Resilient Community Health through Advanced Partnerships

Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center 

Houston Health Department (HHD) has made significant advances in building a team of experts that brings the best of statistical science to support informed public health actions to improve the health and resilience of the residents of Houston. The internal group of data scientists and statisticians are complemented by academic leaders from Rice University, University of Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, and UT School of Public Health. The strong working relationships have guided important action by HHD, including establishing a world-renowned program in wastewater epidemiology, addressing key community concerns related to air, water, and soil pollution, and most recently taking definitive actions to help Houston residents manage the health implications of extreme heat in the region. We will discuss the key statistical innovations and findings, but most importantly, how these beneficial partnerships were built and maintained.