The Duquesne University Center for Integrative Health (DUCIH) is committed to improving the health and wellness of our campus and neighboring communities through interdisciplinary practice, teaching and research. We provide chronic disease prevention and management programs from pediatrics through adulthood; and our students are trained in an interdisciplinary teaching, research and service model. The employee and student clinic is a provider of disease prevention and management services for the Duquesne University campus community. Community Health Initiatives include several community-based health programs, in collaboration with a diverse group of community partners, to meet residents where they are, decrease disease disparity, and promote health equity in Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. DUCIH programs focus on problems that have a high cost, high burden and significant racial disparity.

The DUCIH supports meaningful engagement with patients, communities and stakeholders to facilitate research that not only will improve health outcomes but the overall health care system.

Mission

The mission of the Center for Integrative Healthcare is to train the next generation of practitioners who will address rural and urban health care disparities and thereby improve health equity in the Pittsburgh region and beyond.

Goals

  • Establish and sustain Duquesne University as a nationally recognized model for integrative health and community-based care
  • Provide opportunities for interdisciplinary practice, teaching and research engagements
  • Engage students in population health and community-based teaching and research experiences to promote health equity in our region

Featured Programs

 
 
Asthma care

Asthma Care

Free Asthma Care available at the following eligible locations: Clairton City School District, Propel Hazelwood, South Allegheny Elementary, Woodland Hills Edgewood Elementary, Woodland Hills Wilkins Elementary

Contact The Program Director!
Bridges to health

Bridges To Health (B2H)

Bridges to Health (B2H) is a sustainable, multi-sector partnership that proposes a trauma-informed, community-driven, and community-based approach to implement local solutions that address community-identified health priorities. The B2H program bridges clinical and social determinants of health, outside of the traditional healthcare system, to create a pathway to health for everyone. Health priorities targeted include COVID-19, chronic disease prevention/management (cardiovascular disease, diabetes and asthma), social determinants of health, mental health and substance use disorder, maternal child health and more. Current partners include Clairton City School District, Clairton Cares, Squirrel Hill Health Center, Propel Schools Hazelwood, Center of Life, Primary Care Health Services (PCHS), Pittsburgh Public Schools and Northside Christian Health Center.

Contact The Program Director!
Chronic disease prevention

Chronic Disease Prevention & Management Program

Duquesne University Center for Integrative Health offers free community based chronic disease prevention and management programs to eligible residents of priority neighborhoods. Programs include the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), Self-Monitoring Blood Pressure, and Diabetes Self-Management, Education & Support.

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REACH

R.E.A.C.H.

The Duquesne University Center for Integrative Health, in collaboration with the Allegheny County Health Department and a diverse coalition of community partners, are working to increase access to healthy foods, physical activity and connections to clinical care. The CDC-funded R.E.A.C.H. program aims to achieve health equity and prevent chronic diseases in the East End (East Hills, Garfield, Homewood, Larimer, Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar, Wilkinsburg), Hill District, Mon Valley (Clairton, North Versailles, Duquesne, McKeesport, North Braddock, Rankin) and the Northside.

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Rx For Change

Prescription (Rx) For Change

A multi-sector, community-based approach to chronic disease prevention and management in underserved African American/Black communities. Services include cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk screenings, pharmacist-led medication therapy management (MTM) and evidence-based chronic disease prevention programs will be coupled with increased access to healthy foods (Food Bucks Rx) and support for physical activity. Communities served include Hazelwood & Clairton.

Contact The Program Director!

More Programs

Asthma Home Visiting Program

Collaboration with Community Health Workers (CHWs) and the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Healthy Homes Program to provide in-home asthma education, serve as a liaison for those enrolled in our clinics, provide care coordination and work with families on goal setting to reduce asthma triggers.

CDC Asthma Control Program

CDC's National Asthma Control Program (NACP) was created in 1999 and funds health departments in 24 states to ensure availability and access to guideline-based medical management and pharmacotherapy for all people with asthma to address the intersection of public health and health care. It funds state programs and national organizations, promotes asthma quality measures and informs policy makers about the burden of asthma. DUCIH is contracted through the Pennsylvania Department of Health to work on four of the six EXHALE strategies:

  • Asthma Self-Management Education (ASME)
  • Extinguishing smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke
  • Home visits for trigger reduction and ASME
  • Linkages and coordination of care across settings.

Asthma & Food Allergy Awareness

Interactive educational programming for children and their caregivers at school gatherings, scheduled lecture series for caregivers/school personnel, and interactive classroom sessions for children focusing on food allergy, asthma awareness and healthy living.

