Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Messenger
January 2019
Nancy Fishman, RWJF Senior Program Officer
Breathe in – breathe out. I am just taking a moment to reflect on the Annual Leadership Institute. Like all of you, my other work doesn’t stop while I travel, so it is easy to immediately slip back into the usual routine without appreciating the nurturing of the spirit that a shared experience can offer. But if I pause and think of all of us, and so many more, connecting, laughing, thinking together about tough issues, sharing our work, and learning; I feel so rejuvenated and grateful.
We need to give ourselves a collective pat on the back that we took the time to experience the living network that is the change leaders program. I hope each of you found something at ALI to feed your own soul and build personal resiliency, or maybe you found a fresh perspective to look at your community (however defined) to see how you can step up and lead.
As most of you know I am a Senior Program Officer at RWJF and work on IRL (with our amazing Minnesota team) and other research and evaluation projects related to our Health Communities portfolio of work. At the Foundation we often discuss community resilience and how social cohesion and community power are foundational for a strong, resilient community. There is much to learn and do on this topic and I am sure a first step is to support leaders that are dedicated to equity, health and GREAT EVIDENCE! Thank you all for coming together in Indianapolis to build our community, to learn and to lead!
Nancy Fishman, MPH, is a senior program officer in the Research-Evaluation-Learning unit at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, working in the area of program evaluation, and a program officer for various research projects, including the IRL Program.
Cohort Webinars + Deadlines
Cohort specific calendars, updated regularly to keep track of IRL webinars, milestones, meeting dates and curriculum deadlines. Email IRL staff at researchleaders@umn.edu with questions.
Cohort 1- Webinars and Deadlines
Cohort 2- Webinars and Deadlines
Cohort 3- Webinars and Deadlines
- Have you come completed your profile on NovoED? Remember your login is your primary email and you can reset the password yourself at any time.
- Are looking for a way to have discussions with all of the IRL fellows? By posting in the IRL social space you can have cross cohort conversation or send any fellow in the IRL program a direct message.
- Need to catch up on missed webinars? Webinar recordings are posted on NovoED one week after the live webinar.
Meeting Individual Social Needs Falls Short Of Addressing Social Determinants Of Health
Until recently, efforts to improve the health of Americans have focused on expanding access to quality medical care. Yet there is a growing recognition that medical care alone cannot address what actually makes us sick. Increasing health care costs and worsening life expectancy are the results of a frayed social safety net, economic and housing instability, racism and other forms of discrimination, educational disparities, inadequate nutrition, and risks within the physical environment. These factors affect our health long before the health care system ever gets involved.
Hospitals and health care systems have started to address these social determinants of health through initiatives that buy food, offer temporary housing, or cover transportation costs for high-risk patients. The prevalence and initial success of these efforts are clear in headlines such as: "What Montefiore’s 300% ROI from Social Determinants Investments Means for the Future of Other Hospitals," "Social Determinants of Health Gain Traction as UnitedHealthcare and Intermountain Build New Programs," and "How Addressing Social Determinants of Health Cuts Healthcare Costs." But when you take a closer look, these articles aren’t about improving the underlying social and economic conditions in communities to foster improved health for all – they’re about mediating patients’ individual social needs. If this is what addressing the social determinants of health has come to mean, not only has the definition changed, but it has changed in ways that may impede efforts to address those conditions that impact the overall health of our country.
Mass Incarceration Threatens Health Equity in America
January 9, 2019 RWJF Culture of Health Blog Posted by Maryjoan Ladden
Social connections are not just nice to have—they can significantly affect our health and well-being. Inspired by creative approaches abroad, communities across the United States are taking steps to reduce social isolation and increase residents’ sense of belonging.
It’s only January and already, I’m counting down the days to spring when warm weather will arrive. The long, cold months of winter can be isolating—the snow and subzero temperatures make it difficult to get out and about. Winter is particularly tough for children who can’t go outside to play, and for newcomers from warmer climates who are not accustomed to the cold. For people who don’t have meaningful social connections, the cold weather season can exacerbate the isolation they face year-round.
