A partnership between the HUB for Community Innovation Augusta and the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University has been recognized nationally for its work to address health disparities through community engagement. Their joint initiative, Community Outreach through Athletics in Colleges and High Schools (COACHS), was named one of five winners in the National Institutes of Health Build UP Trust Challenge. The award comes with $200,000 in funding to support further development of their program.
The COACHS program aims to meet the physical and social needs of high school students and their families by embedding athletic trainers in local schools and strengthening links between clinical care, schools, and community services. Over the past year, athletic trainers delivered healthcare during 598 student encounters at schools, conducted 283 preparticipation physical examinations, and expanded from three to eight embedded trainers across area high schools by Fall 2025.
Britney Pooser, president and CEO of the HUB Augusta Collaborative, said: “The HUB was created to meet the needs of Harrisburg and Laney Walker communities with the goal of ensuring the community’s voice is not an afterthought, but a driving force. We bring together community partners to facilitate the holistic care of the people in our communities. This national recognition affirms the strength of our collaboration with Augusta University and our shared commitment to research that is grounded in trust, accountability and lived experience.”
The program also includes a Teen Leadership Council made up of 12 students from eight high schools in Richmond and McDuffie counties. These students participated in leadership activities such as panel discussions and emergency skills classes. They also played a role in disaster response efforts following Hurricane Helene by distributing food, supplies, and air purifiers to families affected by decreased air quality due to loss of tree canopy.
Xzavier Neal, a high school senior involved in Teens Leading Change, commented: “Being a part of the Teens Leading Change with the HUB was a great experience; it helped me build confidence, speak more and actually feel like I can make a difference in my community.”
Christy Ledford, PhD, professor and vice chair of Research at MCG’s Department of Family and Community Medicine said: “This award is proof that NIH values community-led partnerships and recognizes our partnership between the HUB for Community Innovation and the Medical College of Georgia as a national exemplar.”
Ledford noted that working closely with Pooser helped shape COACHS based on direct input from residents. She added: “Our COACHS program is a model for meaningful community-led work. Partnering with Britney Pooser and the HUB maintains our focus on what the community needs. When Hurricane Helene hit in the middle of this project, it was our consistent collaboration that showed us how to adjust and respond to the immediate needs of our neighbors throughout Harrisburg and Laney Walker.”
Through another initiative called Co-Research Activation Network (CRANE), Ledford collaborates with groups from Augusta who regularly identify health priorities within their communities—one being improved access to healthcare for teens—which COACHS addresses directly.
Pooser intends to use prize funds to expand outreach further among local students and families. She stated: “The HUB exists to serve as a convener and connector, ensuring community members are not just participants but partners in shaping solutions that impact their lives.”
This recognition highlights ongoing efforts by both organizations toward advancing health equity through collaboration between research institutions and underserved communities.
