Editor's Note

Linda Trinh, PhD; Editor, Outlook

How can leveraging community involvement ensure more inclusive, sustainable research and policy outcomes? That’s the theme of this Outlook issue. Ensuring that all voices have the capacity to shape the field of behavioral medicine, programs, and policies is critical to understanding the context, problems, and/or solutions affecting our communities.

Several articles discuss community engagement including developing an interdisciplinary training program with community partnerships to address gaps in palliative care professionals; empowering older adults as co-researchers and partnering with senior centres as engagement strategies for advancing research in aging; considering new perspectives such as promoting health without mentioning weight; or even engaging within our own SBM community.

“I extend an open invitation to my fellow SBM members to remain engaged in our key policy priorities (i.e., climate change and health, child nutrition, and pain management/opioid use) to advocate on behalf of communities to advance health equity” as Dr. Roger Figueroa (SBM Advocacy Council Chair) recommends.

You can also consider putting forth a strong health policy position statement that is focused, actionable, scientifically robust, and relevant to current legislation. The Position Statement Committee provides some valuable tips on writing an impactful statement in this issue. I can attest to the wonderful support that they have provided when I co-authored one for the very first time on the ‘Joint Recommendation to Increase Federal Efforts to Promote Physical Activity During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic.’

The Climate Change and Health corner features the consequences of climate-related distress and actionable items you can take. For post-doctoral fellows, check out the article on the ‘The Postdoc Plight’ which will take you through a journey of reflection leaving you pondering: Are you Big “S” sad? Or little “s” sad? What makes you Big “H” Happy?

We also highlight the award experience and lessons learned from our 2023-24 Bridging the Gap Research Award Winner (Dr. Kristina Tatum). Learn more about the award-winning post-doctoral research and how this award may be beneficial to you.

Finally, congratulations to Dr. Lisa Cadmus-Bertram (Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Kinesiology) who will be the new incoming Outlook Editor. Dr. Cadmus-Bertram is a longstanding SBM member since 2008. She was the former SIG chair of the Behavioral Informatics and Technology (BIT) SIG and the Population Health Sciences (PHS) SIG. She served as a Health Ambassador for rural health, and is currently part of the Science Communication Committee. The Outlook will be in such great hands with Dr. Cadmus-Bertram as the Editor-in-Chief. She will be taking on this role after the 2025 Annual Meeting. In the meantime, I look forward to working with her in the transition.

Have a wonderful, restful, and active holiday season!