Description of Core
The purpose of the Community Engagement & Translation Core is to further guide and support investigators in developing the knowledge and skills needed to create innovative self-management strategies that address barriers to the implementation and dissemination of effective self-management interventions.
We aim to facilitate collaborative working relationships with UT researchers and community partners to foster Community-Based Participatory Research. Furthermore, we solicit guidance and feedback from our community advisory board to support our investigators in research design, implementation, and dissemination of research findings to the scientific community and public consumers.
AMEN
The African American Mental Health and Wellness Program (AMEN) provides mental and physical health assistance to local African American residents in partnership with two local churches. The AMEN program includes education, outreach, and access to health resources.
CHW Training
The Community Health Worker (CHW) Institute was established to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of underserved communities in Central Texas by training CHWs in specialty topics such as health promotion, chronic disease self-management, mental health, women’s health, and COVID.
Health Equity (MSVW/AAAHCT)
Our Health Equity program in partnership with the Alliance for African American Health in Central Texas (AAAHCT) and Mama Sana Vibrant Woman (MSVW) aims to address the healthcare needs of the most vulnerable people in our community in a culturally relevant manner.
Project HEALING
The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, in collaboration with generous funding from the Neuropathy Alliance of Texas, is conducting a study to learn more about the experiences of people with peripheral neuropathy (PN). The purpose of this study is to better understand what is important to people with neuropathy.
Community Engagement and Translation Administration Core
Director
Miyong T. Kim, PhD, RN, FAAN
Dr. Kim is the director of the Health Equity Research Center’s Community Engagement & Translation Core. Dr. Kim has extensive research expertise and experience in self-management science, and she is experienced in the administration of research centers. As Associate Vice President of Community Health Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin, she has made it a priority to systematically facilitate interdepartmental collaborations among researchers to focus on improving health outcomes, including effective and sustainable self-care strategies for people with chronic conditions.
Co-Director
Alexandra García, PhD, RN, FAAN
Dr. García is the co-director of the Health Equity Research Center’s Community Engagement & Translation Core. Her research focuses on the symptom experience of Mexican Americans with type 2 diabetes and the exploration of social, cultural, and economic influences on health promotion practices, diabetes self-management, and quality of life. Dr. Garcia received her Diploma in Registered Nursing from The Union Memorial Hospital School of Nursing; her Bachelor’s of Science from The College of Notre Dame of Maryland, and her Master’s of Science from The University of Maryland at Baltimore. She earned her PhD in nursing from The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing.
Co-Director
Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., MD, MPH
Dr. Martinez is the co-director of the Health Equity Research Center’s Community Engagement & Translation Core. He currently serves on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s, Health and Medicine Division’s (HMD’s) Standing Committee on Medical and Public Health Research during Large-Scale Emergency Events and on HMD’s Roundtable on the Promotion of Health Equity and the Elimination of Health Disparities. Dr. Martinez was appointed to the Biden-Harris COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force (January 21, 2021).
