Community Research Lab
Community Research Lab is an initiative to promote civic engagement in public health and to advance participatory research methods. Here, community leaders come together to collaboratively define issues of importance to them and to participate in the design and leadership of projects in four areas of impact. We seek to empower more people with lived experience to contribute to policy, research, and service systems.
Peer ADVOCATE CURRICULUM
We are seeking partners to build a curriculum to train peer advocates to support people navigating major life transitions. These include experiences of domestic violence, major medical or mental health episode, and gender transition.
Our long-term vision is simple: an advocate at every transition point. A transition point is a time when life could feel turbulent. It is also a time that could signify a new beginning. Peer advocates don’t help — they provide the support all people deserve to stand in their power while navigating change.
CASE STUDY: THE ART OF CARING AT WHITE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
In our first Community Research Lab case study, we describe a novel application of human-centered design to medical education curriculum development with our partners at White Memorial Hospital in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles.
Staff, residents, and community members were engaged in designing an OB/GYN graduate medical education curriculum to support practices of healing-centered communication and mutual support. These social aspects of care are known to contribute to positive patient outcomes and clinician wellbeing.
Our study illustrates the value of a learning community to residents and suggests future cohorts be resident-led and offer opportunities to engage in the community outside of the clinic/hospital. Findings underscore the need for clinical educators to address tensions between values of authenticity and connection that define “The Art of Caring” and values of efficiency and performance that are rewarded in Western medicine.