A Retrospective Case Study of Successful Translational Research: Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment, Experiences in Community Engagement

In underserved communities in New York City, uninsured adults encounter a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The Heart-to-Heart Community Outreach Program (H2H) is addressing these disparities by providing screenings for diabetes and other cardiovascular disease risk factors, fostering community engagement in translational research at our CTSC. Screening events are hosted in partnership with community faith-based institutions. Participants provide medical history, complete a survey, and receive individualized counseling by clinicians with referrals for follow-up care. The population served is disproportionately non-white, uninsured, with low-income, and underserved. The program empowers participants to make beneficial lifestyle changes using myriad strategies to reach those most in need. This required strong foundational program leadership, effective inter-institutional collaboration, and maintaining of community trust. Leveraging partnerships with faith-based institutions and community centers in at-risk NYC neighborhoods, H2H addresses the increasing burden of diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk factors in vulnerable individuals and provides a model for similar initiatives.