The document summarizes a presentation given at the 2011 Keeneland Conference on moving public health services and systems research (PHSSR) forward. It discusses the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's investment in PHSSR through annual funding solicitations and other initiatives. It outlines the charge of the National Coordinating Center for PHSSR to create a unified PHSSR agenda and increase the field's relevance to policy and practice. Finally, it presents the NCC's plans to allocate $6.5 million in funding to support research capacity building, practice translation, engaging new funders, and developing a new collaborative research agenda.

1. Moving PHSSR Forward
April 12th 2011
2011 Keeneland Conference
Lexington, KY
F. Douglas Scutchfield, M.D.
Bosomworth Professor
University of Kentucky
National Coordinating Center for PHSSR

2. Public Health Services & Systems Research
A field of study that examines the
organization, financing, and delivery of
public health services at local, state and
national levels, and the impact of these
activities on public health.
Mays, Halverson, and Scutchfield. 2003

3. RWJF Investment in PHSSR
• Annual PHSSR Solicitation
• AcademyHealth PHSR Interest Group
• Keeneland Conference
• Data Harmonization
• Practice Based Research Networks (PBRNs)
• Building the Network of Researchers and
Practitioners Engaged in PHSSR

4. NCC Charge
• To create a unified, coherent agenda for PHSSR
• To synthesize, translate and disseminate results of current and past
investments in PHSSR by RWJF and other funders
• To increase the number of researchers in the field with the appropriate
skills to conduct quality work
• To strengthen the ability of practitioners to interpret and apply PHSSR
findings
• To increase the relevance of PHSSR findings to practitioners
• To increase the number of practitioners who are engaged in PHSSR
• To increase the number of policy-makers who are aware of PHSSR
• To increase the number of funders committed to PHSSR
• To inform public health policy and practice, which will lead to better
health outcomes for all Americans

5. Organizational Chart
(Please Refer to Handout)

6. Building the Evidence of What Works
NCC Lead: Glen Mays
NCC Contact: Robin Pendley This work will support research
Chair: Michael Caldwell
Members: specifically driven by the public
- Alice Ammerman health practice community and
- Ross Brownson
- Wayne Giles will not compete with our other
- David Lanier
annual solicitation which targets
- Robert Pestronk
- Donna Peterson researchers. ($ 2.5 million)
- Patrick Remington
- Patricia Sweeney

7. Increasing Researcher Capacity
NCC Lead: F. Douglas Scutchfield
NCC Contact: Angie Carman This allocation of funds will
Chair: Howard Frumkin
Members: support training opportunities for
- Marcia Brandt both new and current researchers
- Jenine Harris
- Denise Koo to strengthen their methodological
- Rika Maeshiro skills. ($ 1 million)
- Allan Noonan

8. Practice Application and Translation
NCC Lead: Paul Erwin
NCC Contact: Alex Howard
This allocation of funds will
Chair: Phyllis Meadows
Members: support activities aimed at
- Susan Allan
translating promising findings and
- Edith Arrington
- Matthew Boulton will provide training sessions that
- Dorothy Cilenti
- Paul Halverson
will focus on application of
- Donna Grandbois findings. ($ 1 million)
- Fernando Guerra
- Mitchell Katz
- Noble Maseru

9. Expanding Funding
NCC Lead: Julia Costich
NCC Contact: Whit Elam This allocation of funds will be used to
Chair: Jeff Levi
Members: engage current and potential funders to
- Russell Glasgow
increase the number of funders for
- James Kimmey
- Lisa Simpson PHSSR and will provide matching funds
- Steve Teutsch
- Tim Van Wave to provide an incentive for funders to
- Mary Wooley
support this work. ($ 1.5 million)

10. NCC Partners in PHSSR
• AcademyHealth
• American Public Health Association
• Center for Disease Preventions and Control
• National Network of Public Health Institutes
• Practice Based Research Networks
• Public Health Finance
• Public Health Law Network
• Public Health Law Research Program
• Public health practice organizations: NACCHO, ASTHO
and NALBOH
• Trust for America’s Health

11. New Research Agenda
• RWJF, CDC, NCC PHSSR agenda setting
meetings/ webinars are currently underway
• Draft Research questions
– Refer to handout
– More will be generated at upcoming CDC / RWJF
meeting
– AcademyHealth

12. THANK YOU!
Questions / Comments /Concerns

13. For more information contact:
F. Douglas Scutchfield
scutch@uky.edu
121 Washington Avenue, Suite 212
Lexington, KY 40517
859-257-5678
www.publichealthsystems.org