Research Initiatives

Current Research Grants

The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health continues a successful record of receiving grant funding from local, state and national foundations and state and federal funding agencies.  Grants focus primarily on clinical or community-based research. Listed (alphabetically by title) are many of the current research grants awarded to departmental faculty.

Research:

A Model for Primary Care Management of Alcohol Use Disorders Among Homeless Women (NIAAA) - Linda Weinreb, MD and Carole Upshur, EdD

Addressing Behavior Problems in Preschool Settings (NIMH) - Carole Upshur, EdD

An Evaluation of the Impact of the Academic and Health Policy Conference on Correctional Health (CWM) - Judy Savageau, MPH and Warren Ferguson, MD

Assessing the Collaborative Care Environment in Primary Care Environment in Primary Care (University of Vermont/NIH) - Dan Mullin, PsyD 

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) - A Potential Biomarker of Nicotine Withdrawal (Pfizer) - Joe DiFranza, MD

Community Health Workers as Ad Hoc Interpreters: Balancing Role Extension (UMass CCTS Community Engagement and Research pilot grant program) - Lee Hargraves, PhD

Community Health Workers Using Patient Stories to Support Hypertension Management (NIMHD) - Lee Hargraves PhD

CONtrolling Disease Using Inexpensive IT Hypertension in Diabetes: CONDUIT-HID (AHRQ) – Barry Saver, MD, MPH

Cost, Benefit & Regulation of Buprenorphine Treatment for Medicaid Beneficiaries (NIDA) – Robin Clark, PhD

Direct Engagement of Stakeholders in Translating CER into Clinical Guidelines (PCORI) - Roger Luckmann, MD, MPH

Early Innovator (HHS/Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight) - Jay Himmelstein, MD, MPH

Evaluation of the Massachusetts Health Disparities Collaborative (RWJF) - Lee Hargraves, PhD

Finding Answers: Disparities Research for Change (RWJF) - Lee Hargraves, PhD

Health Needs and Barriers to Perinatal Care for Women with Mobility Disabilities (NIH) - Monica Mitra, PhD

Health Surveillance of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (CDC) – Alexandra Bonardi, OTR/L, MHA 

High Deductable Health Plans in Massachusetts: Adoption of HDHPs and Patterns of Health Care Utilization and Spending (Massachusetts Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA)) - Wen-Chieh Lin, PhD

Homeless Families Healthcare Project (Oak Foundation) - Linda Weinreb, MD

Improving the Development of Competency in Motivational Interviewing by Family Physicians (AAFP) – Dan Mullin, PsyD 

Influence and Evidence: Understanding Consumer Choices in Preventive Care (PCORI) - Barry Saver, MD, MPH

Integrated Care Model for Homeless Women (NIMH) - Linda Weinreb, MD and Carole Upshur, EdD

Integrating Physical and Behavioral Health Care: From Acute Care in the Emergency Room to Continuity Care in Medical Homes (MA EOHHS) - Tina Runyan, PhD

Kidsteps II: Promoting School Readiness Through Social-emotional Skill Building in Preschool (US Dept. of Education) - Carol Upshur, EdD

Meeting the Needs of Pregnant Women with PTSD in Healthy Start ( HRSA-MCH ) Linda Weinreb, MD and Carole Upshur, EdD

National Epidemiologic Survey of Women in Primary Care Practices: Substance Use and Mental Health Service Needs and Barriers (NIAAA) - Carole Upshur, EdD and Linda Weinreb, MD

Pregnancy, Childbirth Complications, Outcomes and Inpatient Costs Among Women with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (NIH) - Monika Mitra, PhD

Primary Prevention for Resettled Refugees from Burma (Worcester County Prevention Research Center) - Suzanne Cashman, ScD and Heather-Lyn Haley, PhD

Project HealthChange: Rethinking the Power and Potential of Personal Health Records (RWJF) - Roger Luckmann, MD, MPH

Promoting Breast Cancer Screening in Non-Adherent Women (NCI) - Roger Luckmann, MD, MPH

Reminders for Your Health (BCBS) - Roger Luckmann, MD, MPH

Supporting Patient and Provider Managment of Chronic Pain with a PDA Application Linked to a Personal Health Record (RWJF) - Roger Luckmann, MD, MPH

Systematic Review of Oral Health Interventions Aimed to Reduce Health Disparities in Persons with Intellectual Disabilities(AADMD AND CDC) - Alexandra Bonardi, PhD 

Telephone Counseling to Support Colon Cancer Screening in Primary Care (NCI) - Roger Luckmann, MD, MPH

The Quality of Buprenorphine Treatment for Medicaid Beneficiaries(Massachusetts) (NIDA) - Jeffry Baxter, MD

Understanding and Addressing the Legal Needs of Refugees (UMMS - CTSA) - Heather Lyn Haley, PhD

Education:

A Generalist Pathway in Serving the Underserved Multicultural Populations (UMass Generalist Physician Initiative) - Mick Godkin, PhD

Building on the Promise (Corporation for National and Community Service: Learn and Serve Program) - Suzanne Cashman, ScD

Development of a Culture and Diversity Curriculum for Medical Students (American Medical Student Association and HRSA) - Warren Ferguson, MD

Improving the Development of Competency in Motivational Interviewing by Family Physicians (AAFP) - Dan Mullin, PsyD

Regarding the Latino Center of Excellence (CDC) - Suzanne Cashman, ScD

UMMS Chapter of Physicians for Human Rights (UMass Public Service Endowment Grant) - Mary Ellen Keough, MPH

Training:

Behavioral Skills Evaluation of the Multicultural Interclerkship (UMMS IMEG grant) - Warren Ferguson, MD and Mick Godkin, PhD

Faculty Development Training (HRSA) - Mark Quirk, EdD

Fostering Effective Integration (Massachusetts Blue Cross Foundation) - Alexander Blount, EdD

Graduate Psychology Education: Primary Care Psychology Fellowship (HRSA) - Alexander Blount, EdD

Graduate Training in Family Medicine / Worcester Family Practice (HRSA) - Stacy Potts, MD

Graduate Training in Public Health for Family Medicine Residents (AAMC) - Warren Ferguson, MD

Graduate Training in Family Medicine / Fitchburg Family Practice (HRSA) - Jim Ledwith, MD

Massachusetts AHEC Learning and Library Resources Service Program (NLM) - Elain Martin, DA

National Library of Medicine / New England Regional Library - Access to Health Information for Health Professionals (NIH/NLM) - Elaine Martin, DA

National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Primary Care and Behavioral Health (National Council on Community Behavioral Health Care) - Alexander Blount, EdD

Overcoming Obstacles to Writing for Family Medicine Educators (STFM Foundation) - Lucy Candib, MD

Predoctoral Training in Family Medicine (HRSA) - Robert Baldor, MD

Preventive Medicine Training Grant (HRSA) - Jackie Coghlin-Strom, MD, MPH

The Effect of the Global Pathway Curriculum on the Cultural Competence of Medical Students (UMMS - MA Healey Endowment Grant) - Mick Godkin, PhD

The Rural Health Scholars Program (UMMS - Public Service Endowment Grant) - Suzanne Cashman, ScD and Steve Martin, MD

Treated as Family: Improving Care for the GLBT Community (Greater Worcester Community Foundation) - Warren Ferguson, MD

UMass Medical School Chapter of Health Professionals for Human Rights (UMMS - Healey Public Service Endowment Grant) - Mary Ellen Keough, MPH