When thinking about “economics” and “health” together, the general thought is this must relate to the rising cost of health insurance or the budget impacts on hospitals and clinics treating and caring for patients. But this is thinking about health through the lens of traditional healthcare. At the Kansas Health Foundation (KHF), we believe there’s so much more to “health,” including factors such as education, workforce training and economic development. It’s what we refer to as “Health,” with a capital H.

With that idea in mind, we are partnering with Kavi Chawla, a globally-recognized impact advisor and consultant, and the Kansas Health Institute to examine the connection and impact of economics on health. Normally, when this type of study is done, it looks at why economic factors, including the obtaining or absence of wealth, impact the health of individuals and communities. We want to view this connection from the opposite direction. Can better health actually drive economic development? What is the economic case for health improvement?

Be watching this page for updates on our study. The initial research will debut at the Kansas Economic Outlook Conference, an event led by Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR). KHF CEO Ed O’Malley will be one of the keynote speakers, and anyone interested in attending the event can register here.