Building Bridges Through Experiential Learning and Community Engagement
The Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Community & Stakeholder Research Engagement Program recently hosted another successful Institutional Community Tour, providing community leaders and healthcare partners with a unique opportunity to experience firsthand the innovative research taking place across our academic health system. The tour served as a meaningful platform for fostering transparency, strengthening community-academic partnerships, and increasing awareness of how research discoveries can ultimately improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve.Representatives from the North Carolina Community Health Center Association, Community Care Clinic of Forsyth County, Action4Equity, and Forsyth County Behavioral Health Services participated in the immersive experience. Through guided visits to Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Clarkson Campus, and the Biochemistry Department, participants gained valuable insight into the breadth and impact of translational and clinical research occurring at our institution.
Advancing Community Understanding of Research
One of the primary goals of the Institutional Community Tour is to showcase research as a shared community value, foster two-way engagement, demonstrate the research process, connect lived experience with research, and build sustainable community-academic relationships. By opening the doors to laboratories and research facilities, the tour helped community explore cutting-edge laboratory spaces, learn about ongoing scientific advancements, and engage in discussions about how research can address important community health outcomes. These interactions fostered bidirectional learning, allowing community members to gain a deeper appreciation of the research process while providing researchers with valuable perspectives from the community.
Strengthening Community-Academic Partnerships
The Tour reflects CTSI's commitment to cultivating authentic, collaborative relationships between academic researchers and community stakeholders. By bringing together representatives from community organizations and healthcare agencies, the tour created opportunities to build trust, identify shared interests, and explore future collaborations. These relationships contribute to a stronger research ecosystem and support the development of research initiatives that are informed by community priorities and needs. As interest in community-engaged research continues to grow, these experiential learning opportunities provide an important foundation for strengthening trust, enhancing collaboration, and connecting communities to the research that ultimately serves them.