we will be able to have a broader reach in developing state-of-the-art academic programs and research and development opportunities, while deepening our community engagement and outreach.”

The collaboration includes a 10-member committee to review and recommend proposals to the university presidents for prioritization in seeking state and federal support. The collaboration team will focus on academic programs, research and development, outreach and community engagement.

“This partnership with Tuskegee University is a win-win for everyone, especially our students, researchers and outreach team,” Auburn University President Christopher B. Roberts said. “As a land-grant institution, it is important to work to eliminate disparities that limit opportunities for those in underserved areas. I am confident the collaboration that will emerge from this agreement will benefit students from both universities, as well as our neighboring communities.”

With the understanding that communities of color lack adequate access to healthcare and other social determinants of health impact areas, Auburn and Tuskegee will address these issues through ongoing faculty research and outreach alliances.

“As we focus on innovative ways to expose our students to research and training opportunities to keep them in the forefront of their fields, partnering with Auburn University helps expand their experience,” said President Charlotte P. Morris. “This collaboration provides a formal structure to ensure that the common goals are met to support students of both institutions and partner with the community in meaningful ways.”

The agreement is the latest in a number of partnerships between Auburn and Tuskegee, and with the two universities united in a shared mission, the future is bright for all involved.

The only historically black college or university (HBCU) in the nation designated as the location for National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care.