First-of-its-Kind Academic Chair in Population Health to Have National Focus

Thomas Jefferson University’s College of Population Health today announced that the healthcare management company Navvis will fund an endowed chair in population health, the first privately supported academic chair in the discipline in the country.

The Navvis Professorship of Population Health, funded with $2 million, will support the work of a faculty member devoted to national research that examines which healthcare interventions work best in the real world.

Officials from Thomas Jefferson University, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, said the funding of the position represents “a shift in thinking regarding ways to improve health and reduce healthcare costs.” A statement said the endowed chair is part of broader partnership between university and the company, which seeks to address overlapping patient needs by delivering seamless, aligned provider networks.

"Along with our academic and primary research with our partners at Jefferson, we are building ecosystems that break down silos and provide care for the real-world needs of people," said Navvis Chairman and CEO Mike Farris in the statement. "The Navvis Professorship of Population Health represents our commitment to life-changing healthcare--improving the everyday interactions that people have with their health."