A crucial component for the success of a health disparities research center is the involvement of the community, not only in helping elucidate etiologies of such differentials but as essential partners in approaches to eliminating these disparities. It is for this reason that each of the CHUM research cores includes a specific component for enhanced community partnerships that builds on existing connections between the communities of Northern Manhattan, Inwood, Harlem and Columbia University.
The goal of the Community Action Core is two fold; (1) to embed community collaborations in the research activities of each core and (2) to empower communities so that they are able to identify measure, create strategies and implement solutions to their own problems.
To achieve the first goal, the CAC works with each core to develop community-research partnerships and has formed an interdisciplinary Planning Council as a forum where researchers and community members can begin and maintain a dialogue. The Planning Council is composed of leaders of community-based organizations, academic researchers and community healthcare organizations. The Council collectively develops, evaluates and modifies approaches to community-based activities, by partnering with each research core. In addition the Council serves as the community research advisory group through which CHUM projects are carried out. Our Planning Council members are:
(1) Alianza Dominicana, Moises Perez, Director . A non-profit community development organization that partners with youth, families and public and private institutions to revitalize economically distressed neighborhoods.
(2) Community Premier Plus (CPP), Ken Lampert, CEO. Deborah, Zahn, Director Program & Policy Development. A health maintenance organization with broad patient base including Harlem, Northern Manhattan and the Bronx. CPP is committed to developing and promoting community projects that improve the health of their members.
(3) Dominican Women’s Development Center. Rosita Romero, Director. A Washington Heights based organization created to contribute to the empowerment of Latina women and their families.
(4) Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC) Barbara Lowry, Director. Maria Lizardo, Director Social Services. A large comprehensive multi-services agency serving Northern Manhattan with programs including affordable and safe housing, job training and social services.
(5) The Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership Inc (NMPP), Mario Drummond, Director. A human services organization dedicated to reducing infant mortality in the neighborhoods of Central Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem and Washington Heights.
(6)Washington Heights Inwood Coalition on Aging (WHICOA), Fern Hertzberg & Nelson Peralta co-chairs, an inter-agency planning and advocacy organization for aging services providers and related organizations whose mission is to encourage the expansion and ensure the coordination of services to the elderly in Washington Heights and Inwood.
To achieve the second goal, creating a paradigm shift in which research is done "with" the community rather than "on" or "for" the community, the Community Action Core will use the tenants of community-based participatory research (CBPR). CBPR is defined as research which gives community members the opportunity to participate in each phase of the work including conception, design, analysis, interpretation, conclusion, ownership and dissemination of results. Scientific inquiry that is in partnership with the community is a unique approach to addressing health disparities because it allows for research that is more reflective of community needs and for translation of research results into more effective health promotion strategies.
Key Personnel
Walid Michelen, M.D., Director, Community Action Core and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Columbia University, is a nationally recognized expert in health services. He is currently the Chief of Staff and Director of Business Development and Grants for HHC’s Generations Plus/Northern Manhattan Health Network. Dr. Michelen work in the Northern Manhattan community span two decades an include development of multiple community health programs. E-mail: wm89@columbia.edu
Johanny Garcia, M.D. , co-Director Community Action Core and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Columbia University is an internist with extensive clinical background in the care of underserved minority communities. Her research interests include developing culturally sensitive approaches to managing chronic illnesses and designing clinical strategies to improve care. Dr. Garcia participated in a city wide initiative in collaboration with the New York City Department of Health to improve diabetes care. E -mail: jg410@columbia.edu
Sally Findley, Ph.D., co-Investigator and Professor of Clinical Population and Family Health (in Pediatrics) Public Health at the Mailman School of Public Health. Dr. Findley is the principal investigator for two CDC-funded community health promotion coalitions, the Northern Manhattan Start Right Coalition and the Northern Manhattan Community Voices Asthma Basics for Children initiative. E-mail: sef5@columbia.edu
Milagros Batista, M.S.W. is the Core’s community liaison. Milagros is a long time Northern Manhattan community activist and social service professional. Milagros assisted in the development of a medical student clerkship (Project Hope) in which students learn about community based HIV care service delivery and project Door, a national model program for youth. She is a founding member of Alianza Dominicana- the largest community based organization in the United States addressing issues of the Dominican population; and serves on the development team of Best Beginnings, an innovative project to promote healthy children and families. Milagros is also involved the Dyson Initiative at Columbia University and the NYS Technical Assistance Team for the Home Visiting Program. E-mail: Milaoz@yahoo.com
