We conduct innovative research that asks and answers important questions relevant to primary care, community medicine, and public health. The research we support enable healthcare providers to deliver personalized patient-centered care in a primary care setting and inform innovative approaches to improve population health.
The department is committed to conducting research in collaboration with the communities it serves, particularly those that suffer from disparities of health, related to structural barriers to care. Engaging with our communities co-develops research that can transform the care and build sustainable long-term benefits. We engage our academic and community partners through the Mixed Methods Research Lab (MMRL).
The goal of the MMRL, a University of Pennsylvania Service Center housed within the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health is to foster the use of qualitative and mixed methods research methodologies with a focus on integrating key stakeholder perspectives and goals into research designs. The MMRL works with investigators to provide conceptual and technical support for community based and clinical research questions. Learn more about the Mixed Methods Research Lab (MMRL)
Research goals
- To be a national leader in Family Medicine research which informs primary care, community medicine, and public health innovations and initiatives.
- To foster the development of Family Medicine investigators through mentorship, professional development, and networking within and outside the department to assure the success and promotion of all faculty in rank and tenure appointments within the university.
- To engage learners of all levels (undergraduates, medical students, graduate and other health professional students, residents and fellows) in clinical and translational research that seeks to use the lens of Family Medicine to improve primary care delivery and community health.
Areas of research
The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health has rapidly expanded since the department was established in 1996. Through research, we strive to improve the health and health care for primary care patients locally and nationally. Our research areas are always growing and include:
Content Areas:
- Maternal-Child Health
- Substance Use Disorder/Opiate Use Disorder
- Trauma Informed Care
- Cancer Control and Prevention
- Social Determinants of Health
- Medical Education
Methodologies:
- Qualitative
- Mixed Methods
- The Science of Engagement
- Community-Based Participatory Research