Wake Forest Translational Science Institute (TSI)

Community Engagement

The Program in Community Engagement and Implementation facilitates collaboration among community members, community health care providers, and scientists in translational science.

About Us

Given the health challenges of our region, the need to translate the benefits of biomedical discovery to communities is urgent.  Realizing this imperative, a major goal of the Translational Science Institute (TSI) is to deploy a bi-directional system that promotes community-based research, increases best health practices, and reduces health disparities.  It aims to engender trust; share ideas; empower mutual values; and achieve common language and purpose.  Although Wake Forest Baptist Health's research presence in its catchment region is substantial, the bridge between academia and community is weak and the translational infrastructure and training in translational science immature.  We designed the Program in Community Engagement and Implementation to overcome these challenges. 

Program Goals

• Create programs that build, sustain and expand the interest and capacity of community members to collaborate in translational science.
• Build, sustain and expand the interest and capacity of community health care providers to collaborate in translational science.
• Implement programs to expand the interest and capaicty of scientists at Wake Forest to engage community members and community health care providers in translational science.
• Support the development and implementation of community based research.
• Disseminate new knowledge for use by community members and community health care providers in improving health.

Leadership

Thomas A. Arcury, PhD, Program Director

Alain G. Bertoni, MD, MPH, Associate Director for Outreach

Sara A. Quandt, PhD, Associate Director for In-Reach

Kathleen N. Lowe, MSW, Assistant Director

Lori E. Pelletier, MPH, Project Coordinator