Emory University School of Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine

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Department of Family and Preventive Medicine

FPM Community Engagement Council

Membership terms are limited to two (2) years with the option for renewal.
Members are expected to commit at least 2-3 hours per month to the committee, including but not limited to attending the monthly meeting and attending council-sponsored activities and events.

Mission, Values, and Goals

Mission 

The Community Engagement Council promotes authentic, reciprocal, and sustainable partnerships between the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine (DFPM) and the communities it serves. Through collaboration, education, and service, the Council seeks to strengthen connections within and beyond the department, fostering belonging and cohesion across departmental divisions while aligning the department’s clinical, research, and educational activities with the needs and strengths of local, regional, and global communities. The Council’s work supports the department’s mission to advance health equity and improve population health through engaged scholarship, service, and community-informed practice.

Values 

The Council operates under the belief that community engagement enhances learning, builds cohesion within the department, strengthens research relevance, and improves health outcomes. Our core values are:

  • Reciprocity: Engagement is mutually beneficial, recognizing the expertise and assets of community members as equal partners.
  • Respect: We value lived experience, disciplinary diversity, and cultural humility as essential sources of knowledge that strengthen both community and departmental relationships.
  • Transparency: Open communication and shared accountability promote trust, collaboration, and long-term partnerships within DFPM and across community networks.
  • Sustainability: Engagement activities are designed for continuity and measurable benefit to communities and the department alike.
  • Equity: Partnerships intentionally address barriers to participation and seek to reduce disparities in both community health and institutional opportunity.
  • Service and Belonging: We cultivate inclusive spaces that inspire shared purpose, celebrate contributions, and promote a sense of belonging through collective service.

Goals 

  • Develop and Implement a Departmental Community Engagement Strategy
    Create and maintain a roadmap for community engagement that aligns with DFPM’s strategic priorities and Emory University School of Medicine initiatives.
  • Promote Faculty, Staff, and Learner Engagement in Community Settings
    Facilitate opportunities for collaboration across clinics, training programs, and community organizations to enhance experiential learning and service.
  • Support Community-Engaged Research and Scholarship
    Encourage and provide guidance for research that is co-created with communities, following evidence-based frameworks such as community-based participatory research (CBPR).
  • Build Capacity and Recognition for Engagement Work
    Develop mentorship and training opportunities that build skills in engaged scholarship, community partnership development, and internal leadership for inclusive collaboration.
  • Enhance Communication and Visibility
    Maintain a repository of community engagement activities and success stories. Promote the dissemination of successful engagement practices that highlight both community impact and the collaborative spirit within DFPM.


Meet our Vice Chair for Community Engagement

Leslie Johnson

Leslie Johnson, PhD, MPH, MLitt is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Family and Medicine and an Associate Program Director for the NIH-funded TITANS international training program. She is an implementation scientist whose research centers on community-engaged approaches to improve chronic disease care, with a particular focus on diabetes, mental health, and women’s health. Through this work, she aims to promote health equity by adapting and evaluating integrated care models in the U.S. and globally, co-designing interventions with people with lived experience, health system partners, and broader communities.

 In her words, "In the role of Vice Chair of Community Engagement, I hope to foster stronger, more authentic partnerships that deepen connections within our department and with the communities we serve. My goal is to create spaces where trainees, staff, and faculty feel empowered to engage meaningfully, while ensuring our collaborations embody equity, reciprocity, and a shared culture of inclusive excellence."