Overview
Rural communities in the United States are often treated as a monolith, despite meaningful differences in social, economic, and structural conditions that shape access to healthcare. In South Central Washington State, limited mammography infrastructure and complex referral pathways intersect with these contextual differences to influence breast cancer screening access and behaviors. Understanding how these dynamics vary across different types of rural communities is essential for advancing health equity and designing context-responsive interventions. Dr. Cruz will discuss findings from a community research partnership that used a multilevel qualitative approach to examine breast cancer screening access across distinct rural contexts. Drawing on interviews with community members, healthcare providers, public health professionals, and community-based organizations, this webinar will highlight how academic research can be tailored to address partner priorities while generating actionable insights. The session will also reflect on the role of partnership and researcher positionality, including navigating insider–outsider dynamics, in conducting rigorous and mutually beneficial community-engaged health equity research
Webinar Recording