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“The All of Us Research Program will senior program coordinator and a certified
change the way we do research. Participants community health worker with the All
will be partners in research, not subjects, of Us Research Program. “When patients
and will have access to a wide range of study work with promotoras, many of the
results. What we’re doing with the All of barriers to health care access are broken
Us Research Program is intersecting with down and help to make much-needed
other fundamental changes in medicine resources accessible to disadvantaged
and research to empower Americans to live Dr. Irma Ramos, associate professor of individuals so they can obtain the care
healthier lives,” says Francis S. Collins, M.D., Health Promotion Sciences, and Elvia they need.”
Ph.D., director of the NIH. Lopez, senior program coordinator and “The strong partnership between
promotora. / Chris Richards photo
Creating more than 100 new full-time the University of Arizona and Banner
positions across the state, a talented group of Health is transforming health care in our
clinical research and community outreach state and region and establishing a new
professionals has been hired at the UA and Their primary goal paradigm for precision medicine,” says
Banner. Their primary goal is to ensure more UA President Robert C. Robbins. “This
than half of the participants come from landmark research effort aims to improve
populations historically underrepresented in is to ensure more health outcomes, fuel development of new
biomedical research. treatments for disease, and catalyze a new
For example, to engage, recruit, than half of the era of evidence-based, precise preventive
enroll and retain Hispanic partners and care and medical treatment options. We
communities, the program employs research participants come are committing to ensuring the program
promotoras, community health workers reflects and best serves our diverse
essential for the task. population.”
“Promotoras are patient advocates, from populations The program is seeking volunteers
bridging the gap between their community willing to complete electronic surveys,
and the health care system,” said Irma historically share information about their health
Ramos, M.D., MPH, director of the history and lifestyle habits, and provide
Promotoras Program and an associate underrepresented access to their electronic health records.
professor at the UA Mel and Enid Zuckerman Some participants also may be asked to
College of Public Health. “Promotoras give visit a local partner site to provide physical
a voice to those who would not have one in biomedical measurements and blood and urine
otherwise,” says Ramos, who has worked samples. Numerous safeguards are in
with promotoras in several states for the past research. place to minimize potential risks to data
20 years. security and participant privacy.
“Many community members avoid To learn more, visit AllofUsAz.org or
medical visits because they lack insurance call 1-877-268-2684 (877-AOU-AOU4).
coverage, transportation or have language
and trust barriers,” explains Elvia Lopez,

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