Health
The Lincy Institute identifies best practices to expand health care services and sustain healthy communities throughout Southern Nevada. Through collaboration with public and private sectors, the development and expansion of educational health care programs, and advocacy for health policy, our researchers support access and quality health care for all members of our community.
Nevada consistently ranks in the bottom half of health indices in the United States. Southern Nevada, as the epicenter of the state, has one of the fastest growing most diverse populations in the United States. The Lincy Institute continuously seeks to improve the health outcomes in southern Nevada by focusing on three areas simultaneously.
Lincy Health Programs Strategic Goals
Access to Health Care
In 2011, Brookings SRI report on economic development for Nevada documented that southern Nevada was missing over 66% of its health care infrastructure with a dearth of medical professionals in every area but plastic surgery (Muro, Lang, & Yeung, 2011). Since then, The Lincy Institute has employed a symphony of strategies to improve access to healthcare in order to reduce health disparities and improve the overall health of the region. The accomplishments include the development the new UNLV School Medicine, establishing the first Clark County incorporated Federally Qualified Health Care Center (FQHC) and supporting legislation that reduces the time for all health care providers to get state licensure.
Building a Stronger Public Health Infrastructure
Improving health outcomes in southern Nevada includes creating educational opportunities that help expand health and wellness knowledge and encourage positive health behaviors in southern Nevada. The Lincy Institute continues to work collaboratively with local community organizations that support health care, behavioral intervention and actively addressing specific challenges presented in the region. The accomplishment include regionalized efforts that include Southern Nevada Strong, health Communities and Choice Community in the City of North Las Vegas.
Achieving Health Equity
The uniqueness of the region and the large diversity in the southern Nevada population has created the perfect opportunity for The Lincy Institute to support regional and local activities focused creating health equity by addressing systemic, cultural and regional challenges that contribute to health disparities. Providing content expertise on cultural competency, health disparities, behavioral health and supporting creating new external funding streams into the region to support efforts to eliminate health disparities. This includes working with all municipalities and community based organizations that seek to increase their capacity to meet the needs of the residents. The accomplishments include improved data and evaluation of programs in southern Nevada, submission of over $25million in novel grant funding and providing presentations at local, regional and national conferences and meetings that support the continued efforts to build Public Health infrastructure in southern Nevada.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Programs at UNLV
The Lincy Institute supports the university’s commitment to increase participation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines and to produce graduates with the skills and knowledge required to expand Nevada’s STEM-capable workforce. The Institute endorses the belief that STEM education will fuel the pipeline for future health professionals in this region. In partnership with the Office of Diversity Initiatives at UNLV, The Lincy Institute will serve as a link between the university and the community to increase collaborative research and help to identify potential funding opportunities that support STEM education.
Marya Shegog
Marya Shegog, Ph.D., MPH, CHES is currently the director of health programs at The Lincy Institute at UNLV and an assistant professor within the School of Public Health Department of Environmental and Occupational Health.