Where Research and Real-Life Meet: Human Connections in Public Institutions

In this essay the author, an applied medical anthropologist, reflects on her experiences and lessons learned conducting community-based research in large public institutions. Drawing on experiences in three distinct settings: an urban public school district, a county health department, and the drug treatment courts, she describes how she had to quickly assimilate the goals, mission, and structure of each organization, and establish rapport with people on the inside. Using a community-based approach, she found ways to build trust and collaboration. She conferred with school personnel about study findings, wrote grant proposals with the health department aligned with their priorities and goals, and connected drug treatment courts to addiction medicine physician resources. Importantly, in each setting she developed a special relationship with a person on the inside who guided her path and offered friendship and partnership.