Pabst Catalyst Initiative

A Catalyst for Women’s Health

WHAT IS THE PABST CATALYST INITIATIVE?

The Pabst Catalyst Initiative emerged as the result of a private start-up donation from Joseph Pabst in 2014 to foster partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The primary purpose is to improve the health of women in Milwaukee, merging public health and clinical practice. Collaborative conversations lead to a shared question: “ If there is clear evidence to support a policy and/or program intervention to advance women’s health, and there are places that already have translated this science into effective policies and practices with demonstrated improved health outcomes, why can’t we do that here?” The Pabst Catalyst Initiative identifies evidence-based, proven practices and explores strategies for integrating what works with local efforts to improve the health and well-being of women.

The initial goals of the Pabst Catalyst Initiative are to:

Cultivate cross-sector, cross-institution, and interdisciplinary partnerships for women’s health. Improve the health and well being of women and children, and their families in Milwaukee and

beyond through uptake of proven interventions for health improvement. Facilitate a clear and collective understanding of the science. Foster the adaptation of evidence-based practices in the design and delivery of public and

population health policies and programs in Milwaukee.

ZSPH-MCW STEERING GROUP:

Founding Dean and Professor, Dr. Magda Peck of the Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health (ZSPH) and Dr. Janet Rader, Jack A. and Elaine D. Klieger Professor and Chair Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) are spearheading the initiative, with support from: Dr. Emmanuel Ngui, Assistant Professor at the Zilber School of Public Health; Dr. Fredrik Broekhuizen, Professor, MCW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Dr. Seema Menon, Associate Professor, MCW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Dr. Paul Lemen, Associate Professor, Director, MCW Residency Program; Dr. Kristina Kaljo, Instructional Designer, MCW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; and Zilber School of Public Health PhD student, Megan Meyer. In addition to ZSPH and MCW partners, Jessica Gathirimu, Director of Family and Community Health Services at the Milwaukee Health Department, Nicole Angresano, Vice President of Community Impact at the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, and Dr. Deborah Ehrenthal, Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and Faculty Director of the Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families are actively engaged.

Pabst Catalyst Initiative

A Catalyst for Women’s Health

PILOT PROJECT 2015:

The Pabst Catalyst Initiative currently functions as an umbrella initiative with the hope of fostering many replicable projects to better women’s health. The first pilot project centers on improving health for women and children, in Milwaukee, with two targeted outcomes: a reduction in unintended pregnancies and improved birth outcomes. The evidence-based clinical intervention with successful public health practices elsewhere in the U.S. is Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC). 1

Is LARC an underutilized as a prevention strategy in Milwaukee? The Initiative will organize and execute a kick-off workshop, in June of 2015, to convene community stakeholders, establish a collective understanding of the science and explore successful models of LARC implementation. Ideas cultivated by the conference will guide next steps for action.

TIMELINE:

GET INVOLVED:*

1. Join the planning and brainstorming team.2. Attend the kick-off conference to bring evidence-based practice to Milwaukee.3. Translate evidence into action using team based strategies4. Reconvene at a second event to reality check and act for uptake.

*For additional information and to get involved, please contact Dr. Magda Peck at mpeck@uwm.edu or Dr. Janet Rader at jrader@mcw.edu.

1 Ricketts, S., Klingler, G., & Schwalberg, R. (2014). Game Change in Colorado: Widespread Use Of Long‐Acting Reversible Contraceptives and Rapid Decline in Births Among Young, Low‐Income Women. Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health, 46(3), 125-132.

2014

Problem identification,

define pilot

June 2015

Event 1- Kick Off Conference:

Understand the science & establish a common knowledge

base.

June-August 2015

Opt-In Collaborative Learning Teams: Put science into action to

facilitate barrier busting

September-October 2015

Event 2 – Lessons Learned: Pitch

solutions and seek community

consultation.

October 2015 and Beyond

Increase uptake and

implementation