About Us | Office of Community Engagement | Medical College of Wisconsin

About the Office of Community Engagement

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.

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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 the Team

Zeno Franco, PhD, Associate Professor, Family & Community Medicine
Bryan Johnston, MD, Assistant Professor, Family & Community Medicine
David Nelson, PhD, MS, Professor, Family & Community Medicine
Leslie Ruffalo, PhD, MS, Associate Professor, Family & Community Medicine
Staci Young, PhD, Professor, Family & Community Medicine
Interim Senior Associate Dean for Community Engagement

Kristine Burke, MPH, MSW, Program Coordinator, Community Engagement
Yesica Desarden, Program Coordinator, Community Engagement
Kelsey Heindel, Program Coordinator, Community Engagement
Jai Lor, Administrative Associate, Community Engagement
Sarah O'Connor, MS, Program Manager, Community Engagement

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