Multisectoral Retreat Advances Community-Engaged Research and Health Priorities in Puerto Rico
The Alliance, in collaboration with CEO and GROW-PR, successfully organized a Multisectoral Retreat at the Royal Sonesta San Juan on May 8, 2026. The retreat focused on strengthening collaboration among community organizations, healthcare providers, researchers, and institutional partners to advance community-engaged and translational research initiatives in Puerto Rico.
The event opened with welcoming remarks and an overview of the retreat’s objectives, emphasizing a decision-oriented approach grounded in collaboration and shared responsibility. Participants reviewed community health priorities, findings from Community Needs Assessments, and current Alliance health focus areas to establish a common evidence base for discussion and action. Francisco J. Rodríguez Fraticelli and Lohary Munet Piñeiro were the co-chairs of the Retreat. Francisco is the President and CEO of Coalición de Coaliciones Pro Personas sin Hogar de PR, Inc., and Lohary is the President of the Board of Junta Innovadora Comunal Villa del Carmen, Inc..
The pictures below show our COE-GROW team led by Dr. Edna Acosta. At the center is Dr. Omar Khan, Chair of the Alliance EAC.
Strengthening Multisectoral Collaboration
A major component of the retreat included interactive working sessions in which participants engaged in multidisciplinary discussions focused on NIH priorities, community and patient needs, research feasibility, workforce development, and strategies to strengthen community-academic-provider partnerships.
Participants also explored opportunities to expand the GROW-PR Network and identified key stakeholders and missing voices essential to fostering meaningful and impactful research efforts.
From Discussion to Action
Throughout the sessions, attendees examined challenges affecting real-world implementation, including funding challenges and recent political shifts impacting healthcare and research organizations. Participants shared community engagement strategies and collaboratively developed recommendations to strengthen community participation in research initiatives.
The retreat also emphasized translational impact and dissemination, highlighting the importance of ensuring that research findings effectively reach and benefit communities. Case examples showcased how community partnerships and data-driven approaches can support public policy changes, identify collaborators, and strengthen dissemination and feedback strategies.
Key Outcomes
- Strengthened alignment between CEO and GROW-PR around shared health priority areas.
- Identified gaps, opportunities, and feasibility constraints within community and clinical settings.
- Generated recommendations for Community Academic Partnerships, GROW-PR research priorities, and dissemination strategies.
- Identified training and capacity-building opportunities to support community-engaged research programs.
Building Together
The retreat incorporated opportunities for networking, reflection, and team-building activities, including a collaborative Marshmallow Game designed to highlight the importance of collective leadership, communication, and creativity across sectors.
Advancing Community-Centered Research in Puerto Rico
The Multisectoral Retreat represented an important step toward strengthening collaborative, community-centered research in Puerto Rico. Participants emphasized the value of effective communication, teamwork, and shared goals across sectors. The event also fostered the development of innovative ideas and actionable strategies to support the continued growth of the Alliance and future collaborative projects with lasting impact.
