Emory Family & Preventive Medicine Department News
2023: Volume 6, issue 3
55 Words from the Chair
March madness in FPM means a flurry of conferences, publications, and presentations. Our faculty and trainees are busy with education, research, and service, while looking forward to upcoming lectures, events, and even graduations! Read on to see what your colleagues have been up to and to find upcoming events that you won’t want to miss!
Screens and well-being
Although we suspect it’s not great for us, we all sit in front of screens A LOT, both for work and for entertainment: television, computers, smartphones, and gaming devices to name a few. And we know that digital technology is here to stay. How can we inculcate healthy digital habits? Over the next few issues of the FPM newsletter, you'll find further reading and some tips on how to manage your screen time in a healthier way.
Television and gaming. There is a well-documented connection between the amount of time we spend staring at screens (electronic games and television) and reduced well-being. In children, a significant relationship exists between screen time and behavior problems like aggression (for example, here). There is also an association between screen time and
subsequent depressive symptoms (for example, here). However, the effects in these studies are often minor. What is more, the studies that find harmful effects of television and gaming often find that the outcomes are related to the effects of screens on other things, like sleep and physical activity (for example, here and here).
Maintaining healthy sleep and exercise habits will likely reduce the harmful impact of screens.
Transformative Research
Research News
TITANS Team Leaders
Family Medicine faculty Drs. Mo Ali, Leslie Johnson, and Saria Hassan will be leading a D43 training program in Ethiopia starting in April. The Training on ImplemenTAtioN and team Science for NCD Control (TITANS) program will recruit and train researchers with nursing, medical, and public health backgrounds to address pressing gaps in the delivery of evidence-based cardiometabolic and renal health interventions across the lifespan using implementation science and a team science approach. The training program was co-created by a multidisciplinary team from Emory University’s Schools of Nursing, Medicine, and Public Health along with partners at Addis Ababa University and Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia.
Dr. Ali will serve as a Program Director and as Associate Program Directors, Dr. Johnson will lead the in-country short course to build in-country training and research capacity in Implementation Science and Team Science and co-lead the TITANS program evaluation with Dr. Hassan.
Emory Global Diabetes Center
Our department was well-represented at the Emory Global Diabetes Center Strategic Plan launch. Pictured below: Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine faculty Drs. Sathish Thirunavukkarasu, Megha Shah, Ambar Kulshreshtha, Leslie Johnson, Ted Johnson, Rosette Chakkalakal, and Mo Ali.
Research Resources
Kaplan attends and recommends
Emory CFDE Writing Retreat
Dr. Deanna Kaplan recently attended an Emory Center for Faculty Development and Excellence's faculty writing retreat. Here's what she had to say: "The CFDE provides all the ingredients for productive writing – protected time, a beautiful space, delicious food (that you don’t have to prep yourself!), and that special deep work energy that comes from being with colleagues who are also there to just write. I would recommend it to anyone."
There are two more writing retreats scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year, May 17-18 (non-residential) and July 31-August 3 (residential). Dr. Kaplan is pictured above at the March residential writing retreat in Dahlonega. Follow the link above for more information.
CFDE Scholarly Writing and Publishing Fund
Deadline: August 25 or until funds are exhausted
The purpose of this program is to help faculty seeking professional editorial support for projects in development across a range of serious scholarly works, including book manuscripts, article manuscripts, grant writing, and digital scholarship. Follow the headline link for more information.
Research Opportunities
9th Annual Health Services Research Day
Wednesday, May 3 | Emory School of Medicine Building, Auditorium 110
Symposium and networking opportunity where researchers across Georgia will learn about ongoing quality, effectiveness, and value-based research activities.
Atlanta VA Research Day
May 18, 2023, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
James B. Williams Medical Education Building (100 Woodruff Circle)
- Register for 2023 Research Day on or before April 16, 2023. You will have the opportunity to select your breakout session and food options for Keynote Luncheon.
- Sign-up to present your research progress during the “Poster Sessions” from 9:45 - 11:15 a.m. Submit your abstract by April 16, 2023.
- Nominate your Atlanta VA colleagues for Award of the Year: Atlanta VA Investigator, Lab Manager, Research Administrator, and Research Coordinators. Please submit by April 16, 2023.
- Questions about 2023 Atlanta VA Research Day? Contact Atlanta VA Director of Research Operations, Ashley Scales, Ph.D., MPH at Ashley.Scales@va.gov.
Emory Imagine, Innovate, and Impact (I³)
SOM/Atlanta VA Research Awards
Due June 5
The Dean of the Emory School of Medicine (SOM) and the Assistant Dean for VA Research at the Atlanta VA Medical Center are soliciting proposals that will enhance collaboration among existing VA and Emory scientists. These collaborative awards are intended to spark synergistic interactions among investigators, at least one from Emory SOM and Atlanta VA each. Read more.
