I often describe my career as one rooted in both personal experience and community impact. My passion for healthcare grew from my role as my mother’s primary caregiver during her battle with end-stage kidney failure. Administering her dialysis treatments at home gave me an intimate understanding of the challenges families face in navigating healthcare. It was through this responsibility that I developed a determination to improve patient outcomes, strengthen healthcare systems, and build trust with those too often overlooked. As the first in my family to graduate from college and now an MBA student with a focus on healthcare management, my identity as a Haitian American woman informs everything I do. It drives me to advocate for inclusivity, equity, and compassionate care in spaces where marginalized voices are frequently missing.
At the Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), I serve as a Senior Project Coordinator and Research Assistant in the Community and Stakeholder Engagement Program. My work centers on building bridges between researchers and the communities their work aims to serve. Working alongside Dr. Jonathan Garlick and colleagues in the Science Communication Program at Tufts CTSI, I learned to leverage civic science dialogues as a tool for building trust. These aren’t merely conversations; they are carefully crafted spaces where individuals can bring their whole selves, share their concerns, and feel heard.
One of the most life-changing moments for me was seeing a group of Black and Brown seniors in Boston open up through a community dialogue about their fears and hopes around science and health. The topics of these dialogue were relevant and timely and focused on “Thoughts and Feelings about COVID Vaccination” and “Alternative Medicine and COVID Vaccine Dialogue.” At first, there was skepticism. Years of feeling overlooked or dismissed had built barriers of mistrust. But applying civic science tools I learned with Jonathan, including concern gatherings and structured dialogues, something shifted. People began to share personal stories about their experiences with healthcare, their frustrations, and even their spiritual perspectives. Slowly, the room transformed. Hesitation gave way to curiosity, then to genuine connection. Watching trust take root in that space reminded me why this work matters; it’s not only about information, but also about relationships, dignity, and empowerment.
I deeply understand what it feels like to be unseen within healthcare systems and academic spaces. That’s why I am intentional about ensuring community voices, especially those from marginalized groups, are not only included but centered. The impact of this work is evident in the voices of community members who tell us they finally feel seen, heard, and valued in conversations about science and health. Beyond specific health topics, what we are really cultivating is trustworthiness: creating spaces where people feel safe enough to share, reflect, and act. The tools I’ve learned – relationship-building, empathic listening, and dialogue facilitation- extend beyond science. They shape how I show up in every aspect of my professional and personal life. That is what putting civic science into action means to me.
What I have learned from Dr. Garlick is that Civic Science is not just a framework but a calling. It is about fostering dialogue that recognizes complexity, building trustworthiness that heals divides, and creating equitable systems where all communities can thrive.
Looking ahead, I plan to deepen my focus on healthcare leadership through my MBA at UMass Lowell. My goal is to design and implement healthcare policies and programs that address inequities, strengthen patient-centered care, and build sustainable trust between communities and institutions. Whether through civic science dialogues, health education, or organizational leadership, I remain committed to amplifying voices that are too often marginalized.
What I have learned from Dr. Garlick is that Civic Science is not just a framework but a calling. It is about fostering dialogue that recognizes complexity, building trustworthiness that heals divides, and creating equitable systems where all communities can thrive.
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Johanne Massilien is a healthcare professional and MBA candidate passionate about people, purpose, and better healthcare systems. Her journey into healthcare began as her mom’s home dialysis caregiver, an experience that shaped how she shows up in both her work and her life. She currently works in community-engaged research at Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), helping connect real people with meaningful science. She cares deeply about health equity, education, and supporting underserved communities, including those in Haiti.
