Navigating Career Pivots and the Invisible Labor of Community Engaged Research

This webinar, the second installment of the Community Participation in Implementation Science Fall 2026 webinar series, featured a panel discussion on career pathways in implementation science. Speakers shared personal reflections on the mentors, opportunities, challenges, and unexpected turns that shaped their professional journeys. Across the discussion, a common message emerged: careers are rarely linear. Panelists emphasized the value of staying open to new opportunities, building strong relationships, learning from setbacks, and remaining connected to the real-world communities and challenges that inspire meaningful research and impact.