Audrey Harkness, Ph.D., an associate professor at the School of Nursing and Health Studies, welcomed dozens of talented scientists and scholars from across the region and nation to the third annual Engaged Implementation Science (EIS) training seminar of the University of Miami Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health (CHARM). In her role as director of CHARM’s EIS Core, Dr. Harkness shared opening remarks with CHARM’s director, Professor Steve Safren, Ph.D.
The annual program, led largely by staff and faculty from the School of Nursing and Health Studies, took place from May 18 to 21 in the University’s Frost Institute for Chemistry and Molecular Science building on the Coral Gables campus, just steps from the School of Nursing and Health Studies.
Hosted by CHARM and co-sponsored by the Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute of the Miller School of Medicine, the four-day event offered 15workshops and presentations focused on building a strong foundation for advancing research that improves how evidence-based approaches to preventing and treating HIV are implemented in everyday practice.
Speakers and attendees came from across the University of Miami, as well as Northwestern University, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, University of Utah, University of Central Florida, Florida State University, and a number of nonprofit, nongovernmental community agencies to discuss and learn about implementation science, an area of growing national interest.
“Implementation science is a high priority established by the National Institutes of Health, meaning there is growing national interest in ensuring that research and evidence-based practices are effectively translated into real-world settings, particularly in areas such as HIV and public health,” “There is also increased need for implementation science in the area of HIV research, which is a key part of CHARM's mission."
Day one kicked off with a two-part “EIS 101” workshop from EIS Core Investigators Alyssa Lozano, Ph.D., and Mae Tidd, Ph.D., both from the School of Nursing and Health Studies.
Distinguished University Professor Guillermo “Willy” Prado, Ph.D., of the School of Nursing and Health Studies, opened day two with his presentation, “From Evidence to Practice: Scaling Prevention through Effectiveness—Implementation Hybrid Type 1 Trials in Primary Care,” offering tips for accelerating the transition from effectiveness to implementation research. Dr. Prado is co-director of the EIS Core along with Miller School of Medicine Professor Mariano Kanamori, Ph.D.
Later that day, Dr. Harkness, who also is co-lead of Dissemination and Implementation for the Miami CTSI, discussed the topic “Rapid Qualitative Analysis: Deductive Approaches with Implementation Frameworks,” teaching attendees how conduct rigorous and efficient research that is crucial for impactful implementation research.
Cory Bradley, Ph.D., an assistant professor at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Sylvia Naar, Ph.D., a Distinguished Endowed Professor at Florida State’s College of Medicine, Behavioral Sciences, and Social Medicine; and Justin D. “JD” Smith, Ph.D., an associate professor at University of Utah’s School of Medicine and a consultant for the CHARM EIS Core were among the seminar’s external speakers.
In addition to the week’s many well-attended daily workshops, Dr. Tidd facilitated an EIS Microgrant Awardee Symposium, highlighting the work of past and present EIS Partnership-Building Microgrant awardees. This microgrant was aimed at developing partnerships between researchers and implementers to lay the groundwork for future implementation research in the field HIV and mental health. The symposium featured existing partnerships brought together by the microgrant, including Edda Rodriguez, Ph.D., Alecia Tramel-McIntyre, Elisa Diaz, M.D., Natacha Janac, M.D., Amy Hall, Ph.D., Niya Hubbard, MSW, MEd.
Dr. Harkness closed out the last day by moderating a panel of national implementation science experts focused on discussing key issues in the broader field of implementation science. She also announced that the School of Nursing and Health Studies will offer two fully online Implementation Science academic programs next year that she will direct: a certificate program starting Spring 2027 and a master’s degree (with full- and part-time study plan options) starting Fall 2027.
Beyond events and trainings like this one, the EIS Core maintains a database of local and regional implementers interested in collaboration through research and practice, offers on-demand scientific consultations, helps to identify CHARM Pilot/Scholar Award recipients, and provides mentorship for emerging EIS scholars and investigators newly transitioning into the field of IS.
Meanwhile, shared Porras, planning is under way for CHARM’s fourth annual EIS Weeklong Training Seminar, expected to take place in May 2027. “The agenda, structure, expert speakers, and topics vary each year, as we aim to consistently evolve our training program based on attendee feedback and growing changes in the field of implementation science,” she said. Email her for more information at axp2629@miami.edu.
