The purpose of the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research is to engage SCSU faculty and students, and CentraCare employees in joint research about community health outcomes and healthcare in order to develop practical solutions to health challenges in Central Minnesota.
“Develop a healthy community,” that is what Dean King Banaian said is the ultimate goal of St. Cloud State’s partnership with CentraCare in developing the Center for Health Outcome Policy Research (CHOPR). Banaian was the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of St. Cloud’s meeting Tuesday.
A partnership five years in the making, the center was inspired by work being done by St. Cloud State professor of economics Mónica García-Pérez and CentraCare healthcare providers. At the time, they were studying the effectiveness of the strategies used to treat childhood obesity.
With a contribution of approximately 1.95 billion dollars to the Minnesota economy, CentraCare’s database is the database for studying health in the area.
“We recognize in the creation of CHOPR that we can do more together than each of us could do alone.”
“As anchor institutions in the community, St. Cloud State and CentraCare need to make sure the community is healthy and are meeting the needs of the community. When a community thrives, we thrive,” Banaian said.
CHOPR will ensure that the health, education and economy of the community is healthy. Banaian firmly stated that “We recognize in the creation of CHOPR that we can do more together than each of us could do alone.”
CHOPR will be supported by faculty, graduate and undergraduate students from all corners of the campus.
