Dr. Connie Nguyen-Truong’s Actionable Vision for Community-Academic Partnerships
Dr. Connie Kim Yen Nguyen-Truong of Washington State University’s (WSU) College of Nursing leads groundbreaking research addressing health disparities in underserved communities. Her latest community-based participatory research study, titled Centering the Experiences and Perceptions of Health and Well-Being in the Burmese Community: A Community-Academic Partnership, is set to be published in the Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action Journal. The study, funded in part by the Washington State University Health Equity Research Center Seed Grant, highlights the challenges and resilience of Burmese refugees navigating the U.S. health care system. This work emphasizes cultural sensitivity, trust, and cross-sectoral collaboration to bridge systemic gaps. A multi-disciplinary partnership contributed to this effort, including researchers from the WSU College of Nursing, Nursing and Systems Science and Advanced Practice and Community-Based Care Departments, the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization, Health Services and Behavioral Health Departments, and PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. Key findings include the importance of addressing cultural divides, improving access to qualified interpreters, and supporting family-centered health care. Structural barriers like discontinuity in care and complex service applications further exacerbate inequities, underscoring the need for culturally tailored solutions.
This study also highlights the contributions of Washington State University College of Nursing researchers, including Dr. Deborah Eti, who specializes in psychiatric mental health and family care, and Natasha Barrow, a PhD candidate researching stress contexts in marginalized communities. Their involvement underscores the collaborative spirit of this research, which bridges expertise across disciplines.
A cornerstone of the research was the involvement of Community Health Workers (CHWs), who acted as trusted cultural brokers between Burmese families and academic researchers. Their role proved essential in building trust and ensuring meaningful participation. Recommendations from the study include increasing CHW capacity, training health care providers in cultural responsiveness, and simplifying systems to better support refugee families. By uplifting Burmese voices and strengths, Dr. Nguyen-Truong’s work offers a sustainable model for advancing health equity towards maximal health and well-being for all.
This research highlights the urgent need for inclusive health care practices and policies that honor cultural strengths while dismantling systemic barriers. Through collaboration and action, Dr. Nguyen-Truong exemplifies how community-academic partnerships can foster resilience and drive meaningful change for underserved populations.