  • Pittsburgh Public Schools Early Learning Program
  • South Allegheny School District

Collaboration with several school districts and the Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in each neighborhood to provide comprehensive, asthma care in the school and community setting, including diagnosis, pharmacologic and non-pharmacological management, education and coordination of care.

This model has consistently resulted in significant reductions in emergency room visits and hospitalizations for children with asthma as well as significant improvements in asthma control.

Current School & Community Partners:

  • Center Of Life Hazelwood
  • Clairton School District
  • Propel Hazelwood
  • South Allegheny School District
  • Woodland Hills School District

Current Provider Partners:

  • Children's Hospital Of Pittsburgh Of UPMC
  • Northside Christian Health Center (NSCHCS)–FQHC
  • Primary Care Health Services (PCHS)–FQHC
  • Squirrel Hill Health Center (SHHC)–FQHC
Vaccinations

The Center for Integrative Health works with various community partners to implement community-based vaccine clinics in locations accessible to all residents (churches, schools, community gathering spaces, public housing units).

Overdose To Action (OD2A)

Collaboration with the Allegheny County Health Department and community partners in Allegheny County to address opioid-related morbidity and mortality in Allegheny County. Activities include expanding existing surveillance efforts by obtaining new data and expanding prevention efforts by health systems and insurers, improving linkages to care for residents with opioid use disorder, building new diversion programs with law enforcement and launching a harm reduction communications campaign. Duquesne CIH is contracted to work on two strategies, strategy 6 (establishing linkages to care) and strategy 9 (empowering individuals to make safer choices).

Smoking Cessation

DUCIH has a contract through the Pennsylvania Department of Health to provide smoking cessation classes and support throughout Allegheny County. DUCIH offers in-person and virtual programs.

Health & Wellness Sports Camps

Partnership with Duquesne University Department of Athletics to provide day camps for schools and community organizations consisting of hands on health education and sports instruction.

Center For Integrative Health Team

Jennifer Elliott, Pharm.D.

Director

Aiman Akshalova

Program Coordinator, Community Health Workers

Megan Donnarumma

Practice Manager

Brittani Namey, MSN, CRNP

Program Coordinator, Asthma

Julianne Oplinger, Pharm.D.

Administrative Pharmacist

Lisa Ripper, MPH, CPH

Research Manager

Shannon Shaffer, MSW

Manager of Community Health Initiatives

Vanessa Vought, M.Ed.

Community Health Worker Coordinator

Partnerships & Funding

  • Squirrel Hill Health Center (Clairton)
  • Primary Care Health Services (Hazelwood)
  • Northside Christian Health Center
  • East Liberty Family Health Center
  • Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
  • Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD)
  • Clairton School District
  • South Allegheny School District
  • Woodland Hills School District
  • Northgate School District
  • Propel Schools
  • Pittsburgh Public Schools Early Childhood Programs
  • Center of Life
  • Greater Hazelwood Community Corps
  • Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative (GHCC)
  • Hazelwood Initiative (HI)
  • JADA House
  • P.O.O.R.L.A.W.
  • Clairton CARES
  • Pine Run Methodist Church (Clairton)
  • Sisters Place, Inc. (Clairton)
  • Clairton Family Center
  • American Lung Association
  • Pennsylvania Asthma Partnership
  • Allegheny County Asthma Task Force

DUCIH has partnerships with several FQHCs throughout Allegheny County, providing teaching, research and service opportunities

Current FQHC Partners:

  • Primary Care Health Services
  • Northside Christian Health Center
  • Squirrel Hill Health Center
  • East Liberty Family Health Care Center

DUCIH has a partnership with the Housing Authority Of The City Of Pittsburgh (HACP) to provide chronic disease prevention and management services at all ten senior and five family communities throughout the City of Pittsburgh

  • The Heinz Endowments
  • Jefferson Regional Foundation
  • Henry L. Hillman Foundation
  • Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Clean Air Fund
  • CDC Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH)
  • CDC National Asthma Control Program (NACP)
  • CDC Overdose Data to Action (OD2A)
  • State of Pennsylvania Tobacco Control Funds

 

Healthcare Compliance

Notice of Privacy Practices

Duquesne University takes Healthcare Compliance very seriously. The University abides by all Federal, State, and Local laws and ordinances. If you would like to discuss a healthcare compliance, includes HIPAA, complaint, please contact the Duquesne University Chairperson of Healthcare Compliance at (412) 396-4419 or mail a letter to:

Duquesne University
Office of HIPAA and Healthcare Compliance
600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282

You may also hand deliver a note to Room 436 in Fisher Hall. All will be kept strictly confidential.

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