Communication and Dissemination Core (Core C)

Univ Of Maryland, College Park, College Park MD

Investigators

Abstract

The overarching mission of the Center for SUNSHINE (Seniors Uniting Nationwide to Support Health, INtegrated Care, and Economics) is to advance aging resilience by integrating healthcare systems, public health organizations, social service agencies, and community-based resources to enhance the well-being of older adults and their care partners, and maximize societal value. The Communications & Dissemination (CD) Core (Core C) is central to this mission, addressing persistent challenges in connecting disciplines, integrating community voices, and bridging research with policy. Core C breaks traditional silos by uniting fields such as economics, demography, sociology, precision medicine, population health, and AI/ML. Inspired by the aging resilience and healthcare literature on AI approaches, Core C explores AI-driven dissemination tools to deliver messages tailored to the needs of patients, families, and communities. Collaborations with community leaders reinforce age-friendly principles, including the use of plain language to enhance accessibility and impact. Strategic partnerships with advisory boards such as the Legacy Leaders in Public Policy Institute and the Maryland Community Research Advisory Board (MD-CRAB) integrate community and policy perspectives into SUNSHINE’s initiatives. The Legacy Leadership Institute, led by Mr. Wesley Queen, engages older Maryland residents, while MD-CRAB, founded by Dr. Stephen Thomas (PI), builds trust with communities to ensure health research benefits all aging populations. The CD Core also engages with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), ensuring that This approach ensures research findings resonate with decision makers, healthcare providers, and community members. To achieve its goals, Core C has three Aims: (1) Develop and maintain SUNSHINE’s digital presence through a user-friendly website and collaborative platform to promote activities and connect stakeholders; (2) Promote cross-disciplinary collaboration and engagement by building relationships with stakeholders, hosting meetings and seminars, and using innovative AI tools to ensure accessible communication; and (3) Evaluate dissemination impact through metrics tracking. By disseminating resilience-focused findings, Core C bridges the gap between research and policy, collaborating with policymakers, healthcare systems, and community organizations to inform health interventions and aging policies. Through its innovative approach, Core C ensures SUNSHINE’s research delivers real-world impact and advances aging resilience for all older aults.