Designing and Implementing a Community-Engaged Research e-Library: A Case Study for Adapting Academic Library Information Infrastructure to Respond to Stakeholder Needs

Jennifer Gierisch, PhD,  is behavioral scientist and health services researcher. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Population Heath Sciences and the Department of Medicine at Duke University. She is a core investigator with the Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation (ADAPT)  where she serves as the leader of the Partnered Research Methods Core (PRESTO)  and Director of the VA OAA Health Services Research Postdoctoral Fellowship. Dr. Gierisch also is the Co-Director of the Evidence Synthesis Program (VA ESP) at the Durham Veteran Affairs Health Care System. She also served as a faculty director of the Duke Clinical Translational Science Institute's  Community Engaged Research Initiative (CeRi) for five years

Dr. Gierisch’s research focuses on three overarching areas: 1) behavioral research on the psychosocial factors that influence appropriate uptake and maintenance of complex health behaviors (eg., weight management, smoking cessation, cancer screening); 2) evidence synthesis on key health and healthcare topics to enhance uptake of evidence-based interventions to improve patient and health system outcomes; and 3) participatory and  community engaged research approaches.

Area of expertise: health behavior, community-engaged research, evidence synthesis, intervention development,  qualitative research

Dr. Leonor Corsino is a Board-Certified Adult Endocrinologist, physician-scientist, and nationally recognized leader in organizational and health professional education. With a distinguished career spanning clinical care, research, and workforce development, she brings a unique and integrative perspective to advancing and improving patient care and medical education. Her leadership encompasses basic science, clinical, and community-engaged research, curriculum innovation, and the implementation of transformative clinical programs.

Dr. Corsino’s research centers on diabetes, obesity, and their associated complications. She is also deeply committed to medical education and mentoring, having guided numerous trainees and junior faculty through successful academic and clinical careers. Her work has been instrumental in shaping inclusive and impactful learning environments.

She has led and collaborated on a wide range of initiatives at the local, national, and international levels, including NIH-funded studies, cross-institutional partnerships, and global health efforts. Among her many contributions are the development of the Duke Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) selective curriculum, the CTSI/CERI Population Health Improvement Award, consultations, e-library, community consultations studio, educational programs, innovative platforms for population health mapping, and MD program courses such as the medical Spanish course and others. These initiatives have significantly enhanced patient care, improved population health strategies, and strengthened the training and support systems for health profession learners and faculty.

Dr. Corsino is widely respected for her ability to bridge clinical excellence with visionary leadership in education and research.