Evaluating the effects of COVID-19 on pregnant women, chronic wound management and barriers to HPV immunization were among the topics presented May 20 at the College of Community Health Sciences Resident and Fellow Research Day.
Dr. Tamer Elsayed, director of The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Family Medicine Residency Program, said the research addresses timely and critical topics in medicine.
“Your hard work, intellectual curiosity and dedication to advancing primary health care were clearly evident in the depth and diversity of your research projects,” he said.
The residency, which is operated by CCHS, is a three-year education and training program for medical school graduates seeking to specialize in the practice of family medicine. The College also offers post-residency fellowships in behavioral health, emergency medicine, geriatrics, hospital medicine, obstetrics, pediatrics and sports medicine.
During the annual Resident and Fellow Research Day, residents and fellows present their research projects and findings. The residency and fellow curricula include a research requirement.
Among the research project topics were those that explored the predictors of rural practice choice, fluoride administration in pediatric care, reducing hospital readmission rates for heart failure, lifestyle medicine, research into PrEP for HIV prevention and the impact of mentorship on resident wellness.
Dr. Louanne Friend, assistant residency director for Research and Quality Improvement, noted that a number of residents had presented their research at national conferences. In her role with the residency, Friend guides residents from the early stages of idea development through project execution, poster presentation and toward potential future publications.
Elsayed said the research projects highlight the commitment by CCHS residents and fellows to improve outcomes through evidence-based practice and “reflects a comprehensive approach to care that extends beyond the clinic to the personal and public health dimensions of our field. Your contributions exemplify the essential role of family medicine in addressing complex, real-world health challenges.”
Resident and Fellow Research Projects:
Evaluating the Effects of COVID-19 Amongst Pregnant Patients at University Medical Center: A Retrospective Chart Review
Rachel Butler-Sarvaunt, DO; Melissa Deviney, MD
Enhancing Fluoride Administration for Pediatric Patients in Primary Care: A Quality Improvement Initiative
Dorcus (Dee) Ruhigisha, MD
Application Personal Statements as Predictors of Rural Practice Choice
Austin Brooks, MD; McKenzie Donald, MD
Application Personal Statements as Predictors of Primary Care Residency
McKenzie Donald, MD; Austin Brooks, MD
Reducing DCHRMC Teaching Service 30-Day Heart Failure Readmission
William Wallace, MD; Joseph Mestayer, MD
The Effects of a Resident Mentorship Program on Wellness and Burnout
Mary Wilson, MD; Madeleine Dehner, MD
Effects of an Educational Intervention on Provider Knowledge, Attitudes, and Skills Regarding Prescribing Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV
Aaron Stuber, MD
Developing a Novel Survey of Family Medicine Residency Continuity Clinic Staff to Investigate Perceived Barriers to Immunizing Against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
Morvarid Sanandaji, MD
Surveying Need for Lifestyle Medicine Assessments and Interventions at University Medical Center
Andy Thomas, MD; Madison Peoples, MD; Omar Bilbeisi, DO
Primary Care Management of Chronic Wounds
Hunter Cutlip, MD; Victoria Smith, MD