Recent Presentations
Dr. Deanna Kaplan was the moderator for the inaugural research symposium of the Emory Center for Psychedelics and Spirituality on April 1. Dr. Kaplan also gave Palliative Care Grand Rounds on April 4 titled "A daily life perspective on palliative care: Leveraging Multi-method Ambulatory Assessment for Patient-centered Research." She will be presenting at the Society for Behavioral Medicine annual meeting on "Diversity and inclusivity in observational ambulatory assessment: Recommendations from 21 investigators and over 30 studies”. Dr. Jennifer Mascaro is a co-author on this work.
Dr. Ambar Kulshreshtha presented on "Dementia Disparities" at the American Academy of Family Physicians meeting. (virtual). Dr. Kulshreshtha's team also presented abstracts presentations at the Dementia Disparities meeting recently held at Emory:
“South Asian Healthy Aging Study” Sushraya Jay and Ambar Kulshreshtha
“Community Resilience Intervention for People with Mild Cognitive Impairment" Divinity Amos and Ambar Kulshreshtha
The Preventive Medicine Residents and Fellows attended the American College of Preventive Medicine annual meeting in New Orleans. Dr. Siri Chirumamilla gave two presentations, Dr. Radhika Agarwal presented a poster, and the four residents and fellows who attended (Drs. Radhika Agarwal, Kunal Doshi, Siri Chirumamilla, and Annie Rouza) posed with Preventive Medicine faculty Drs. Richard Goodman, Javier Valle, and Sara Turbow for a group photo.
Zarrabi and Curseen present to NIH
On March 8, Drs. Ali John Zarrabi and Kim Curseen presented on “Psychedelics, Palliative Care, and Spirituality” to the NIH. Dr. Zarrabi's research addresses identifying biopsychosocial needs among the seriously ill; crafting aesthetic, spiritual, and meaning-centered interventions; developing best practices for arts-based education in the health professions; and studying the role of emerging therapeutics to treat complex suffering such as cannabinoids, ketamine, and classic psychedelics.
Palliative Medicine Faculty & Fellows Present at AAHPM
Emory Palliative Medicine had a great showing at the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine annual assembly meeting in Montreal, Canada March 22-25. The group of attendees is pictured below and the list of oral and poster presentations appears below that.
In this two-part episode, ride leader Charlie Searles, MD, is joined by Neal Dickert, MD, PhD, research ethicist, cardiologist, and Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at Emory University. In part one, Dr. Dickert discusses the process of informed consent for participation in clinical trials of emergency care and how clinical investigators should effectively and respectfully communicate with acutely ill patients. Dr. Dickert also provides advice for early career researchers. In part two, Dr. Dickert discusses his research on shared decision-making between clinicians and their patients and how clinicians communicate out-of-pocket expenses (financial toxicity) of medicines to their patients.
Kulshreshtha article is in the news
Dr. Ambar Kulshreshtha and his team published Association of Stress With Cognitive Function Among Older Black and White US Adults in March 2023. So far, the article has been mentioned in more than 73 news stories from 51 news outlets, nationally and internationally. Click here for the CNN article and here for the Healio article. View the Altmetrics on this article here.
Thirunavukkarasu Study Data informs Nature article
Dr. Sathish Thirunavukkarasu and his colleagues in the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) published Diminishing benefits of urban living for growth and development of school-aged children and adolescents in the 21st century in Nature. Dr. Thirunavukkarasu's own study data is included in the analysis.
Collaborative department publications
Drs. Sara Turbow (preventive medicine) and Mo Ali (family medicine) published The Impact of Health Information Exchange on In-Hospital and Postdischarge Mortality in Older Adults with Alzheimer Disease Readmitted to a Different Hospital Within 30 Days of Discharge: Cohort Study of Medicare Beneficiaries.
Faculty publications
Dr. Mo Ali:
Dr. Jodie Guest:
Dr. Dio Kavalieratos:
Dr. Ambar Kulshreshtha:
Dr. Miranda Moore:
A Teaching Kitchen Program Improves Employee Micronutrient and Healthy Dietary Consumption.
Dr. Tammie Quest:
Dr. Sathish Thirunavukkarasu:
Persistence of new-onset diabetes in the post-acute phase of COVID-19.
Acute sarcopenia and risk of new-onset diabetes in COVID-19 patients.
Personalized lifestyle change approaches for preventing type 2 diabetes in people with prediabetes.
Dr. Ali John Zarrabi:
Art of Pain: A Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Museum-Based Education Pilot Study.
Educational Investments for our future
Education News
Welcome Family Medicine Residency Class of 2026!
New FM Research Track Scholar Announced
Dr. Tichelle Nyarko has been selected to participate in the Family Medicine Health Services Research Track. Dr. Nyarko will work with Dr. Mo Ali, Dr. Jose Villalon-Gomez, Dr. Miranda Moore, and other department faculty to prepare a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal and conduct and present research findings at a national conference. Congratulations Dr. Nyarko!
FM Residents Teach at GAFP Student Conference
The Georgia Academy of Family Physicians (GAFP) Student Conference took place on March 11 at the Hyatt Regency Perimeter. Our program residents taught and set up Subcutaneous Implants Contraception Workshop and represented Emory during the student fair.
