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Translating Research to Communities

Health research must positively impact the lives of the general population, so the public must receive and interpret research findings in a meaningful way. That is why translating research discoveries into practice is an important phase of the translational research spectrum.

In this course, you’ll gain an introduction to the concepts of population health research and the ethical use of data science to drive advances in human health. Specifically, you’ll learn about the computational models used in population health research, the function of community partners in conducting translational research and disseminating findings, as well as the role of population health during health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, Opioid crisis, and the Flint, Michigan, USA water crisis.

This is the fourth of five courses in the “Translational Science” series.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1

Welcome to the course Translating Research to Communities. The process of moving evidence-based clinical discoveries into widespread health practice is a critical part of the translational research spectrum. This week you will learn how to 1) define the concept of a learning health system, and 2) define community engaged research including how the terms 'community' and 'stakeholder' are defined.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Students in healthcare, public health, social work, and community work are part of the core audience for this course

Learners with a foundational understanding of research methods and public health will most benefit from this course

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Reviews summary

Translating health research into community practice

According to students, this course provides a fantastic introduction and a good overview of translational science and community-engaged research. Learners consistently praise its relevant and useful content, highlighting how it effectively helps them understand the importance of community partnerships in public health. The engaging instructor and clear materials contribute to a positive learning experience, with helpful quizzes and assessments providing opportunities to apply learnings. While largely positive, one reviewer suggested that more resources could be helpful.

Course materials are presented clearly and are well-structured.

"The instructor was engaging and the materials were clear."

"The content was relevant and well-organized."

Instructors are engaging and provide valuable feedback.

"The instructor was engaging and the materials were clear."

"The discussion was relevant and instructors provided prompt feedback."

Quizzes and assessments effectively reinforce learning and application.

"The assessments provided the opportunity to apply learnings."

"The quizzes and assessments were helpful."

Provides an excellent foundation and overview of translational science.

"I enjoyed this course as it gave me a good overview of the subject area of translational science."

"This course was a fantastic introduction to community-engaged research."

"I learned a lot about translating research to communities."

Course material is highly relevant and practical for real-world application.

"The discussion was relevant and instructors provided prompt feedback. The examples provided were helpful."

"The content was relevant and well-organized."

"Very useful content."

"The assessments provided the opportunity to apply learnings."

Some learners would appreciate more supplementary resources.

"Some more resources could be helpful."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Translating Research to Communities with these activities:

Review data science techniques

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Data science techniques are used extensively in this course, and refreshing your knowledge will prepare you to better understand the content covered in this course.

Browse courses on Data Science

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Review basic probability and statistics concepts.
Review linear regression and logistic regression.
Review basic machine learning algorithms, such as decision trees, random forests, and support vector machines.

Find a mentor in data science

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A mentor can provide guidance and support as you learn about data science and apply it to your career.

Browse courses on Data Science

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Identify potential mentors.
Reach out to potential mentors and introduce yourself.
Ask for their advice and guidance.

Find tutorials on data science techniques

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Further your understanding of data science techniques by finding and following tutorials that cover the specific techniques used in this course.

Browse courses on Data Science

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Search for tutorials on specific data science techniques, such as linear regression or decision trees.
Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises.
Review the material covered in the tutorials.

Four other activities

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Attend a data science workshop

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Attending a data science workshop will provide you with an opportunity to learn from experts in the field and network with other data scientists.

Browse courses on Data Science

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Research data science workshops in your area.
Register for a workshop that interests you.
Attend the workshop and participate in the activities.

Practice solving data science problems

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Practice solving data science problems to improve your understanding of the techniques and algorithms covered in this course.

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Find data science problems to solve.
Solve the problems using the data science techniques covered in this course.
Review your solutions and identify areas for improvement.

Volunteer with a data science organization

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Volunteering with a data science organization will give you hands-on experience and allow you to network with other data scientists.

Browse courses on Data Science

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Identify data science organizations in your area.
Contact the organizations and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Volunteer with an organization that interests you.

Create a data science project

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Applying your knowledge of data science techniques to a real-world project will solidify your understanding and prepare you to apply these techniques in your career.

Browse courses on Data Science

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Identify a data science problem to solve.
Gather data and explore it.
Build a data science model to solve the problem.
Evaluate the performance of your model.
Deploy your model and track its performance.

Career center

Learners who complete Translating Research to Communities will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Social Epidemiologist

A Social Epidemiologist studies the relationship between social factors and health outcomes. This course may be useful as it provides an introduction to population health research and the ethical use of data science to drive advances in human health.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Epidemiologist

Population Health Scientist

A Population Health Scientist conducts research to improve the health of populations. This course may be useful as it provides an introduction to population health research and the ethical use of data science to drive advances in human health.

