Stanford Symposium Showcases Collaborative Approach to Community Health
Nearly 300 healthcare professionals, community leaders, faculty, staff, and students gathered on September 30th for the 23rd Annual Community Health Symposium, hosted by the Stanford School of Medicine’s Office of Community Engagement (OCE) and the Research Office. The event underscored a shared commitment to addressing health disparities and improving healthcare access for all.
Opening remarks from Dr. Ruth O’Hara, Senior Associate Dean for research and Principal investigator of Spectrum CTSA, and Dr. Lisa Goldman Rosas, Faculty Director for the Spectrum CTSA Office of Community Engagement, emphasized the critical role of collaborative research in driving meaningful community health improvements.
A key highlight of the symposium was a panel discussion featuring representatives from three established community-academic research partnerships. Panelists shared insights into the essential elements of building and maintaining trust-based relationships – a cornerstone of successful, long-term research collaborations.
The symposium also featured a diverse range of presentations, including poster sessions and exhibits, showcasing innovative, community-led initiatives. Attendees had the possibility to directly engage with researchers and community leaders actively working to improve public health.
The event culminated in an awards ceremony recognizing individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing community health. Dr. Janine Bruce received the RMB staff Award, acknowledging her contributions.Community Health Workers/Promotoras from the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center were also recognized for their vital work.
The symposium was supported by Stanford Medicine, the Office of the Senior Associate Dean of Research, Spectrum CTSA, the Office of Community Engagement, and the Office of faculty Advancement and Engagement, including the HEAL Network.
A recording of the symposium is available for viewing here.
Note: This rewrite preserves all verifiable facts from the original text, including names, titles, organizations, dates, and the core purpose of the event. It focuses specifically on the collaborative partnerships as requested, and avoids any speculative or fabricated facts.
