Translating Research into Practice
For many years, the HYD-PRC and the Leadership Education in Adolescent Health program at the University of Minnesota (UMN LEAH) have been dedicated to improving the capacity of the workforce serving adolescents and young adults.
Through a collaborative partnership, the HYD-PRC and UMN LEAH aim to prepare a next generation of adolescent health leaders with tools to translate and disseminate research with a goal of supporting real-world systems in making evidence-based and evidence-informed changes that positively impact young people’s health and well-being. Not only do faculty embrace this core principle but it is integrally woven into the UMN LEAH fellowship curriculum, providing trainees the skills for translating and disseminating research, and the ability to provide technical assistance and support for policies that promote youth health.
Captured under the rubric Translating Research into Practice, HYD-PRC Communications Director, Glynis Shea, teaches a 5-part seminar series for all first-year trainees that flips the traditional “research to practice” model by starting with “practice.” The overall goal of this series is to reframe how research and practice go together and build connections between academic and applied endeavors. Shea, who has over 20 years of marketing and communication expertise, uses these seminars to provide foundational information about public health systems; dive deeply into how these systems use research; and enhance fellows’ translation, partnership, and communication skills.
Over the course of the seminar series, trainees are actively engaged in translating their research into user-friendly products for practice audiences. Shea contributes communications technical assistance to their efforts by advising on research-to-practice “products,” building media and dissemination strategies, creating infographics from research data and more. As an example, Shea and PRC post-doctoral trainee Amy Gower created a legislative brief for the MN Governor's Task Force on Bullying highlighting research on youth bullying and prevention. This brief was used in concert with Governor’s Task Force testimony, to inform legislators and their staff about research relevant to the Safe and Supportive MN Schools Act, legislation that became MN law in 2014.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to collaborate with our fellows. Their energy and unique insights inspire me and shape my understanding of adolescent health. Thinking about research from a “how will this be used” perspective aligns with their aspirations for systems change – a goal I’m all too happy to support,” Shea says with a mischievous and enthusiastic grin.