Residents and fellows presented their research projects and findings May 19 during Resident and Fellow Research Day hosted by The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Family Medicine Residency Program, which is operated by the College of Community Health Sciences.
Firearm injury prevention training for medical students, gestational diabetes, adolescent vaccination and lifestyle-based interventions were among the topics presented. Research is a required component of both the residency and fellowship curricula and culminates in presentations during Research Day.
This year’s event also included a panel discussion featuring chief residents Drs. Chase Britt, Marwan Mahmoud, Emily Brown and Callie Hillman, who reflected on their training and offered guidance to incoming residents. The chief residents will graduate from the program in June.
Dr. Tamer Elsayed, director of the residency, said the annual Research Day highlights the commitment of residents and fellows to advance patient care.
“This event showcases the strong work our residents are doing and represents an important early step in expanding quality improvement efforts,” Elsayed said. “Each year, it provides an opportunity for them to share research that has the potential to extend beyond our institution.”
The residency is a three-year education and training program for medical school graduates pursuing careers in family medicine. The College also offers post-residency fellowships in behavioral health, emergency medicine, geriatrics, hospital medicine, obstetrics, pediatrics and sports medicine.
Dr. Louanne Friend, associate residency director for Research and Quality Improvement, credited residents for their perseverance and achievements.
“Our residents have faced a demanding year but continue to meet challenges head-on,” Friend said. “Their work demonstrates both resilience and a commitment to excellence, and it’s rewarding to see that effort gaining recognition beyond our program.”
Friend said expanding the program’s visibility at the national level remains a key goal.
“We have a strong program producing meaningful work, and sharing those findings more broadly is essential,” she said. “I’m especially proud of this class and of the second-year residents who have also presented at national meetings. This day is truly a celebration of their accomplishments.”
Resident and Fellow Research Projects:
Assessing an Interprofessional Firearm Injury Prevention Course for Medical Students Using the 5 A’s Counseling Framework
Emily Brown, MD, MS; Justine Vella, MBA, MD
Gestational Diabetes Enduring Curriculum for Resident Physicians
Callie Hillman, DO; Arpitha Jammula, MD; Katherine Sweeney, DO, MPH
Investigating Patient Perspectives on Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Disparities in University Medical Center Practices in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Kavena Sivakumar, MD; Zeel Adeshra, MD
Factors Influencing Family Medicine Residents’ Post-Graduation Practice Choices
Celia Asinor, MD
Improving Adolescent Vaccination in a Family Medicine Residency Continuity Clinic
Katie Carr, MD; Ricky Sekhon, MD; Lucas Tarvainen, MD
Communicating with Compassion: A Workshop on Delivering Bad News for Family Medicine Residents
Paris Cooke, MD
The Relationship Between Dietary, Exercise, and Lifestyle-Related Interventions and PTSD Symptoms
Neethu Kurien, MD