UF-FSU Clinical and Translational Science Award

Welcome to the Community Engagement Core

The FSU Clinical and Translational Science Award Program's Community Engagement Core works closely with a variety of partners, including other universities, government agencies, healthcare providers, non-profits, community leaders, and members. Our Community Research Coordinators have experience in public health and community engagement, helping connect researchers with the community.

We create educational programs based on what the community needs, such as the Learning Series for Community Leaders and Our Community, Our Health Town Halls. These programs aim to strengthen the community’s role in research, share important resources, and provide helpful health information.

The Community Engagement Core has worked on research projects across Florida, including studies on health and wellness involving people of different ages, genders, races, ethnicities, and income levels. These projects include everything from practical clinical trials to community-based research in rural, suburban, and urban areas.

Meet Our Community Research Coordinators

Our team of Community Research Coordinators are trusted connectors who serve as vital links between academic research and the communities we serve. Rooted in the neighborhoods they support, these coordinators work hand-in-hand with individuals, families, and local organizations to ensure that health initiatives are not only evidence-based but also culturally relevant and community-informed.

They engage in a wide range of activities—from building meaningful relationships and conducting health education to collecting and analyzing data that reflect the lived experiences of community members. Their work helps identify health needs, inform public health strategies, and co-create solutions that are both sustainable and impactful.

By amplifying community voices and fostering trust, our coordinators play a critical role in advancing health, improving access to care, and shaping research that truly reflects the needs and strengths of Florida's populations.

Learning Series for Community Leaders

The Learning Series for Community Leaders is a monthly educational series aimed at providing community leaders with valuable resources and knowledge to enhance community health, leadership, and overall well-being. The series will focus on a variety of relevant topics that impact communities, and each session will feature expert speakers, tools, and resources to help strengthen community resilience.

Learning Series for Community Leaders Archive

January's Session

Join us for the January session of the 2026 Learning Series for Community Leaders on the 28th from 12:00pm-1:00 pm. 

Thyroid Awareness: What Your Body Has Been Trying to Tell You

January is Thyroid Awareness Month, a time dedicated to understanding how this small, butterfly-shaped gland plays a major role in energy, metabolism, mood, and lifelong well-being. For many people, thyroid symptoms can be subtle or easily mistaken for stress, burnout, or normal aging, which often delays diagnosis and care. This session will offer an accessible and engaging look at thyroid health through both a clinical and a lifestyle lens. Participants will learn how thyroid function shapes daily life, what signs may signal a thyroid imbalance, and how evidence-based approaches in primary care and lifestyle medicine can support better health outcomes. This workshop will provide a clear and compelling overview of thyroid health, including:

• How the thyroid regulates metabolism, mood, and energy

• Why thyroid disorders are common and often missed

• Symptoms that matter and when to seek evaluation

• Lifestyle and nutrition factors that support thyroid balance

• Evidence-based treatment pathways and what patients can expect

• How community leaders can promote awareness and early detection

Speakers:

• Tara Hayes, DNP, APRN
  Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

  Florida State University’s Health and Lifestyle Medicine Clinic

• Hayes is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with nearly 25 years of nursing experience spanning primary care, higher education and health care leadership. She provides care at Florida State University’s Health and Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, focusing on endocrine and metabolic wellness. Her practice supports patients with thyroid concerns, evaluating symptoms such as fatigue or metabolic imbalance, and providing individualized hormone replacement therapy. She emphasizes a whole-person approach using current evidence, lifestyle counseling, and shared decision-making to help patients achieve long-term well-being. Hayes is also an associate teaching professor at FSU’s College of Nursing, where she also earned two degrees. She holds a DNP from Samford University.

Registration Link

2025 Learning Series for Community Leaders

Participate in Research

Researchers at Florida State University conduct many types of studies, including clinical trials. Some focus on certain health conditions, while others need healthy volunteers. We invite you to learn about available studies at FSU!

Learn More Here