The purpose of the Center for Promoting Health and Health Equality (CPHHE, “Center”) is to enhance community health through community-university collaborative research, education, and implementation in communities of Omaha and the region. In direct fit with Creighton’s core values, the Center’s emphasis is on health improvement of Omaha communities that have worse health related to social inequalities and inequities. The Center’s formation rests on the recognition that to foster health equality and promote health generally, Health Sciences Centers such as CUMC should become "Centers-without-walls" that embrace served communities as partners and collaborators. Also, intersectoral collaboration of multiple academic disciplines and health professions is essential and community-based participatory research is the most promising model. Furthermore, the scope of work extends beyond that typical of medical centers because policies so strongly influence health. Moreover, core issues are how social justice, respect, care and other ethical values flow throughout such a collaborative-partnering endeavor. The CPHHE integrates these diverse elements.
