This dissertation defense will be open and held virtually.
This event has passed. A recording of the event is available by clicking the link below.
The PhD in Translational Health Sciences Program is proud to announce the Dissertation Defense of:
PhD Candidate: Alexandria Blacker, MPH
Empowering the Community: An Explanatory Mixed Methods Study Exploring the Social Mechanisms of Community Health Worker-Primary Care Integration Using a Team Science Approach
Dissertation Committee Chair: Gaetano R. Lotrecchiano, EdD, PhD
November 29, 2023, 11:00-1:00 PM ET
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are frontline healthcare workers who act as links between the community and care teams, providing a crucial means to improve health and reduce costs. CHWs are increasingly becoming part of primary care (PC), but despite decades of research highlighting the effectiveness of CHWs, these individuals are still not integrated into PC teams sustainably leading to fragmented services. Guided by a team science approach and in collaboration with Roots Community Health Center, this explanatory mixed methods study explored the mechanisms underlying integration. Findings highlight the necessary elements of the CHW-PC integration process with a focus on interprofessional teamwork and collaboration. With a deeper understanding of the teamworking mechanisms that contribute to integration, this model of care can be replicated to support broader access to PC services and address vital patient needs.