KU Social Welfare research center harnesses power of collaboration to create a healthier Kansas 

There is little doubt that ensuring every individual has access to quality health care is one of the biggest challenges we face today. Each year, more than 60 million Americans struggle to find medical care while also facing larger economic, social and environmental factors that exacerbate the issue. In Kansas, 68% of hospitals are in rural areas, higher than the national average, but 58% of these hospitals are at risk of closing.  

There is also little doubt that it will take the work of many to solve these problems. 

Launched last September, the Center for the Advancement of Healthcare for Everyone, housed in the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, seeks to take on these issues and find solutions through collaboration amongst scholars, researchers and community partners.  

“These are such huge problems, it takes collective action, many people working together to move the needle on health equity,” said Carrie Wendel-Hummell, Principal Investigator and Co-Director, Center for the Advancement of Healthcare for Everyone. “The purpose of the center is to bring us all together so that we can be more effective in our work.” 

Since the Center’s founding last fall, the founding directors, Cheryl Holmes, Michelle Levy, Jason Matejkowski and Carrie Wendel-Hummell, have been focused on creating connections with community partners and across disciplines, culminating in a launch event this spring. 

“We’re looking to get as many perspectives and as much varied knowledge and approaches together around a common goal: increase health and wellness of Kansans and increase access and quality of health care services in the state and in the region,” said Jason Matejkowski, professor and Co-Director, Center for the Advancement of Healthcare for Everyone.