The National Academy of Medicine today announced the launch of the Building Trust in Health Science Through Community Partnership and Lived Experience Action Collaborative, a timely initiative that places community wisdom at the center of efforts to strengthen public confidence in health science. Thirty-two respected community leaders, researchers, and practitioners have volunteered their time as inaugural members to co‑develop community‑driven approaches that prioritize lived experience, diverse perspectives, and shared stewardship.
“The goal of this Collaborative is to build trust in health sciences in the community by listening first and then acting together,” said Victor J. Dzau, President of the National Academy of Medicine. “We come to this work with a shared sense of responsibility. This is a true partnership—one built on co-developing trustworthy solutions with communities. Together, we can turn urgency into progress and ensure that community insight drives every step forward.”
Why This Matters
Community voice and lived experience are essential to making scientific guidance understandable, relevant, and trustworthy.
Diverse thought and regional representation strengthen the credibility and reach of any solution; this Collaborative intentionally brings those perspectives forward. The initiative is grounded in humility: it aims to follow community leadership and to support solutions that endure because they reflect real needs and realities.
The Collaborative’s inaugural cohort includes 32 volunteer members representing a wide range of communities, professions, and lived experiences. Their collective commitment signals both the urgency of this work and the deeply held belief that partnership is the pathway to lasting trust.
- Alexandra Adams
- Fouad Atouf
- Rhonda Beaver
- Bryan Buckley
- Alec Calac
- Enrico Castillo
- Adrienne Dillard
- Hannah Drake
- Kafui Dzirasa
- Altovise T. Ewing-Crawford
- David Fakunle
- Lillie Fox
- Ricardo Garay
- Jeannette Ickovics
- Sam Joo
- Dee Jordan
- Sara Kernell
- Mindi Levin
- Elisabeth Marnik
- Alan “Darrin” McCormick
- Moira McGuire
- Beth Michel
- Alan Morgan
- Samantha Morigeau
- Maria Palacios
- Mary Rattler-Laducer
- Juan Rios
- Nathaniel Siggers
- Melissa Simon
- Brian Southwell
- Misty Wilkie
- Joseph Wright
“This is urgent and consequential work,” said Amy Gyau-Moyer, Director of the Building Trust in Health Science Through Community Partnership and Lived Experience Action Collaborative. “I am grateful to these inaugural members for lending their time and insight. Together we will listen, learn, and strive to make health science more credible and caring where people live.”
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About the National Academy of Medicine
The National Academy of Sciences was founded in 1863 and established the Institute of Medicine in 1970 that became the National Academy of Medicine. The NAM is an independent organization of eminent professionals from diverse fields including health and medicine; the natural, social, and behavioral sciences; and beyond. It serves alongside the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering as an adviser to the nation and the international community. Through its domestic and global initiatives, the NAM works to address critical issues in health, medicine, and related policy and inspire positive action across sectors. The NAM collaborates closely with its peer academies and other divisions within the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Media Contact
For press interview requests:
Dana Korsen, Director of Media Relations
National Academy of Medicine — [email protected] · 202-334-2843
For member biographies or a copy of the Collaborative’s public statement:
Karen Bacellar, Deputy Communications Director
National Academy of Medicine — [email protected]
