Science versus Service: Integrating Research into Community Health Centers

The characteristics of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) suggest that research is collaborative and community-based, rather than just community placed. University-based researchers still struggle with this concept and missed opportunities exist for community-based organization to serve as research sites. Community Health Centers (CHCs) are by their nature are community placed and ideal settings for CRBR. Given the populations they serve, they provide opportunities to address health disparities and test the external validity of mainstream interventions. Universities and other research institutions have much to offer CHCs including expertise in program design and evaluation. Yet to date there has been relatively little research using CHCs as the site for research. The challenge has always been collaboration for mutual benefit and lack of infrastructure within the CHC to support research. The San Ysidro Health Center and San Diego State University have overcome these barriers for over twenty years. Critical elements for this successful collaboration include “balancing science with service” where the research design is ethical from the perspective of the CHC, the intervention provides at least minimal benefit to the patients/community and CHC resources are not compromised. The history of this collaboration and case studies highlighting elements of the relationship will be presented.