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We are nationally and internationally recognized for research in the areas of clinical epidemiology, health services delivery, practice-based research, social determinants of health, disparities, clinical decision-making, health care payment models, and prevention. Clinical areas of expertise include heart disease prevention, diabetes, heart failure, hypertension, cancer prevention, care of vulnerable patients with chronic conditions, unhealthy alcohol use, and HIV care.<\/p>\n
Our faculty collaborate with researchers in all other schools on campus including schools of public health, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, social work, business, and arts and sciences.\u00a0 UNC is known for widespread collaboration across campus without clear research silos.\u00a0 Additionally, UNC hosts several content related Centers that facilitate interdisciplinary research.\u00a0 Our faculty often work out of the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.<\/p>\n
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Our investigators pave the way to health discoveries. The following are particular areas of emphasis:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nSocial Determinants of Health<\/span> Members of the division have made seminal contributions that have advanced our understanding of and interventions for social determinants of health.\u00a0 Specifically, we have studied food insecurity and are currently conducting several clinical trials of strategies to ameliorate food insecurity.\u00a0 Several of our investigators study health disparities and are actively engaged in trials to mitigate disparities by race\/ethnicity or other markers of vulnerability.\u00a0 We have a long history of studying health literacy in a variety of contexts and designed and tested interventions that improve outcomes for patients with low literacy skills.<\/p>\n Investigators working in this area:<\/strong> Seth Berkowitz<\/a>, Alison Brenner<\/a>, Giselle Corbie<\/a>, Gaurav Dave<\/a>, Darren DeWalt<\/a>, Tom Keyserling<\/a>, Dan Reuland<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nPrevention and Shared Decision Making<\/span> For many years our division has been at the forefront of understanding several aspects of screening and shared decision making with an emphasis on cancer screening modalities and cardiovascular disease.\u00a0 In the past 15 years we have had two division members serve on the USPSTF and have consistently performed the systematic reviews for USPSTF.\u00a0 Our faculty have studied screening for colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer with ongoing trials of methods to reach vulnerable populations for screening programs.\u00a0 We have studied screening and shared decision-making for cardiovascular risk reduction.<\/p>\n Investigators working in this area:<\/strong> Alison Brenner<\/a>, Carol Golin<\/a>, Dan Reuland<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nNutrition and Physical Activity<\/span> Our division investigators have designed and led several community-based and medical intervention studies to improve nutrition and physical activity with an emphasis on vulnerable populations and disparities.\u00a0 Work by our investigators and their colleagues led to the \u201cMedSouth\u201d diet that has adapted the Mediterranean Diet to southern tastes and cuisine.\u00a0 Moreover, they have studied various ways to support people in adopting a health diet and lifestyle.\u00a0 More recently, this line of work has merged with efforts to ameliorate food insecurity leading to creative and healthy solutions.<\/p>\n Investigators working in this area:<\/strong> Seth Berkowitz<\/a>, Tom Keyserling<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nEvidence-based Practice Center<\/span> Our division participates in the RTI-UNC Evidence Based Practice Center. Through this center we have participated in or led several systematic reviews for AHRQ, USPSTF, and other organizations.\u00a0 This center is run out of the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.<\/p>\n Investigators working in this area:<\/strong> Cindy Feltner<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nPractice Based Research<\/span> Members of our division have been leaders in practice based research and, more specifically, large scale quality improvement across ambulatory practices.\u00a0 In the early 2000\u2019s our faculty helped to develop Improving Performance In Practice which established cooperatives in 7 states to improve chronic illness care delivery.\u00a0 This program led to the AHEC Practice Support program that provides practice facilitators for independent practices across North Carolina.\u00a0 We have had a series of AHRQ grants supporting implementation of primary care transformation infrastructure, implementation of cardiovascular disease treatment and prevention, and alcohol use screening and treatment across hundreds of practices in North Carolina. We have also conducted smaller practice based studies to reduce disparities and to implement new models of care.<\/p>\n Investigators working in this area:<\/strong> Alison Brenner<\/a>, Darren DeWalt<\/a>, Dan Reuland<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nHealth Care Payment and Value Based Care<\/span> In the past 2 decades, we have seen the emergence of quality metrics and the concept of value-based care.\u00a0 In the past decade, we have seen dramatic expansion of new payment models including ACOs, bundled\u00a0 payments, and primary care capitation. Members of our division have worked to design and implement new payment models in collaboration with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and private payers. Many members of the division are actively involved in activities with UNC Health to improve our health system\u2019s approach to alternative payment models.<\/p>\n Investigators working in this area:<\/strong> Seth Berkowitz<\/a>, Darren DeWalt<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nEvaluation<\/span> Our division has been involved in planning and supporting evaluation for several major projects including the Center for Translational Science Institute (TraCS). This work has led to establishment of Abacus <\/a>which can provide consultation and investigator services for setting up evaluation of programs.<\/p>\n “My goal through this project is not just to change patient outcomes and to change patient care but also to educate students and preceptors about the equity gaps that exist so they know about them and they are empowered to do something.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\nWhelan Implements a Health Equity-Focused Quality Improvement Project<\/h3>\n