The rewards of community partnership

InA few years ago, the Emory Prevention Research Center (EPRC) and the Southwest Georgia Cancer Coalition joined forces to reduce cancer rates in 31 rural counties. Last spring, the EPRC was honored for engaging those communities in cancer prevention research.

The EPRC is one of 11 Prevention Research Centers (PRC s) to receive the inaugural CommunityBased Participatory Research Best Practice Award, presented by the National Community Committee. The group represents community partners of the 37 PRC s funded by the CDC in the United States. It created the award to recognize the role of community partners in designing, implementing, and disseminating research.

“To be honored by community leaders demonstrates that our efforts to engage community members are meaningful,” says EPRC Director Michelle Kegler. “This award is a tribute to our