Decades ago, researchers, clinicians, product designers, engineers and community planners of all kinds began a serious conversation about what is called "engagement." Their reasoning was sound. End users, clients and targets of interventions (clinical or otherwise) hold the keys to better services, products, and solutions to their physical and social diseases. However, in spite of good intentions, engagement is fraught with challenges that are seemingly insurmountable. In this talk, Anthropology professor Michael Montoya explores the often unexamined relational aspects of engaging across social boundaries of all kinds. Drawing upon decades of work in community contexts, and in one long term engagement in particular, Montoya will share what he has learned as a medical anthropologist about working with people to solve complex problems of health and well-being.

How can we conduct respectful and equitable research? How can I involve community experts in my practice or project? What can I do to help transform our troubled world? It begins and ends, with relationships.