HOUSTON & LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), one of the nation’s leading health and
well-being companies, and the University of Houston announced today a
long-term strategic partnership to train the health care leaders of
tomorrow with a focus on advancing population health, improving health
outcomes and expanding the use of value-based payment models.
Together, the two organizations will create the Humana Integrated Health
System Sciences Institute at the University of Houston, which will unite
the university’s new College of Medicine, as well as the existing
colleges of Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Optometry. A $15 million
gift over 10 years from Humana will help defray start-up and operational
costs for the College of Medicine, as well as fund endowed chairs for
each of the five colleges.
The strategic collaboration is designed to graduate physicians, nurses,
pharmacists and other health care professionals who are trained in
population health and have a propensity for primary care and for working
with the underserved.
“This is an investment in the future of our health care system, which
depends on clinical leaders who understand concepts like population
health, the importance of social determinants of health and the need to
emphasize value over the volume of health care services provided,” said
Humana Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roy Beveridge. “The University of
Houston is an ideal partner to continue Humana’s integrated care
delivery evolution because we share a vision for addressing these
imperatives and for caring for individuals in underserved communities
with the greatest health needs.”
With its emphasis on underserved communities, the University of Houston
and Humana partnership aligns with Humana’s Bold Goal of improving the
health of the communities it serves 20 percent by 2020 by making it
easier for people to achieve their best health. Humana is taking a
population health approach to pursue this goal, while working to address
social determinants of health such as food insecurity, social isolation
and inadequate transportation.
“Humana and the University of Houston share a commitment to helping
people achieve their best health with a focus on population health,
primary care and value-based care,” said Renu Khator, president of the
University of Houston. “We have the unique opportunity to be innovative
and synergistic in our approach and curriculum. We are serious about an
interdisciplinary, integrated approach to health education that will
make a life-changing difference in Houston and beyond, and this
transformative gift clearly positions that dream to become a reality.”
Both Humana and the University of Houston expect that the partnership
will yield abundant opportunities for collaboration, including:
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Adjunct professorships and teaching opportunities for Humana subject
matter experts
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Opportunities to partner in shaping curricula in a wide range of
topics, including value-based payment, home-based care, population
health, data analytics and more
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Partnership on research and publications
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The establishment of value-based care clinic labs for University of
Houston health sciences students and medical residents
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Internships and rotation programs to provide practical experience
The partnership will also build a talent pipeline of graduates that
believe in, train in and will practice population health.
“At Humana, we hold physicians and clinicians in high regard, and it is
gratifying to be able to support their education, with an emphasis on
the important trends that are shaping the practice of medicine today,”
said Dr. Worthe Holt, vice president, Chief Medical Office, at
Humana. “Working with the University of Houston’s health sciences
colleges will enable us to further our integrated care delivery model
and substantially advance the science of primary care. Our missions
perfectly align, and we are thrilled to be establishing this strategic
relationship.”
“We have a commitment to the underserved in Houston, in Texas, and
beyond. Training our students in and exposing them to real-world
practices in population health, clinical quality and new payment models
will provide them with a tremendous opportunity to improve the health of
our community,” said Dr. Steve Spann, Founding Dean of the University of
Houston College of Medicine.
Humana currently employs approximately 2,800 people and serves more than
1.8 million medical members in the state of Texas. The College of
Medicine is scheduled to admit thirty students in its inaugural class
pending approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and
Texas Legislature, and accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical
Education. Humana’s gift contributes to the goal of raising $1 billion
in the UH “Here, We Go” Campaign, the first major fundraising campaign
in more than 25 years in support of University priorities, including
scholarships, faculty support, facilities and strengthening the
university’s partnership with Houston and its health care community.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public
research university recognized with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for
excellence in undergraduate education. UH serves the globally
competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class
faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships.
Located in the nation's fourth-largest city and one of the most
ethnically and culturally diverse regions in the country, UH is a
federally designated Hispanic- and Asian-American-Serving institution
with enrollment of more than 46,000 students.
About Humana
Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is committed to helping our millions of medical
and specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history
in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us create a
new kind of integrated care with the power to improve health and
well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a better quality
of life for people with Medicare, families, individuals, military
service personnel, and communities at large.
To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care
professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right place
for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical capabilities,
resources and tools – such as in-home care, behavioral health, pharmacy
services, data analytics and wellness solutions – combine to produce a
simplified experience that makes health care easier to navigate and more
effective.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the
Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at www.humana.com,
including copies of:
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Annual reports to stockholders
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Securities and Exchange Commission filings
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Most recent investor conference presentations
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Quarterly earnings news releases and conference calls
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Calendar of events
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Corporate Governance information