Community Connectors: Jackiethia Butsch

April 2023

Community Connectors is a monthly series highlighting Ohio State staff members who have shown leadership in partnering with our communities to make an impact. (Jackiethia Butsch is pictured third from the left).

Jackiethia Butsch, C-CHW
Senior Outreach Coordinator
Office of Health Equity

Community engagement is about serving our patients and the community with the best care possible. We meet people where they are (both literally and figuratively). By having a presence where underserved populations are, we have a better chance of getting people in need of medical care through the door. Whether thats the Emergency Department (ED) or through primary or specialty care directly.

Community engagement and health equity drive everything I do in my job in one way or another. From organizing and conducting Healthy Community Days in spring and fall to promoting colorectal screening programs to listening to a neighbor at a community meeting. Community and civic engagement lead the way.

Why is engaging the community important to you and your work?

I have been engaged with the communities I serve through my position with OSU Wexner Medical Center for many years. I am a part of that community and I understand the challenges that many of our patients face because I have faced them too. My job is to make sure everyone has a fair opportunity to live a long and healthy life. Helping to bridge the divide between the community and the amazing care teams at OSU Wexner Medical Center is a dream come true for me.

What lessons have you learned from the community that have helped you as a university staff member?

As a community health worker, I have learned that authentic listening is the key to learning and that there is no end to what new information you can pick up in the community. Being truly engaged with people at the neighborhood level, you quickly learn that every community is different and that by being present in the community, you can discern those differences and how they impact delivering care and keeping individuals connected.

What has been your favorite moment from your community-engagement work?

I was a member of a group made up of representatives from several departments at the Wexner Medical Center that created Community Vaccine Partners, or CVP, with one goal to partner with trusted community organizations to help ensure access to the COVID-19 vaccine for people living in vulnerable Columbus neighborhoods, particularly those with racial and ethnic minority populations. We vaccinated 10,000 people as a result of the program. Seeing what happens when you truly engage the community is and will remain my favorite moment.

What advice do you have for other staff members who are interested in getting involved in community engagement?

Dont come with an agenda, come with the ability to be open and willing to learn from others. If you can do that, there is a wealth of knowledge available.