Chronic Disease Research Projects

• Smoking Cessation—a series of papers analyzing BRFSS data in order to test different hypotheses regarding smoking cessation behaviors (Faculty: Linda Chang, Nawal Lutfiyya, Bill Nika. Students: My Linn Sawyer, Vashail Tolia, Charlie Sweet, Mark Spyer).
• Metabolic Syndrome—an analysis of BRFSS data to examine the relationship between depression and metabolic syndrome (Linda Chang and Nawal Lutfiyya).
• Diabetics and Exercise—an analysis of BRFSS data to study the prevalence of recommended physical activity of diabetics (Faculty: Nawal Lutfiyya. Student: Rob Walker).

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Study

• PTSD with Panic Attacks: A Comparative Study—assessing the prevalence of trauma and PTSD in women in a family health center–Sherry Falsetti, PI.

Clinical Trials with Pharmaceutical Companies

• Aventis Pharma. Evaluation of Diabetic Retinopathy Progression in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treated with Oral Hypoglycemic Agents Plus Insulin.ProtocolHOE 901/4016. April 2001 – April 2007, Dave Bartles, Co-investigator, $203,808.

American Family Physician Journal Series

• Conjunctivitis–Bill Nika
• Spider Bites–Stephen Nitz
• Oral Contraceptive–Eve Ackerman, Linda Chang and Eduardo Scholkoff
• Community Acquired Pneumonia–Nawal Lutfiyya, Eric Henley, and Linda Chang

Research Journal Club — Every other month faculty meet to discuss research articles relevant to the practice of medicine. On the other months the faculty share their own on-going research for comments and suggestions from colleagues.

Quality Improvement Projects — The department is undertaking a major Quality Improvement effort regarding the clinical services provided at our primary care clinics. This endeavor is guided by standards of best practice and adopts many HEDIS outcome measures.

Faculty Development — annually the department plans a series of lectures focused on different topics identified by faculty as important in keeping them abreast of the field. CME credit is available.