Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute

As Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute (HHRI) advances its mission of improving patient care and the health of our community through research and education, adding more professionals of color to its staff and boosting #diversityinresearch will benefit all communities, reduce biases and disparities, improve patient care and build trust. HHRI VP for Equity in Research Warren McKinney, PhD, said diversity in research expands #representation in communities of color. “When you have more diverse research teams, you’re able to reach more patients for a downstream effect that supports diversity.” Additionally, having a more diverse research workforce will inspire more people of color to join HHRI teams, building a strong diversity movement. Here’s a look at some of the ways HHRI is building and supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the #communities we serve.

Rachel Nygaard, PhD, an internationally renowned #frostbite and #burn researcher, is currently working on the United States Department of Defense (DoD) Frostbite Multicenter ObServational Trial (FROST) with Co-Investigator (CI) and clinical professor of surgery Lucy Wibbenmeyer, MD, from the University of Iowa. They recently spoke on the American Chemical Society (ACS) science-focused podcast, #TinyMatters with hosts Deboki Chakravarti & Sam Jones, PhD, to discuss the ins and outs of frostbite and the first FDA-approved frostbite drug, #Iloprost. Check out the episode with the link in the comments!

Really excited to share this new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MMWR report from colleagues at Minnesota Department of Health and MN EHR Consortium through the Midwest Analytics and Disease Modeling Center at University of Minnesota School of Public Health. This paper highlights the nimbleness of the unique collaboration we’ve built in Minnesota. MDH received case reports of concerning parvovirus infections in July 2024. Within a couple months we were running code across major health systems to track test positivity and were able to draft, edit, and publish our findings within 5 months to confirm a rising prevalence of this virus. Our ability to respond to emerging viruses in Minnesota has improved dramatically since 2020 and will continue to get even better if we foster and grow these important collaborations. https://lnkd.in/g8p5-rxc cc: Common Health Coalition

Casey Dorr, PhD, MS was interviewed a few weeks ago by Cheryl Anne Boyce as part of the FDA's Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE)'s Health Equity Lecture Series for November's National #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth. During the webinar, they discussed Dr. Dorr’s research in #pharmacogenomics and his ongoing work to improve #representation among researchers, including Native American researchers and other underrepresented populations. The story link is in the comments below.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (#DEI) is the bedrock of Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute's culture. In line with that vision, we're moving our mission forward by fostering a movement to include more #communities of color in our quest to achieve #scientific excellence. Read the story link in the comments on how we're ramping up our efforts. #representationmatters #medicalresearch #diversity

Director of Transplant Epidemiology Jon Snyder, PhD, MS is the 2024 recipient of the Quiet Giant Award from Donate Life America. 🥇 According to Donate Life America's description, "The Quiet Giant Award is given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to increasing organ, eye, and tissue donation in the United States by leading through service and commitment, often behind-the-scenes and without public recognition, to help increase donation and #transplantation." Congratulations Jon! 👏👏👏

In the United States, 20,000 to 40,000 people who have never smoked are diagnosed with lung cancer, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute (HHRI) employee Renee Marrero's journey with #lungcancer has transformed her from a concerned family member to a passionate advocate working to raise awareness, particularly during November’s Lung Cancer Awareness month. Her story began when her sister, a non-smoker, was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer in 2016, followed by their father’s own diagnosis. The full story is linked in the comments. #lungcancerawarenessmonth #bethechange #advocate

#cdrg #organtransplantation #webinar

💥 HOT OFF THE PRESSES: OUR NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER! 💥 A sneak peek of what you'll find: 📍A feature story on #diversity in research 📍Greenspring Media's #MinnesotaMonthly 2024 Top Doctors 📍Behnam Sabayan's lab receives an NIH Award 📍Casey Dorr, PhD, MS, discussed his pharmacogenomics research with the FDA. 📍 See the link in the comments to read more! #newsletter

Join the conversation with HHRI Investigator Casey Dorr, PhD, MS Dorr tomorrow, 11/13, from noon-1 p.m. CST.