See salaries and explore the career path for Population Health Scientist

Community Health Educator

A Community Health Educator develops and implements health education programs and materials to promote healthy behaviors and improve health outcomes in communities. This course may be useful as it provides an introduction to community engaged research, including how to involve communities in research and disseminate findings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Health Educator

Health Policy Analyst

A Health Policy Analyst researches and analyzes health policy issues to inform decision-making. This course may be useful as it provides an introduction to population health research and the role of population health during health crises.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Policy Analyst

Health Services Researcher

A Health Services Researcher conducts research to improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care services. This course may be useful as it provides an introduction to population health research and the ethical use of data science to drive advances in human health.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Services Researcher

Medical Writer

A Medical Writer creates and edits medical content, such as journal articles, grant proposals, and patient education materials. This course may be useful as it provides an introduction to population health research and the ethical use of data science to drive advances in human health.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Writer

Public Health Nurse

A Public Health Nurse provides health care and education to communities to improve health outcomes. This course may be useful as it provides an introduction to population health research and the role of population health during health crises.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Health Nurse

Public Health Program Manager

A Public Health Program Manager plans, implements, and evaluates public health programs to improve health outcomes in communities. This course may be useful as it provides an introduction to community engaged research and the role of population health during health crises.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Health Program Manager

Research Scientist

A Research Scientist conducts research in a variety of fields, including health care, social sciences, and environmental science. This course may be useful as it provides an introduction to population health research and the ethical use of data science to drive advances in human health.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research Scientist

Science Writer

A Science Writer creates and edits scientific content, such as journal articles, grant proposals, and press releases. This course may be useful as it provides an introduction to population health research and the ethical use of data science to drive advances in human health.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Writer

Sociologist

A Sociologist studies the social behavior of humans, including their health behaviors. This course may be useful as it provides an introduction to population health research and the ethical use of data science to drive advances in human health.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sociologist

Biostatistician

A Biostatistician designs studies, collects and analyzes data, and interprets the results of studies in the biomedical field. As a Biostatistician, you may work in academia, government, or industry, and your research may have a direct impact on public health. This course may be useful as it provides an introduction to population health research and the ethical use of data science to drive advances in human health.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biostatistician

Statistician

A Statistician collects, analyzes, and interprets data to make informed decisions. This course may be useful as it provides an introduction to the computational models used in population health research and the ethical use of data science to drive advances in human health.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician

Clinical Research Manager

A Clinical Research Manager oversees all aspects of clinical trials, from study design and patient recruitment to data collection and analysis. This course may be useful as it provides an overview of the translational research spectrum, including the process of moving evidence-based clinical discoveries into widespread health practice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Clinical Research Manager

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst collects, cleans, and analyzes data to identify trends and patterns. This course may be useful as it provides an introduction to the computational models used in population health research and the ethical use of data science to drive advances in human health.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Translating Research to Communities .

Tackling Health Inequities Through Public Health...

Save

Examines the social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to health disparities in the United States and explores interventions to address these disparities.

Tackling Health Inequities Through Public Health...

Paperback

Occupational Therapy

Save

Provides an overview of the social determinants of health. It covers the different factors that influence health and the ways in which they can be addressed.

Occupational Therapy: Performance, Participation,...

Hardcover

$$$

Occupational Therapy: Performance, Participation,...

Kindle Edition

$$$

The Action Research Planner

Save

Provides a detailed overview of participatory action research (PAR) methodologies and discusses the ethical and practical considerations in PAR.

The Action Research Planner: Doing Critical...

Paperback

The Action Research Planner: Doing Critical...

Kindle Edition

$$$

Global Health 101, Fourth Edition

Save

Offers an overview of global health, focusing on the social, political, and economic determinants of health outcomes. It explores the challenges and opportunities in improving health around the world.

Global Health 101 (Essential Public Health)

Hardcover

$$$

A Guide for Epidemiological Studies of Oral...

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Provides a foundation in epidemiology, the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states and events in populations. It covers the basic principles and methods used in epidemiological research.

A guide for epidemiological studies of oral...

Paperback

$$$$

The Health Gap

Save

Provides a concise overview of the social determinants of health, emphasizing the impact of poverty, education, and social support on health outcomes.

The Health Gap: The Challenge of an Unequal World

Hardcover

The Health Gap, Status Syndrome 2 Books Collection...

Paperback

The Health Gap: The Challenge of an Unequal World

Kindle Edition