An innovative and comprehensive approach to community health and research engagement using the Social Ecological Model.

Abstract

Equitable participation in clinical research is essential to generating broadly generalizable findings and advancing public health. Yet persistent sociodemographic disparities, driven by mistrust, limited access, and inadequate community engagement, continue to exclude underrepresented racial and ethnic groups from research. To address these barriers, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center developed a comprehensive, multi-component community engagement model designed to build trust and enhance research readiness among UREG. The model integrates eight synergistic programs aligned across the five-level Social Ecological Model, including HealthStreet screening events, a Health Needs Assessment, the Community Research Registry, the North Texas Community Health Coalition, Community Engagement Grand Rounds, the Spanish Language Resource, the Community Advisory Panel, and a Community Health Grant Program. These initiatives collectively provide culturally informed outreach and structured pathways for bidirectional input from community members. Since 2023, the model has achieved substantial impact, including 5069 community-based health screenings, over 100 consultations to investigators, and more than $44 million in funded grants. Findings demonstrate that sustained, multi-level engagement can strengthen trust, expand research access, and support more equitable translational science.