UW News

April 3, 2003

April 17 conference on community-based research

An increasing number of researchers around the country are encouraging “community-based participatory research” to bring communities and academic researchers together as partners to study what a community is interested in learning about.

A recent Institute of Medicine report recommended that all schools of public health develop courses in community-based research.

At the UW, Public Health Dean Patricia Wahl, who served on the IOM committee for the report, has appointed a school-wide committee to foster community-based participatory research at the school. Dr. Serena Seifer, research assistant professor in health services, is the chair.

A day-long program on Thursday, April 17, will focus on community-based research and offer several perspectives on current projects and future possibilities. The program, which begins at 10 a.m. in room 316 at South Campus Center, is free and open to the public. It is co-sponsored by the UW School of Public Health and Community-Campus Partnerships for Health, a national organization.

The keynote speaker is Dr. Robert Goodman, professor of community health services at Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Goodman is scheduled to speak from 10 to 11:30 a.m. In the afternoon, two sets of concurrent workshops will be offered.

Although there is no charge for the conference, participants are asked to register with Annika Robbins by phone at 616-3472 or by e-mail at annikalr@u.washington.edu