\u201cImplementation science is an emerging area of multidisciplinary research that focuses on moving scientific evidence into routine practice,\u201d explains Jeremiah Brown, PhD, a professor of epidemiology at Geisel and founding director of DCIS.<\/p>\n In addition to Brown, the DCIS leadership team includes co-directors Sarah Lord, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and biomedical data science, Kelly Aschbrenner, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and principal scientist at Dartmouth Health, and program manager Sherry Owens, PhD. Genevieve Shaefer \u201926, the first Women In Science Project<\/a> (WISP) intern for DCIS, will be working with the team on campus engagement and training.<\/p>\n \u201cImplementation Science is a methodology that can benefit the public and private sectors alike. I look forward to pushing the boundaries of the field with novel research, techniques, inclusivity, and education,\u201d says Owens.<\/p>\n Since being approved by the Dartmouth Academic Planning Council in late summer, the DCIS\u2019s initial priorities have been centered around outreach and community engagement activities. \u201cSo far, we\u2019ve held over 150 meetings and we\u2019ve engaged about 200 unique community partners across the campuses and disciplines,\u201d says Brown.<\/p>\n \u201cI am very pleased to see this important new center get off the ground,\u201d says Duane Compton, PhD, dean of Geisel. \u201cIt will serve as an academic home for faculty, staff, and students to develop expertise and independence in this burgeoning field and will help Dartmouth become a leader in implementation science nationally.\u201d<\/p>\n The DCIS\u2019s short-term deliverables have included engaging 1:1 with over 100 community partners, launching a website for the center<\/a> as well as a survey to determine which types of events and activities people are most interested in participating in. Currently, the open survey has been completed by nearly 400 individuals across campus and has identified over 150 new contacts interested in connecting with the center.<\/p>\n Based on a strong community response, DCIS activities in the coming months will include workshops and training sessions (on topics such as fundamentals in implementation science), a speaker\u2019s series, and networking and career development events and seminars.<\/p>\n \u201cImplementation science can be used by any discipline focusing on improving human health and well-being through the delivery and sustainment of evidence-based services and practices,\u201d says Aschbrenner. \u201cI am excited to help build a home at DCIS for colleagues across Dartmouth who share an interest in this work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne way that implementation science improves translation of science to practice is through focus on the needs of individuals, settings and systems in which practices are delivered,\u201d Lord notes. \u201cI am grateful to be part of this wonderful initiative to promote the accessibility of implementation science to our broad Dartmouth community of students and colleagues across disciplines and institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n Longer term, the center will explore options for new standalone graduate programs in implementation science\u2014with a target student population of early-to-mid career professionals who want to develop expertise in the discipline.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now, there are very few comprehensive training programs available in the U.S.\u2014most are offered as part of another master\u2019s program,\u201d explains Brown, noting that strong extramural funding exists at Geisel and Dartmouth Health and that the field has quickly become a top priority for major funding organizations such as the NIH, CDC, and PCORI (Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute). Brown also chairs the NIH standing study section in implementation science, the Science of Implementation in Health and Healthcare (SIHH).<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re very excited to have an opportunity to address the growing need for formal training in implementation science and research and to really place Dartmouth on the map in the field.\u201d<\/p>\n If you are interested in connecting with the Dartmouth Center for Implementation Science, please access a brief survey here<\/a> to sign up for center activities, or email us at implementation.science@dartmouth.edu<\/a>. DCIS will be hosting an \u201cIntroduction to Implementation Science\u201d presentation from 12-1 PM on Tuesday, April 11th<\/sup> RSVP Here.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Jeremiah](\"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/JeremiahBrown_web_square-393x360.jpg\")
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