Fernández talks implementation science impact on podcast

(Photo by UTHealth Houston)

María E. Fernández, PhD, joined hosts Matt Chinman, PhD, and Shari Rogal, MD, on the new Implementation Happy Hour podcast for the episode “Science, Story and Impact.”

On the podcast, she discussed how implementation science has helped federally qualified health centers increase cancer screening and vaccination rates. Fernández also shared her perspective on artificial intelligence and the future of implementation science.

Fernández is vice president of population health and implementation science, professor, and Lorne Bain Chair in Public Health and Medicine at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, as well as co-director of the Institute for Implementation Science at UTHealth Houston. Implementation science is the scientific study of methods that promote the uptake of research findings and evidence-based practices into routine care.

Proven interventions often take years to reach the patients who could benefit from them. Implementation science works to close that gap by helping health systems, clinics, and communities put what works into everyday practice.

Implementation Happy Hour is a new podcast from the University of Pittsburgh’s Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Center. It features conversations with leaders in implementation science. The episode is available on the Implementation Happy Hour podcast webpage.