Social isolation is a serious problem for many. It can lead to anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and even suicidal thoughts. Social isolation can impact our health in other ways too—by escalating unhealthy habits, stress, lack of sleep—and putting us at higher risk for coronary heart disease and stroke.
Fortunately, there are many creative ways in which communities across the United States are tackling social isolation and building a sense of community.
Research Leaders Publications, Media and News
Announcement: IRL is an institutional member of IAPHS, the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science, a forum that connects population health scientists across disciplines and sectors to improve population health and reduce health inequity. In addition to hosting an annual conference in October (that many IRL fellows attend) they have a blog, a mentoring program, resources, and awards programs. Each of you can get a 20% discount on membership by using the code 19RWJF20. It's a great way to continue our connections during and beyond the IRL program and we encourage you to join. [Shared by Sarah Gollust]
Announcement: In 2019, Community-Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH) is going to start sending out a regular newsletter full of resources, news on their collaborative projects, details for upcoming events, and highlights from members. If you’d like to receive this newsletter (or information on the other topics covered), please fill out this form [Shared by Kathleen Call]
- Open Position: Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights (CPHHR), Executive Director
- Open Position: Associate Dean for Public Health and Community Engagement at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (Tenure Track or CHS Track) [Shared by Sarah Gollust]
Open Position: Faculty Opening at Rutgers, Center for State Health Policy Department [Shared by Mina Silberberg]
Health Affairs requests article submissions for their Culture Of Health Article Clusters [Shared by Sarah Gollust]
The National Collaborative on Gun Violence Research's first request for proposals (RFP) is now available. The deadline for letters of interest is February 4, 2019. [Shared by Nancy Fishman]
Call for abstract is now open for the 2019 Association of Public Health Nurses Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA on April 23-26, 2018. The deadline for abstract submissions is February 1, 2019. [Shared by Zenobia Harris]
Interdisciplinary, Community, and Peer Leadership Approach to Addressing Housing Among People Living With HIV in the Rural South [Safiya George, George Mugoya, Billy Kirkpatrick]
Improving Birth Control Access, Improving Lives [Sally Rafie]
Students’ works to be celebrated at 3rd annual MLK Breakfast [Veronica Womack]
Studying the Success of a North Minneapolis Birth Center [Rebecca Polston, Rachel Hardeman]
Post-Tenure Reflections on Community-Engaged Scholarship in a Psychology Research Setting [Farrah Jacquez]
Students spotlighted at 3rd annual MLK breakfast [Veronica Womack]
Transgender Awareness Forum Scheduled in Advance of Premier of Opera ‘As One’ [Robert Salcido]
400 Years of Inequality Since Jamestown of 1619 [Mindy Fullilove]
Minimum Wages: What Does the Research Tell Us about the Effectiveness of Local Action? [Shared by Joe Schilling]
Paid Sick Days: What Does the Research Tell Us about the Effectiveness of Local Action? [Shared by Joe Schilling]
Inclusionary Zoning: What Does the Research Tell Us about the Effectiveness of Local Action? [Shared by Joe Schilling]
Rent Control: What Does the Research Tell Us about the Effectiveness of Local Action? [Shared by Joe Schilling]
Send updates for the next Messenger
If you have work being published or posted, send word to Stacy Kiven (kiven014@umn.edu), IRL Research and Communications Intern. Doing so will allow us to post the news to IRL social media and the next Messenger to raise the visibility your great work!
@IRLeaders on Social Media
A few moments captured on @IRLeaders social media this month.
Connect with the rest of your @RWJF change leadership network on social media: Clinical Scholars = teams of clinicians addressing complex health problems in their communities; Health Policy Research Scholars = investing in scholars from all disciplines as future leaders in shaping policy to support health and equity; and Culture of Health Leaders = supporting individuals from all sectors with good ideas to move communities toward a Culture of Health.
Interdisciplinary Research Leaders is a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation administered by the University of Minnesota
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Minneapolis, Minnesota