URMC / Clinical & Translational Science Institute / Stories / November 2023 / Office of Health Equity Research Welcomes New Youth Advisory Board

Office of Health Equity Research Welcomes New Youth Advisory Board

New Board Extends URMC’s Mission Toward Equity and Anti-racism

Members of the newly formed Youth Advisory Board pose on a stair case in the Saunders Research Building. This past summer, the URMC Office of Health Equity Research (OHER), in collaboration with UR CTSI’s Population Health Branch, created a Youth Advisory Board to build on OHER's efforts to include local residents in the process of setting our research priorities. University of Rochester researchers can meet with the newly appointed board members to get a local youth perspective on their existing research projects and for help identifying future research needs aimed at improving adolescent health.

OHER announced efforts to develop the board to the community (see coverage by News 8 Rochester and WXXI News) in June and completed the process of collecting and reviewing applications in August, achieving its goal of selecting 15 local students to sit on the board. Board members are 14-17-year-olds who represent the diverse population of the Greater Rochester community and are interested in health equity and community service. They receive a $50.00 stipend for each quarterly board meeting they attend, with the opportunity to participate in additional activities as needed.

OHER hosted the inaugural Youth Advisory Board meeting on September 6 with all 15 board members in attendance. The agenda included board and OHER staff introductions, orientation to the board, and presentations to familiarize the youth advisors with research processes. OHER Founding Director Edith Williams, MS, PhD; Arielle Sheftall, PhD; and Traci Terrance, PhD, led the session on behalf of OHER and the broader URMC research community. Office of Health Equity Research Founding Director Edith Williams, PhD, speaks to a room full of Youth Advisory Board members seated at tables in a small conference room.

At the next Youth Advisory Board meeting in mid-December, AnaPaula Cupertino, PhD, will present her R01 proposal focused on youth involvement in gun violence prevention.

If you’re interested in consulting with the OHER Youth Advisory Board, please fill out a consultation request or contact Jeanette Bohn at oher@urmc.rochester.edu.

Article and photos contributed by Jonathan Ghent.

Michael Hazard | 11/29/2023