The Clinical Research Training Center (CRTC) TL1 program recently partnered with the Center for Community Health Partnership & Research (CCHPR) for an impactful day of community engagement. Serving as a Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) session, this four-hour retreat encouraged two-way learning and building stronger community-academic ties.
We are truly grateful to the CCHPR team—Hilary Broughton, Kym Radford, and Robert Doyle—for the fantastic job they did organizing opportunities for our trainees and program leaders to connect with community members. The day began at the Delmar DivINe, offering a framework for understanding the surrounding community, included an SDOH awareness tour of St. Louis led by Rose Anderson-Rice, Executive Director of Generate Health, and concluded with a luncheon hosted by Centennial Christian Church.
A central focus of the day was understanding what our trainees already knew about the lives of many patients and research participants in the St. Louis area. Pre- and post-retreat assessments captured shifts in awareness and knowledge of community-specific health challenges—providing valuable insight for both program development and personal growth.
What truly made this day meaningful were the voices of our community partners. Trainees were joined by Shavanna Spratt, Founder of Da Hood Connect, as well as Dell Yates, Pat Penelton, and Sherrill Jackson of Centennial Christian Church, who are active in church leadership and healthy living ministries. These remarkable individuals offered their unique perspectives, helping bridge the gap between academic research and lived community realities.
Although this community outreach day was inspiring for the community members and trainees, it cannot end there. We must continue nurturing the relationships formed, deepening the ties throughout the community, and translating words into meaningful action. Community member Shavanna Spratt challenged our trainees with a powerful question: “What will you do next?”
A positive outcome is that all of the trainees expressed a desire to continue community outreach and integrating these efforts more into the TL1 program. TL1 Program Co-Director, Susan Stark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA shared:
I really respect this group of trainees and believe they will make a big impact in their careers. I’m confident this experience will lead them to think more deeply about how they work in the future.
Susan Stark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
In response, we are launching a matchmaking program that will tailor ongoing opportunities for trainees to engage with community organizations—customized by frequency, duration, focus areas, and population needs. Our ultimate goal is not only to develop a replicable model that can be adopted at WashU but also at other institutions within the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) network.
Opportunities like this instill hope, build trust, and deepen the partnership between neighborhoods and healthcare professionals. The community leaders shared that they felt empowered to shape the next generation of researchers—and they truly are. Our TL1 trainees are the future of medicine, and their partnership with the community will transform healthcare in St. Louis and beyond.