title: The citizen scientist: Community-academic partnerships through Translational Advisory Boards.
abstract: To describe the effectiveness of engaging patient partners as "citizen scientists" in the research process to boost patient centered outcomes research in underrepresented populations.
  
  
  
  Translational Advisory Boards in South Texas have effectively collaborated with University researchers to develop community-based patient centered research. Here we describe innovative approaches in research to engage patients and offer practical methods to enhance partnerships between patients and researchers to facilitate patient engagement.
  
  
  
  Three health issues identified by the TABs were diabetes, obesity and teen pregnancy Examples of other community inspired research topics include air and water quality, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, intimate partner violence, chronic pain, and human papilloma virus and hepatitis C vaccinations.
  
  
  
  Patient engagement of underrepresented populations is inverse to the vast disparities they experience. In order to adequately address our nation's deficits in providing equitable healthcare, we must fully integrate disparate partners into the research process. By engaging community champions, academic health centers can fully integrate meaningful interventions on topics of interest to the catchment area in which they serve.
  
  
  
  These lessons can be used in developing local and regional collaborations across the country to boost active participation of patient stakeholder in PCOR to reduce healthcare disparities and improve our healthcare systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Restoration and Care Systems Management, School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA; Cancer Therapy and Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA. Electronic address: pateld7@uthscsa.edu.
authors.forename: Darpan I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: South Central Area Health Education Center, Center for South Texas Programs University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.affiliation: Winter Garden Texas Translational Advisory Board, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Botello
authors.affiliation: Frio County Texas Translational Advisory Board, USA.
authors.forename: Jocelin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Villarreal
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Restoration and Care Systems Management, School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Puga
mesh_terms: D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000379:methods*; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D010358:Patient Participation; D013781:Texas; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014495:Universities
keywords: Community engagement; Patient centered outcomes research; Patient engagement; Stakeholder engagement; Translational Advisory Boards