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Quote by Ruth Simmons

“High level policy makers and program managers do not normally listen to the voices of local people, local providers and local program managers when they make decisions about contraceptive introduction or other aspects of program development in reproductive health.”

Quote by Ruth Simmons

Author

Ruth Simmons (born July 3, 1945) is a distinguished American academic and educator, best known as the first African American woman to lead an Ivy League institution as president of Brown University. Born into poverty in Texas, she overcame racial and economic barriers through education, earning degrees from Dillard University and Harvard University. Simmons served as president of Smith College and provost of Princeton University before leading Brown from 2001 to 2012. She is a prominent advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, and her leadership has been widely recognized with numerous honorary degrees and awards. Her memoir, 'Up Home: One Girl's Journey,' was published in 2023. more

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“If instead policy makers and program managers participate in an interdisciplinary assessment team, make informal visits to local families and have in-depth conversations with local providers and health authorities, the real needs and complex challenges of organizing good reproductive health services become apparent.The first country that implemented this participatory program of assessment, research and policy development was Brazil. I was one of the outsiders who provided support to the initiative.”

“We wanted to see how access to care can be expanded and service quality can be improved when one uses a participatory approach to program development. We showed that major changes become possible if you work in a participatory manner, listen to local people, diagnose what the problems are, provide training and identify where there are opportunities for mobilizing local resources to take action. In time leaders from other municipalities expressed interest in replication and the project succeeded in expanding innovations to three other areas.”

“There are hundreds, even thousands of remarkable pilot or experimental projects in all fields - in agriculture, health, education. But where do these pilots take us? Do they lead to change on a broader scale? If not, how can we ensure that they have broader impact?”

Ifs Fields Projects Impact Scales Remarkable Pilots Agriculture Health Education

Author:Ruth Simmons

“In the late 60s, 70s and possibly early 80s, social scientists were interested in researching the diffusion of innovation and studying the link between applied research and policy and program development. Recently there has been less interest in these issues and we feel that this interest must be rekindled.”

Feels Has Beens Social Interest Study Issues Policy Development Late Research Program Scientist Innovation Links 80s Diffusion

Author:Ruth Simmons

“Our practical purpose is to facilitate expansion of service innovations on a larger scale to improve access to, and the quality of reproductive health care. We are very grateful to have received support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to continue our work.”

Care Purpose Quality Support Innovation Foundation Grateful Bills Access Scales Practicals Health Care Gates Expansion Facilitate Reproductive Health

Author:Ruth Simmons

“A longer time perspective is needed because we face a daunting task both in an intellectual and practical sense.”

Faces Perspective Needed Intellectual Tasks Practicals Daunting Tasks

Author:Ruth Simmons

“One of the things we have learned in the first year is that if you want to scale-up, the first thing you have to do is to expand your own team.”

Ifs Want Years Firsts Team Scales

Author:Ruth Simmons

“We felt that the Gates Foundation looked at our track record and our publications and decided that "this is persuasive; this needs to be done. Let's see what they can do."”

Needs Done Felt Can Do Records Decided Foundation Track Gates Publication Persuasive Track Record

Author:Ruth Simmons

“We are trying to discover where this approach could have the greatest possibility of large-scale impact. We have to choose wisely and see where there is greatest interest and need.”

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Author:Ruth Simmons

“If we succeed in learning more about how to expand program innovations from pilot projects so that they have broader program impact, this should be very relevant for public health initiatives in Michigan and elsewhere in the US.”

Ifs Should Succeed Projects Program Innovation Impact Relevant Pilots Elsewhere Initiative Public Health Michigan Learning More

Author:Ruth Simmons