I created this dynamic tree model to explain the effects of social factors on the general population. I demonstrate the precise mechanism through animated graphics. This was part of a longer conversation with Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Sue Subocz, as part of the Beacons of Light series at Walden University which occurred on August 17, 2021. I was the fourth speaker in the series and was honored to be nominated to provide insights surrounding conducting research and understanding disparities as it pertains to the pandemic.
The first thing to notice is that broadly speaking, I wanted to give the impression of an oasis in a desert. While realistically speaking, Death Valley does not have an oasis, the theory is that given the right parameters, a healthy tree can develop and flourish. This is similar to how communities work. Without social support-communities falter. With social support, communities flourish. I generated the visual background of the desert using a picture I took from the car in Mojave Desert back in 2010.
Borrowing from the concepts laid forth by Sir Michael Marmot and Professor Richard Wilkinson and applying innovative learning style theory and technology, I have created a dynamic visual representation of the tree for better clarity and understanding. The “roots” may look familiar because I adopted them from the 5 social determinants of health. The concept of the tree model to explain the needs of communities was based on the original CDC white paper developed and with the following reference:
https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dch/progr... Brennan Ramirez LK, Baker EA, Metzler M. Promoting Health Equity: A Resource to Help Communities Address Social Determinants of Health. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2008.
The authors based their original tree model off of the following references:
Anderson L, Scrimshaw S, Fullilove M, Fiedling J. The Community Guide’s model for linking the social environment to health. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2003;24(3S):12–20.
Marmot M, Wilkinson R. Social Determinants of Health. New York: Oxford University Press; 2005.
Wilkinson R, Marmot M. Social Determinants of Health: The Solid Facts. Copenhagan: World Health Organization; 2003.