Office of Community Health

Centering community voices in healthcare practice, education, and research

Why Do We Need the Office of Community Health?

The Office of Community Health is dedicated to achieving more equitable outcomes for all through community-centered initiatives and research. Our experience in health equity and our unique roles as non-clinical staff gives the time and the skills to build lasting, two-way relationships between community, clinician, and research partners.

We believe that communities are experts in their own strengths, needs, and social conditions. Whether we are organizing a community advisory board, forming a coalition of partners, or leading a community needs assessment, we approach our work through a lens of cultural humility and shared ownership with our community partners.

We bring community, clinicians and research partners together to advance health equity in Wisconsin.

What Do We Do at the Office of Community Health?

Our work is about building and sustaining long-term, two-way relationships with communities. We believe that when we work in partnership with communities, we create better outcomes. That’s why our staff dedicate their time and expertise to building and maintaining community connections. We work as a team with clinicians, researchers, and community partners to achieve better health for all.

Community Health Projects

LGBTQ+ Health

• Bringing LGBTQ+ best care practices to healthcare and research teams
• Strengthening collaborations between community, academic, and healthcare organizations to improve

Nutrition Security

• Increasing access and affordability to food that supports people’s health and wellbeing by studying effective strategies via Food is Medicine research grants

Rural Health

• Supporting local coalitions in Southwestern Wisconsin to engage with rural communities and build relationships
• Identifying the needs of rural communities and bring clinical and community partners together to address those needs
• Building and maintaining strong connections between resident clinics and the communities in which they serve

Community Health Workers

• Supporting Dane County community health workers so that they can do their work sustainably and effectively
• Building capacity locally and statewide to improve community health worker access to funding, training, and partnerships

Integrating Public Health Into Primary Care

• Connecting public health organizations to the Department of Family Madison & Community Health to strengthen clinical best practices

Contact Us

Shelly Shaw, MPH
Director
michale.shaw@fammed.wisc.edu

General Inquiries:
communityhealth@fammed.wisc.edu