Giving thanks for the "ripple effect" of care

Care is the heart of everything we do at the Heritage College. It’s caring interactions in our classrooms. It’s sending our students out into the world to care for their future patients. Care is also central to the work of our Community Health Programs, which offer health and education services to address unmet needs in underserved populations throughout the region.

We’ve always known that CHP was making impacts, but in the past, that impact has been hard to quantify. That all changed with a newly released social return on investment report, conducted by the Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service.

According to the report, Southeast Ohio is the beneficiary of an estimated $63 million in annual social and economic gains from the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine’s health services and clinics, most of which are free. Furthermore, the study found that for every $1 invested by CHP through its many programs, more than $32 in social value are generated for the individuals served. [Read the full story here.]

Stories like this go to show that “Care Leads Here” is so much more than a tagline at Heritage College. Through our Community Health Programs and other community outreach initiatives, our motto is perpetually in motion. That’s something to be proud of!

Community Health Programs Executive Director Sherri Oliver often talks about the positive ripple effect that happens when health care and health education are accessible to everyone in a community. I believe a similar ripple effect can be seen in the day-to-day interactions of our students, faculty and staff. One caring act inspires another. Compassion begets compassion. The result is an exponential outpouring of care and support—for our communities and for one another.

In the spirit of this week’s holiday, I wanted to let you know truly grateful I am to work in a college that places such a high value on care. I give thanks every day that I get to be part of such a dynamic community.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ken Johnson, D.O.