.jpg "Stephen B. Thomas, PhD photo")
Professor, Health Policy and Management
University of Maryland School of Public Health
College Park, United States
As a Professor of Health Policy and Management at the Univ. of Maryland School of Public Health, and the Dir. of the Maryland Center for Health Equity I have devoted my career to advancing health equity. M-CHE stands as a symbol of progress, skillfully converting medical and public health science into hyperlocal, culturally adapted community initiatives. At the heart of this visionary effort is the innovative Health Advocates In-Reach and Research (HAIR) Network. By transforming Black barbershops and salons into trusted health information hubs, we empower barbers and stylists as Community Health Workers and Lifestyle Coaches. HAIR facilitates health promotion and disease prevention interventions, dismantling barriers. The HAIR Network is instrumental in the recruitment and retention Black people for biomedical clinical trials. By fostering inclusivity in research participation, we are laying the foundation for a more diverse and equitable scientific field. The HAIR model's transformative influence became particularly apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was deployed to address vaccine hesitancy, receiving a White House endorsement. This resulted in the successful Shots@theShop National Campaign, which turned a network of 1,000 barbershops and salons into COVID-19 vaccination centers through partnerships with local clinical institutions. Over the past decade, the HAIR Network has been instrumental in assisting clinical researchers, enabling the collection of diverse biospecimens. This includes mycobiome and urine samples for measuring phthalate exposure, and hair samples for assessing stress hormones. The HAIR Network is more than a program—it is a sustainable infrastructure for connection, communication, and change. It paves the way to co-create research projects and culturally tailored interventions, collaborating with these community pillars. It's about time we shifted health research from the laboratories into the vibrant heart of our communities, where it truly belongs. Together, we can reshape health promotion, one barbershop, one salon, one community at a time.
Disclosure information not submitted.
Sunday, August 27, 2023
3:15 PM – 4:45 PM ADT
