The Health Pavilion, located at 1643 Hanna Ave., connects students, faculty, staff and community members with access to new technologies, research and procedures within Community Health Network. Home to the University’s nationally respected academic programs in nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, gerontology, kinesiology, athletic training and social work, the Health Pavilion also features health and physical therapy clinics and the University’s Student Counseling Center.
Students in the College of Health Sciences can gain hands-on experience in their chosen fields under the supervision of professionals and faculty. The space includes a 7,000-square-foot rehab center with private treatment rooms and a therapy gym that includes a walking track and therapy equipment. The physical therapy clinic offers undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity for on-campus clinical experiences.
The 3,700-square-foot primary care clinic provides health and wellness services to UIndy students, employees and their families. Additionally, the Health Pavilion houses the Student Counseling Center.
In fall 2018, Community Health Network became the exclusive provider of sports medicine for University of Indianapolis Athletics. The partnership creates a unique model for healthcare, education and athletic training in higher education. The agreement also expands opportunities for research, education and access to healthcare for University employees and students in the Health Pavilion.
One of the largest providers of sports medicine in central Indiana, Community Health Network has developed a standout reputation with professional teams such as the Indy Eleven and Indy Fuel. Community will provide nearly 700 student athletes with the same expertise and quality in sports medicine and athletic training.
The partnership expands access to athletic trainers as well as diagnostic and treatment services including physical and occupational therapy, orthopedics, women’s health and concussion rehabilitation. With the focus on urgent and emergent medical management, the unique partnership will provide faculty and students with expanded teaching, research and educational opportunities for healthcare majors, including collaborative opportunities with Community professionals.
In 2018, the Community Health Network Foundation received a four-year $2,500,000 award from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2018 to transform the delivery of primary care through enhanced undergraduate nursing education and to redefine nursing practice in the primary care setting.
With the support of the HRSA funding and Community Health Network, UIndy revolutionized its undergraduate nursing curriculum by adding a first-of-its-kind minor in Primary Care Nursing and the opportunity to receive intensive clinical training at Community Health from a primary care RN preceptor. Upon graduation, students will have received training in population health and holistic care, social determinants of health, preventative health screenings and education, chronic disease management, care coordination and navigation, transitional care, pain management, and mental health and substance use treatment. In addition, existing UIndy School of Nursing courses are infused with primary care didactic and clinical components, ensuring that all students receive exposure to primary care nursing practices.
The Annual Multidisciplinary Symposium held every spring showcases research and scholarly efforts by University faculty and Community Health Network (CHN) clinicians. This is a virtual symposium, attended by CHN professionals along with UIndy faculty and students. There are both oral and poster presentations in online breakout rooms. The symposium provides opportunities to share insight on trends in medical education and the role of multidisciplinary competency-based learning to ensure that students are supported through their learning journey and developing skills to meet the needs of patients.
The Behavioral Health Academy (BHA) is an academic partnership with Community Health Network aimed at preparing social workers and mental health counselors to be able to treat people suffering from substance use disorders (SUDs) and mental illness at the same time. This is a creative approach to meeting a growing demand for behavioral health professionals, which is particularly important given the rise of opioid addiction in Indiana.
UIndy and Community Health Network collaborated to develop community gardens in Carson Heights and University Heights near campus. This garden provides fresh and affordable food for UIndy and surrounding neighborhoods and teaches students and neighbors how to start and maintain their own gardens. The UIndy Community Gardens are now managed through the Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement, providing a learning lab for students to learn about food insecurity while positively impacting the health and quality of life for UIndy's neighbors.
Our two gardens, the Carson Heights garden and the Otterbein garden were recently featured on the UIndy news site. The Carson Heights garden was launched in the Spring 2019. This half-acre, in-ground garden produced tomatoes, peppers, corn, carrots, green beans, cantaloupes, and flowers this year. All the produce grown in our two gardens was distributed free of charge to area neighbors. Through a partnership with HATCH for Hunger, eggs were donated during the twice-weekly produce distribution.
During 2019, both gardens generated 237 pounds of produce and 138 dozen eggs were distributed to 212 individuals. Further, nine individuals participated in a cooking demonstration hosted by CHNw’s chef and registered dietician at the UIndy Health Pavilion.