The Office of Community Engagement & Partnerships supports learning opportunities that strengthen connection, collaboration and community-informed practice across the College of Medicine – Tucson. Through lectures, forums and trainings, we create spaces for learners, faculty, staff and partners to share knowledge, build skills and engage with real-world health priorities.
Community Engagement Lecture Series
The Community Engagement Lecture Series brings together students, faculty, staff, residents and community partners to explore impactful, real-world topics at the intersection of health, medical education and community. Each session features guest speakers who share their expertise, insights and strategies for creating positive change through collaborative action.
Upcoming Lectures
Community Engagement Lecture 2026
Suggestions for a speaker or a topic? We’d love your input! The Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships welcomes your ideas for speakers and topics that align with our mission.
Health Care Advancement Forum
The Health Care Advancement Forum is a space for conversation, collaboration and innovation. Designed to bring together students, faculty, health care professionals and community partners, the forum explores timely issues, promising practices and bold ideas that shape the future of health care in Arizona and beyond.
Whether you’re passionate about improving access to care, advancing health care or shaping the next generation of health professionals, this forum offers a place to share knowledge, build relationships and move ideas forward.
Forums for 2026-2027
Coming out soon
What to Expect
- Guest Speakers & Panels: Hear from medical leaders, researchers and community experts
- Interactive Sessions: Engage in meaningful dialogue and problem-solving around real-world challenges
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with others working to advance health in academic and community settings
Community Building Circles
The Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships is proud to offer Community Building Circles, a restorative practice rooted in Indigenous teachings and grounded in restorative philosophy. These circles provide a proactive, reflective space to strengthen relationships, encourage empathetic communication, and foster a deeper sense of connection within academic and professional settings.
What Are Community Building Circles?
Community Building Circles are structured yet non-hierarchical gatherings where participants come together to share, listen, and reflect with respect and empathy. Centered around shared values and group agreements, circles allow participants to explore what community means to them and how it can be cultivated within their team, department or unit.
Circles support
- Connection and cohesion within teams
- Belonging and community
- Social-emotional well-being
- Healthy communication and trust-building
By creating space for honest dialogue, Community Building Circles contribute to a more respectful, supportive and connected environment at the college.
How We Support Circles
The Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships offers facilitation support for departments, teams and units across the college. Our staff has completed restorative practice training through the AAMC and is prepared to guide groups through the Community Building Circle process.
We Offer
In this option, your team will work with facilitators focused on building a community space through circle methodology.
The topics covered may include, but are not limited to:
- Setting shared values and agreements
- Defining and contributing to the community
- Bringing your full self into space
- Developing connections
- Engaging in difficult conversations
- Celebrating accomplishments
- Reflecting on the past and looking ahead
These sessions can last 60 to 90 minutes each. They are designed to create a foundation for your circle and develop meaningful shared agreements within your team.
Restorative practices provide a framework for healing, communication and trust-building for teams that seek to deepen relationships and explore restorative approaches in a structured, focused way. These practices are precious for addressing harm, resolving conflicts and fostering a culture of accountability. After this session, your team will have the foundational framework on Restorative Practices in Academic Medicine.
Interested in Bringing a Community Circle or a Presentation to Your Group? We’d love to support you! Please complete this intake form. A team member will respond to you within 48 hours.