Research shows 90% of children’s health is driven by the complex interplay between social, behavioral, environmental, and genetic/epigenetic factors. Connecticut Children’s Childhood Prosperity Lab (the Lab) incubates and accelerates social innovations that address social determinants of health. The Lab defines social innovations as creative strategies and opportunities that are implemented where children live, learn, work, play and pray; build upon the strengths and assets of families and communities; are developed in partnership with families and communities; and are integrated into existing organizational- and community-level infrastructure, relationships and systems. The Lab partners with changemakers – individuals and networks who are reimagining how to help all children, families, and communities thrive – to scale their innovations to maximum impact.
The Mastermind is a 60-minute consultation in which changemakers meet with a multidisciplinary panel of advisors, internal and external from Connecticut Children’s, and receive feedback and recommendations to guide the development of an innovation. Advisors have experience designing, testing, evaluating, and scaling public, community, and population health initiatives and/or content area expertise in different facets of child health, development, and well-being.
Today’s advisor spotlight features Paul Dworkin, MD, Executive Vice President of Community Child Health for Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health. Dr. Dworkin has been participating in Mastermind sessions since 2015.
What motivates you to participate in Masterminds?
Innovation is of critical importance if we are to successfully strengthen families and communities to promote the optimal health, development, and well-being of children and youth. From the outset of our work in the population health arena, we recognized the need to develop a process to explore and support good ideas, including designing pilot studies to evaluate proof-of-concept and, if successful, evolving pilot studies to efficacious, sustainable programs and services. Potential innovators have few options to secure feedback on their ideas. Masterminds offer such an opportunity to changemakers.
What expertise and experience do you bring to Masterminds?
My entire career has been in academic medical centers. I have experience in the delivery of clinical care as both a primary care clinician and subspecialist, have served in an array of administrative roles, have experience in and knowledge of public policy, and my understanding of child development has informed my efforts at program design, implementation, and dissemination.
How does participating in Masterminds align with your professional goals and interests?
I have long been interested in the promotion of innovative strategies and interventions to achieve optimal outcomes for children and youth. In the past, I was particularly focused on developing innovative approaches and evaluating their efficacy and feasibility for implementation, dissemination, and sustainability. Over the years, I have derived particular satisfaction in supporting and encouraging innovators in their efforts to make a difference. Masterminds afford an opportunity to provide support, encouragement, and guidance to a growing group of changemakers and perpetuate innovative approaches well into the future.
What would you like others to know about participating in the Mastermind as an advisor?
These sessions are unique opportunities to share one’s knowledge, experience, encouragement, and guidance with a unique group of highly receptive, talented individuals. The support provided by staff makes this experience very enjoyable, productive, and gratifying.
Anything else you would like to share?
Thank you for the opportunity to participate. I encourage anyone with an interest in innovation to consider volunteering.
Interested in learning more?
Are you ready to make an impact in child development? Visit our website to learn how you can collaborate with our team.