In our Newsletter, on our website, through our social media posts, and during our webinars and in-person events, we focus on providing health information to the community.
One question that I am often asked is: “Who and what do you mean when you say the community”?
Do you mean the local community, the region, or national and international audiences? Do you mean populations within medicine and research, or those who are not familiar with clinical practice and/or science?
My answer is YES, all those things.
My belief is that a commitment to the community “writ large” starts with the local community, builds regionally, then nationally and internationally. I want to say how grateful I am to those who taught me the importance of real partnerships with the Greater New Haven community and those beyond, and to those who remind us that all populations who struggle with their health must be represented.
So, now, you may ask: What guides the communications from our center to these various communities?
First, we are guided by the principle that the information we provide should be drawn from scientific data translated into meaningful explanations. Although scientific findings can be complex, they do not have to be confusing. This leads to the second guiding principle. We must acknowledge what we don’t know. This context-building approach of saying what we know and don’t know ensures that information is placed in a realistic and useful context. Third, we are guided by what our communities tell us they want to know. This means listening to people within a community and asking questions about what works and what is not working. Our goal is not to have answers, rather it is to look for them together.
These are not new ideas, but they continue to serve us well. They show that we care what others think and feel and help us build relationships that endure.
