WHO WE ARE
ABOUT THE CODE OFFICE

Ron Strauss, D.M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Office of Community Outreach, Dissemination, and Education

Dr. Strauss is Professor and Chair of the Department of Dental Ecology in the UNC School of Dentistry and Professor in the Department of Social Medicine in the UNC School of Medicine. Dr. Strauss is a trained ethnographer and has utilized qualitative and survey research methods in numerous projects.

He assists CFAR investigators who are conducting social/behavioral research in the community or enrolling potential subjects in social science research studies.

Vanessa White
Manager, Office of Community Outreach, Dissemination and Education

Vanessa provides a linkage to communities and community agencies. She actively aids CFAR investigators in communicating research results back to the community and in conducting outreach to minority populations

Vanessa organizes and works closely with Community Advisory Boards, and is currently working on building community-academic health center partnerships.

Educational, outreach and advisory relationships are strong and defining features of the current UNC-CFAR Community Outreach, Dissemination, and Education (CODE) Office.

Primary responsibilities of the CODE:

  1. Convene and engage the CFAR Community Advisory Board.
  2. Manage and further develop the CFAR website.
  3. Provide leadership in CFAR press, community and media relations.
  4. Help organize the CFAR World AIDS Day activities.
  5. Develop educational offerings and courses at UNC.
  6. Conduct outreach to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
  7. Help provide linkages to other CFARs around the nation.
  8. Serve as an initial contact for community questions and interactions.
  9. Lead in dissemination of research findings to communities.
  10. Facilitate ethical and health/research policy discourse.

The CODE Office seeks to encourage public and media discussion of educational, ethical, preventive, social and health policy aspects of HIV/AIDS.

The CODE office seeks to partner with students, community members, colleges or universities, faith leaders, HIV/AIDS organizations, and/or others interested in HIV/AIDS outreach efforts.

If you are interested in collaborating with the UNC CFAR for an HIV/AIDS related activity, please contact us to see how we can help.