APTR Regional Workshop

Partnering with American Indian Communities for Health Research

On March 18, 2010, the UNMC Center for Reducing Health Disparities and the Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairman's Health Board sponsored a regional workshop entitled "Partnering with American Indian Communities for Health Research" at the Scott Conference Center. The objectives of the workshop where to: (1) Broaden knowledge of Native American history and culture; (2) Explore techniques and strategies to improve co-learning between researchers and Native American communities; (3) Demystify the research process and build authentic partnerships; and (4) Identify opportunities for meaningful engagement and collaborative projects. Approximately 75 people attended the event.

(l-to-r): Jennifer Larsen, Carolyn Fiscus, and Lyn Davis

The conference was planned by a steering committee consisting of Shireen Rajaram, Jennifer Giroux, Colette Keith, Magda Peck, Brandon Grimm, Athena Ramos, Alice Schumaker, and Ruth Margalit. There was also a broader planning team consisting of other community partners that met twice to provide advice to the steering committee.

The conference was made possible by a grant from the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research (APTR) through the APTR-CDC Cooperative Agreement No. 5U50CD300860. UNMC was one of five institutions nationwide which received a grant from this organization to address the challenges of meaningful engagement in research.