Feb 23 2009
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and its Department of Environmental Health Sciences have partnered to establish a Center for Environmental Health and Human Ecology.
Museum and School of Medicine leaders recently signed a memorandum of understanding to create the new center. The agreement will allow the two organizations to provide public education and conduct research on environmental and human health issues.
The purpose of creating the Center is to provide public education on current and future problems related to the environment and human health and disease. These problems could be local, regional or worldwide in nature, and affect both individual residents and the community at large. By formally aligning, both organizations can draw upon their individual strengths while sharing resources in research, graduate education and public outreach programs.
“This is an exciting collaboration that can have a positive and lasting impact on our region,” said Dorr G. Dearborn, Ph.D., M.D., chairman of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “Creating this new center to address the effects of our modern environment on human health will advance the well-being of our Cleveland community.”
“The alliance will benefit both institutions,” said William B. Bolton, chair of the Museum’s Health Advisory Committee. “By utilizing the School of Medicine’s scientific, medical and research expertise, and combining it with the Museum’s experience in educating the public about natural sciences and human health, we hope to bring attention to one of the important issues of our times.”
The alliance requires a new faculty position be created and hired within the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University’s School of Medicine. The new faculty member would serve as the director of the new Center. This person would teach graduate courses within the department and carry out research projects. The faculty member’s role at the Museum would be to design and implement public health education exhibits and classes related to environmental health issues facing the community. The faculty member would also be expected to pursue local and federal grant support for projects. The candidate will possess expertise in environmental epidemiology, and the position’s salary and benefits costs will be shared equally between the School and the Museum.
The collaborating partners envision that the newly created Center will provide a valuable service to the Greater Cleveland community. The group also strives to serve as a model for similar joint ventures across the country.
The Memorandum of Understanding states that:
- Both organizations shall work together to identify and conduct research and educational activities of mutual interest.
- Executive and Governance Boards will be created to review ongoing and future cooperative activities. The Executive Board will serve administrative and operational functions and communicate with the University’s School of Medicine, the Museum’s Health Advisory Committee and the Museum’s Board of Trustees. The Governance Board will serve an oversight role and assist with policy decisions.
- The goal of the Center will be to advance the understanding of the impact of environmental diversity upon human health. The Center will engage participants from both cooperation institutions, as well as other local and regional organizations.
- Both the University’s School of Medicine and the Museum agree to equally share the cost of salary and fringe benefits for a newly created position of director for the Center. The position will have a primary faculty appointment at the University’s School of Medicine at an assistant professor tenure-track level. This position will have a secondary appointment at the Museum. The director will be selected by the Executive Board, which will participate in the national faculty search conducted by the University.
- Research projects proposed by the Center will be collaborative. However, the University’s School of Medicine will be the primary grantee on all research proposals, with the Museum sharing as a subcontractor in the indirect costs.
- Public education projects proposed by the Center will be collaborative. However, the Museum will be the primary grantee on all public education proposals, with the University’s School of Medicine sharing as a subcontractor in the indirect costs.
- Results of research conducted may be shared with the public after review by both organizations.
- The intellectual property rights of each party shall be determined in accordance with U.S. laws.