Welcome to Beyond the Data.
I am Dr. Tanya Popovic.
The topic of today's Grand Rounds session was measuring the
impact of CDC science.
Here with me is Dr. Mary Ari who is doing exactly that,
leading CDC efforts to measure the impact of our science.
So Mary, let's start with a simple question.
What is CDC's science impact frame work?
The CDC science impact framework is just a means
to allow the agency to be able to measure the impact
of the work that we do.
As you know, the ultimate goal for us
as a public health agency is really the safety
and wellbeing of the people.
So this framework allows us to be able to track retrospectively
or monitor prospectively the impact of our work.
It has five levels of influence within this framework:
disseminating science, creating awareness, catalyzing action,
effecting change, and shifting the future.
How do you define or identify each one of these levels?
So within each of the levels of influence,
we have key indicators.
These key indicators are not by any means new.
They are well tested indicators that are well known
to the scientific community, but we just package them
with in each of spheres that we call influences to allow people
to be able to put these events into the influence.
So I understand that a number
of colleagues throughout the agency are now beginning
to use the science impact framework
and there is a substantial level of enthusiasm.
Can you give us one or two examples of such use?
Yes, actually the science impact framework even though we tested,
you know, mostly with, from manuscripts
or some research work and even we have tested
with guidelines and recommendations.
Currently we have colleagues who have written recently guidelines
and recommendations that are already using it.
I have to plan on how to monitor, to collect the data
to be able to show those influences or actually have
that already in progress.
For example the genetic screening guidelines,
that were logged by the Center for Surveillance Epidemiology
and Laboratory Services working together with the Association
of Public Health Laboratories.
They are already using this framework to be able
to monitor the impact the genetic screening guideline.
So I understand that it really is broad
and can cover many different areas...
What else makes it different or unique when it's compared
to some other frameworks that exist out there?
Yes, it is broad and that makes, that's part of the beauty
with the framework, it allows multiple users
because of it's broadness.
But, one of the unique things of the framework is
that it's focusing on effect and real time.
Essentially rather than, I mean, just think of it for a moment,
when we put out the science there, we understand
where the potential impact may be, but we do not know up front
if we would actually actualize those impacts.
So what this framework does is measure the effects
that are occurring within the natural environment
where the work is going on.
What changes are happening and that can be reported, you know
and also gives the opportunity for recalibration
if things are not on the right trajectory.
And let me ask you this, is this something
that only CDC scientist can use or is it something
that others outside of our agency can use?
Absolutely, anybody can use this.
What it really needs is for whoever wants to use this
to find the key indicator that are relevant to their area
of work and fit them under those five influences
and so they'll be able to use them.
Thank you very much Mary.
Obviously, this is a very exciting project that is going
to have many benefits for scientists in our agency
and many other nationally and globally.
Thank you all very much for joining us this time
for Beyond the Data and see you next time.