Celebrate Research! 2025 was a month-long celebration hosted by Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Advocate Health, showcasing groundbreaking research and innovation across the Advocate Health Enterprise. Throughout March, faculty, research staff, students, and community partners highlighted discoveries that are transforming healthcare and pushing the boundaries of medicine.
On Wednesday, March 26th, 2025, the Wake Forest Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI)’s Community and Stakeholder Research Engagement (C&SE) program hosted an exciting and thought-provoking half-day event where investigators, research teams, students, staff and community members came together to celebrate the power of partnered research and to look ahead to the evolving landscape of our community health priorities.
Here are the key C&SE takeaways from this memorable event:
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Partnered Research’s Impact Leads to Positive Outcomes
Scott Best, Executive Director of Help Our People Eat (H.O.P.E.) of Winston-Salem, highlighted the strategic advantages of partnering with Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He emphasized the alignment of both organizations' target audiences and objectives, which has fostered the development of impactful initiatives, including research projects like What A City Eats and Fresh Food Rx, as well as the establishment of a neighborhood produce market. -
Creating a Healthier Society by Gaining Community Trust and Grassroot Support
Community and Stakeholder Research Engagement is dedicated to fostering a healthier society by actively involving all community stakeholders in collaborative research as advisors, collaborators, partners, and leaders. C&SE continues to support projects such as the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, which provides valuable resources to emerging researchers interested in community-partnered research. Dr. Ana (Nikka) Sucaldito, a former fellow of the C&SE Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, discussed a community-based participatory partnership that includes community members, grassroots organizations, and academic researchers—the Karenni Health Partnership.
By leveraging the resources and services of C&SE, this project achieved significant success due to its responsiveness to community needs, its strong acceptance within the community, and its distinction as the first clinical trial focused on Karenni health. Through this and other initiatives, the project increased research access, fostered trust, and engaged over 200 community members in research and partnership activities. -
Strengthening Research Infrastructure and Understanding Community-Engaged Research Partnership
C&SE strengthens the research infrastructure for community and stakeholder engagement by fostering a bi-directional partnership that not only amplifies the voices and expertise of communities in the research process but also ensures that their perspectives are integral to shaping research priorities and outcomes. This collaborative approach promotes accessibility, ensuring that all stakeholders are actively engaged and involved. The foundation of this partnership is built on core values of trust, increasing research access, partnership, collaboration, and innovation, which guides the development of meaningful, community-driven research. These values are central to the C&SE program’s commitment to conducting research that is not only relevant and respectful of the communities involved but also impactful in addressing their needs and priorities. Through this approach, C&SE fosters a research environment that prioritizes mutual respect and shared goals, ultimately leading to outcomes that benefit both the academic community, and the communities served. -
Advancing Community-Engaged Research Through Partnerships and Resources
Community-engaged research flourishes when backed by robust resources and strong partnerships. The C&SE program supports this mission through initiatives like the Community Research Advisory Council, Community and Stakeholder Research Resources Unit, and the Community Research Advocates Program, along with awards and the Early Career Faculty Fellowship that foster meaningful collaboration between researchers and community members. Successful partnerships rely on trust, open communication, shared goals, and sustainability.
To enhance its impact, C&SE program has restructured advisory councils and implemented measurable metrics for programming. Additionally, leveraging storytelling to maximize community partnered research projects impact and amplifies community voices. Moving forward, C&SE program aims to expand its network of community and academic partnerships and develop additional resources to improve access to research, ensuring that studies continue to address the health needs of the communities we serve.
These key takeaways emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts and research initiatives aimed at improving healthcare access and addressing community health needs. They also highlight the critical role of community partnerships in driving meaningful change and advancing quality healthcare for all. Through these partnerships real-world challenges are being addressed, and relevant, impactful knowledge is being generated collectively.
If you are interested in collaborating with Wake Forest CTSI’s Community and Stakeholder Research Engagement Program, please review our webpage and request our services here.