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About the Medical College of Wisconsin Office of Community Engagement

About us

The Office of Community Engagement (OCE) is dedicated to improving the health of communities of Wisconsin and beyond by advancing the art and science of community engagement. Community engagement, one of the four missions at the MCW, is richly embedded in office programs and throughout MCW centers, institutes, and departments. The office is also dedicated to leadership and excellence through community engagement, and partners with community organizations to enhance learning, research, patient care, and the health of the community. With strong support from Staci Young, PhD, interim senior associate dean for community engagement, the Office of Community Engagement provides a variety of resources to both academic and community partners to advance community engagement at MCW.

learn more about our work

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Mission
Improve the health of communities of Wisconsin and beyond by advancing art and science of community engagement and make the Medical College of Wisconsin a national leader in improving the health of the public.
Guiding Principles
  • Develop reciprocal and mutually beneficial partnership with communities of Wisconsin
  • Use bi-directional dialogue in having defined community programs and scope
  • Have strong community-academic partnerships with equitable power and responsibilities
  • Build capacity within the Medical College of Wisconsin and the community, and effectively disseminate

Meet Our Faculty & Staff

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Staci A. Young, PhD

Professor and Director, Center for Healthy Communities and Research; Co-Director, Qualitative Consultation Service Team

syoung@mcw.edu

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Laila Azam, PhD

Research Scientist

lsazam@mcw.edu

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Rebecca Bernstein, MD

Urban & Community Health Pathway Instructor; M3 Family Medicine Clerkship: Community Health Instructor

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Kristine Burke, MPH, MSW

Program Coordinator III

kburke@mcw.edu

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Yesica Desarden

Program Coordinator II

ydesarden@mcw.edu

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Zeno Franco, PhD

Associate Professor

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Kelsey M. Heindel

Program Coordinator III

kheindel@mcw.edu

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Ayo Idowu, MBA

Business Operations Coordinator

aidowu@mcw.edu

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Jai Lor, BS

Administrative Associate

jlor@mcw.edu

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David Nelson, PhD

Professor

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Sarah P. O'Connor, MS

Program Director I

spoconnor@mcw.edu

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Leslie Ruffalo, PhD

Advisor, Family Medicine Learning Community & Family Medicine Student Association; Course Director, Promoting Health in Underserved Communities & Continuous Professional Development; M3 Family Medicine Clerkship: Community Health Instructor

Connect with Us

There's more than one way to connect with us - join our email list for program news and event updates, or keep up with us on our socials!