Matchmaker, Matchmaker: Health Extension Program Connects Wisconsin Researchers

Department of Family Medicine (DFM) faculty and staff are serving as "research matchmakers" in a new institutional initiative supporting community-based research in Wisconsin.

The initiative, known as the Health Extension Program, was launched in early 2008 as part of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health's Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR).

Led by Health Extension Research Director and DFM Associate Scientist Nancy Cross Dunham, PhD, with oversight from ICTR Director of Community Engagement and DFM faculty member, John Frey, MD, Health Extension aims to become a presence in communities for facilitating clinical translational research throughout Wisconsin.

How Health Extension Works

Loosely modeled on the successful collaborative process of UW-Extension, Health Extension is working to develop regional representation statewide. Community-based research coordinators have been hired in three Wisconsin regions-Northern, Northeastern, and Milwaukee-in collaboration with the Wisconsin Area Health Education Center (AHEC) system. There are plans to hire a fourth regional research coordinator in the coming year.

Working with the AHEC regional boards and existing DFM residency programs and faculty, Health Extension is building relationships with health professionals and health systems, public health, community leaders, and community organizations.

The research coordinators, working through regional research councils, help Health Extension to engage in a two-way process of communication and resource sharing. Through the work of these councils, coordinators are able to spark active conversations about community health needs, existing research projects, and important issues for which research has the potential to improve health and/or health care delivery.

Through these efforts, according to Dr. Frey, "Health Extension will be not only a 'research matchmaker' for individual projects, but will also make conditions better for ongoing conversations about researchable ideas."

Getting Health Extension Up and Running

According to Dr. Dunham, Health Extension's research coordinators are actively identifying community-based research opportunities throughout Wisconsin through conversations with researchers and community organizations in their particular regions. Throughout this start-up year, the coordinators have been building the regional research councils, and continue to recruit members from the following types of organizations:

• Health systems and clinical practices
• Regional and local public health agencies
• Colleges and universities
• UW Extension regional offices
• Nonprofit agencies
• Regional AHECs
• Community-based organizations representing underserved populations
• State and local government

The roles of the councils in communicating with ICTR about regional research resources and priorities are anticipated to evolve rapidly in the coming year. In addition, the councils will be actively involved in sponsoring research forums to support Health Extension's research "matchmaking" efforts in their regions.

Significance for the DFM

Along with the Wisconsin Research and Education Network (WREN) and the Evidence-based Health Policy Project, Health Extension forms the Community Engagement component of the ICTR's Community-Academic Partnerships Core.

Community Engagement represents an important "outreach arm" of ICTR's goal of improving clinical practice, community health, legislative policy and, ultimately, the health of the people of the state of Wisconsin through clinical translational research.

ICTR itself was established in 2007 through a grant from the National Institutes of Health, with matching funds from the UW SMPH's Wisconsin Partnership Program. Several DFM faculty members played central roles in ICTR's creation; others are currently leading ICTR programs. In addition, a number of DFM faculty and staff have been recipients of ICTR pilot project grant funds.

"This is a huge opportunity for the DFM to have significant, ongoing involvement in and support for community-based research," says Dr. Frey. "The School of Medicine and Public Health has made a substantial commitment to, and investment in, ICTR's community engagement process. By aligning with ICTR and the NIH, we can create a robust connection between community needs, community research, and investigators."