Strengthening Relationships between State-University Partnership Research Partners and Their University Leadership

Abstract

In a new blog post written for AcademyHealth and Milbank Memorial Fund, published by AcademyHealth, and also published by The Hilltop Institute, former Hilltop Executive Director Cynthia H. Woodcock makes the case that the success of a state-university partnership depends not only on the relationship between the state agency and university research partner, but also on the relationship between the university research center and its university leadership. She then gives her reflections on relationship building based on Hilltop抯 30-year partnership with the Maryland Department of Health and her 11-year experience as Hilltop抯 chief executive.The blog post is part of a special series in honor of the 10th anniversary of the State-University Partnership Learning Network (SUPLN). The series will include reflections on the growth of the network and the value propositions that enable and strengthen these partnerships, showcase the collective research and future areas of focus for the Medicaid Outcomes Distributed Research Network (MODRN), highlight emerging health services researchers in Medicaid and how such partnerships strengthen their scientific knowledge, and elevate future opportunities SUPLN seeks to explore.Woodcock recently retired from UMBC, where she served as executive director of The Hilltop Institute from 2013-2024. She was actively involved in the creation of SUPLN in 2014 and chaired the SUPLN steering committee during its formative years.Hilltop抯 Interim Executive Director Alice Middleton currently chairs the SUPLN steering committee.