How is academic medicine engaging with community health workers in the United States?: a systematic review

Authors: Liana J Petruzzi, Akhil Mandalapu, Bruce Mang, Eric Quan, Imelda Vetter, Joshua Collier, Ricardo Garay, Rishit Yokananth, Carmen R Valdez, Rebecca Cook, Tim Mercer

This review examined how academic medical institutions work with community health workers. Across 136 studies, community health workers were involved in health programs, workforce training, and community-based research. Most studies showed that programs including community health workers improved health outcomes. They also helped with community engagement, recruiting participants, and collecting data. However, they were rarely involved in interpreting results or publishing research. The study highlights the need for stronger partnerships, fair pay, and clear career paths for community health workers within academic health systems.