The Bennett Lecture in Prevention Science is an annual fall event to honor worldwide leaders in prevention research. This year, we are honoring Dr. Phillip W. Graham, a Principal Scientist for the Health Practice Area at RTI International.
This lecture promises to be enlightening for anyone interested in the intersection of research, public health, and community engagement. Dr. Graham will provide a compelling exploration of the challenges and rewards of conducting rigorous research in real-world settings, tailoring evidence-based interventions to meet the specific needs of diverse populations. Dr. Graham will also address the inherent complexities of implementing research in diverse communities, where variability in contexts and resource constraints pose significant challenges to traditional research methodologies. In doing so, he will illustrate how rigorous research can be both impactful and sustainable.
The lecture will not only highlight the use of cutting-edge analytic methods to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention strategies but will also delve into the critical role of implementation science in navigating the unique challenges posed by different community contexts. Drawing from his extensive experience in prevention science, particularly in the realms of substance use and violence prevention, he will share how these advanced techniques have been successfully applied to real-world projects.
About the Speaker
Phillip W. Graham, DrPH, MPH, is a principal scientist in RTI’s Health Practice Area and former director of the Center on Behavioral Health Epidemiology, Implementation, and Evaluation Research. For more than 25 years, Dr. Graham has been at the forefront of community-based research and evaluation, addressing the impacts of substance use, violence, and social inequities on youth and their communities.
Dr. Graham’s work has included leading large-scale, multi-site evaluations and conducting methodologically rigorous studies that integrate mixed methods, implementation science, and data integration approaches. These efforts emphasize the importance of community context, culture, and diversity in developing and evaluating interventions.
Dr. Graham has authored more than 100 papers, presentations, and reports that have shaped the field of public health and prevention science. His leadership extends to collaborations with federal agencies, community organizations, and other stakeholders to advance prevention strategies that mitigate risks and promote healthy development. Currently, he serves as President-Elect for the Society for Prevention Research and is a founding board member of the National Prevention Science Coalition, where he advocates for the application of prevention science to address complex social issues.
