Moving Community Engaged Research from Participatory toward Anticipatory: Utopia as Method in the Reconstitution of Healthy Society
The mainstream health and social policy agenda is largely limited to “tinkering with the system”, influenced by normative values and dictated by incrementalism and lifestyle-drift. At the core of utopia is the desire for being otherwise, individually and collectively; therefore, this seminar will examine the sociological and epidemiological significance of utopia as an imaginative and useful method for community engaged research aimed at addressing health inequalities. This talk will engage four sensitizing concepts: context, capacity, community, and conflict as a foundation for overcoming the remarkable persistence of policy proposals to tackle health inequalities via mostly downstream interventions, in spite of the strength of evidence challenging such approaches. We will highlight ontological and methodological frameworks such as Cultural Historical Activity Theory, activity systems analysis and anticipatory engagement for research on health inequity that moves beyond an analysis of how things were or currently are, to consider how things could be.
Brian Rahmer, Ph.D., M.S., is Director of Community Health Engagement at Christiana Care Health System and a Value Institute Scholar. He holds an appointment as Policy Fellow in the Center for Community Research & Service at the University of Delaware’s School of Public Policy and Administration. Dr. Rahmer’s professional priorities and research agenda include the structural determinants of health and the socio-political forces that shape health outcomes across the life-course. He works to frame these efforts with a cross-sector, service-oriented emphasis on civic engagement for healthy public policy.
The Innovative Discoveries Series, sponsored by the Delaware Clinical & Translational Science ACCEL program and the Christiana Care Value Institute, features informal presentations on topics relevant to current research and healthcare practice, led by knowledgeable and experienced presenters. There are offerings for researchers, healthcare providers, and community members of varying levels of experience.
These free talks are held Fridays at noon at Christiana Hospital but can be viewed from your home or office computer. Earn CMEs by participating in-person or online. Lunch is served and all are welcome to attend.
To see the full calendar of events, visit the Value Institute Events page or the ACCEL website, or subscribe to the ID Series mailing list.
Contact Sarahfaye Dolman at sarahfaye.f.dolman@christianacare.org with any questions.