Cancer Disparities

Dear Colleague:

I am interested in understanding how the government can create successful virtual communities of practice that will help to move cancer control research into practice. Because of your long-standing commitment to health promotion and disease prevention, I would like to invite your participation in identifying issues that are related to this topic. I am seeking your input via a web-based planning forum to provide input on this topic. Based on your input, I will develop recommendations for creating and sustaining government-sponsored virtual communities of practice.

I am asking you to participate in two ways: 1) by contributing your ideas via a dedicated web site; and 2) shortly thereafter, to complete a sorting/rating of the consolidated set of ideas. Here is the plan:

1. Between November 20, 2012 and December 11, 2012 I would like you to visit the following web site: http://www.conceptsystemsglobal.com/VirtualCommunitiesofPractice/brainstorm.  The web site will ask you to share ideas on the specific question: What do you believe is needed to create and sustain successful government-sponsored virtual communities of practices aimed at moving cancer control research into practice? Your responses will be reflected automatically on the site anonymously in real time with all the other participants’ responses.  You may visit the site as many times as you like between the November 20, 2012 and December 11, 2012. 
2. Once all the responses have been collected, duplicate responses will be consolidated and they will be organized into categories. On December 15, 2012, I will ask you to revisit the site and sort and/or rate the final set of statements in terms of their relative importance.

The timeline (and time commitment) for each phase of the study is:

*If you complete the sorting/rating phase of the study, your name will be entered into a raffle drawing for one of four $50 Amazon gift cards.

If you feel that another colleague would be better suited to contribute pertinent ideas and opinions, please invite him or her to participate in your place.

Many thanks for your consideration of this request. If you have any questions please contact me at cvinson@gwmail.gwu.edu or by phone at 301-594-5906.

Sincerely,

Cynthia A. Vinson, MPA
Doctoral Candidate
George Washington University
Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Administration