Speakers
Danny Benjamin, MD, PhD
Kiser-Arena Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics, Duke University
Chair, Pediatric Trials Network
Deputy Director, Duke Clinical Research Institute
Kanecia O. Zimmerman, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Co-chair, ABC Science Collaborative
Duke University School of Medicine
Topic
Back to School, It’s More Than Just a Trip to Target This Year: The ABC Science Collaborative
Keywords
COVID-19; ABC Science Collaborative; Public school administration; Health disparities; Infection mitigation; Risk-benefit ratio; Community engagement
Key Points
- The ABC Science Collaborative is a program that pairs scientists and physicians with school and community leaders to help understand the most current and relevant information about COVID-19. The program uses a data-driven approach to help school leaders make informed decisions about returning to school, using data from their own communities, with the goal of keeping teachers, children, and their local communities healthy and safe.
- School boards, superintendents, principals, staff, and families are essential stakeholders in the ABC Science Collaborative.
- Science shows that bringing kids back to school can be a success—if done the right way, including adherence to mask-wearing, hand hygiene, and physical distancing. Leadership support and implementing a coordinated, detailed plan are crucial to a successful approach.
Discussion Themes
The real power of the ABC Science Collaborative is the partnership between the researchers and stakeholders and their commitment to study the outcomes—and learn—together.
With scarce school resources, it’s better to maximize what has been shown to work in an interior environment, such as boosting adherence to masking and hand hygiene.
It could be said that “an ounce of data on COVID-19 provides more than an ounce of prevention.”
For resources and information, visit the ABC Science Collaborative website.
Tags
#pctGR, @Collaboratory1