Art of Palliative Cohort Selected
Dr. Ali John Zarrabi and Dr. Paul DeSandre have announced that the next cohort of The Art of Palliation has been selected. This three-part art museum-based experiential curriculum is designed to foster these core palliative care clinical and team-based skills outside of the usual structures and hierarchies of the healthcare environment. The course addresses self-awareness through critical observation and active listening skills; bias, cultural humility, and empathy; and mortality, meaning, and awe. In each session, participants reflect on these immersive experiences with art and connect them to their practice in palliative care. The class meets at the High Museum of Art and the Michael C. Carlos Museum.
Grady Palliative Team meets with HOSA Students
On Thursday, March 2, members of the Grady Palliative Care Team had the opportunity to greet and engage with students who are part of the Healthcare Occupation Student Association (HOSA). Pictured below are (L-R) Carina Oltmann (Palliative Care Social Worker), Olayinka Ogunmoyero (Clinical Manager), Dr. Janelle Holder (Palliative Care Physician), and Shaney Wilson (Program Coordinator). The team was delighted to meet with the high school students and educate them on palliative care as a specialty.
Pictured below: Dr. Holder speaking with students.
Class of 2018 FM Residents
Some of the Family Medicine Residency Class of 2018 got together recently and shared photos. Drs. Tony Bullon, Mahila Beg, Gayle Wong, Priya Gulati, Torrance Laury (left to right in front of butterflies)
Educational Events
You're invited to the
Amos Medical Student Loan Forgiveness
Spring Award Ceremony
Service for our future
New National and International Service
Dr. Dio Kavalieratos has been named to the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine for a 3-year term.
Dr. Sathish Thirunavukkarasu was selected as a “Member” of the International Diabetes Foundation Diabetes Atlas 11th Edition Committee (specifically a member of the “Diabetes Prevalence in Adults” Special Interest Group). Dr. Thirunavukkarasu was also appointed as a “Visiting Associate”, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia and is officially a Co-Supervisor of a PhD student at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia.
Dr. Sarah Cross served on a panel "Careers in Science: A Panel of Early Career PhDs in Palliative Care Research," at the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine's Annual Assembly in Montreal.
Emory Farmworker Project 2023
needs interpreters and preceptors!
The PA Program is currently preparing for the Summer 2023 Emory Farmworker Project which will take place June 9-16 in Bainbridge and June 16-23 in Valdosta. We are looking for people who can join us as interpreters! Interpretation is vital to be able to serve this patient population and is needed in Spanish (Bainbridge and Valdosta) and Haitian Creole (Bainbridge only). Please feel free to share with friends and family outside of Emory! Anyone interested in volunteering as an interpreter can email EFP Program Coordinator etgrill@emory.edu.
The Emory Farmworker Project is a service learning project that combines IPE, clinical experience, and providing free healthcare to migrant farmworkers in South GA. Each year we take the Emory PA clinical year students, Emory PT, and nursing students, as well as Emory residents, faculty, and physicians/PAs to South Georgia for two weeks. We also partner with local clinics, local universities, and other community partners. This is an incredible experience and we would love to have you join us this summer as a preceptor.
Bainbridge: June 9-16 with clinics in the morning and evening, June 10-15.
Valdosta: June 16-23 with clinics in the morning and evening, June 17-22.
June 9, 16, and 23 are travel days.
You are welcome to sign up for as many or as few days as you want!
If you are interested in precepting, you can sign up by clicking here. If you have any questions you can email EFP Program Coordinator Emi at etgrill@emory.edu
Resources for Patients and Assisted Living Providers
Announcing the launch of the INSPIRE Study website! The INSPIRE Study website shares information about our study and research team, newsletters (quarterly), and dementia care resources (feel free to share with patients and staff; resources are updated once a week).
The INSPIRE Study is a statewide study designed to learn ways to better support families and others caring for residents in assisted living with advanced dementia. The study is being conducted by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from Emory University’s School of Medicine - Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology and the Gerontology Institute at Georgia State University, with extensive expertise in dementia care. The INSPIRE Study is funded by the National Institute on Aging through the National Institutes of Health.
Health Equity Day needs Volunteers
Volunteers are needed for the following Health Equity Day roles.
Abstract reviewers: review abstract submissions based on the abstract review rubric. Abstract categories include research, clinical quality, professional development, education, and community advocacy and policy.
Poster judges: On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, participate as a judge in a poster session of one of the following categories (research, clinical quality, professional development, education, and community advocacy and policy). A scoring rubric will be provided.
Administrative support: On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, manage one of the virtual poster presentation sessions by:
- Moderating your assigned Zoom session and serving as the point of contact for attendees and judge(s)
- Troubleshooting and recording the Zoom session
Note: Training will be provided as the event approaches
Contact us at EmoryDOMRYSE@emory.edu for more information or to sign up.
News from the FPM DEI Council
Register Now for Health Equity Day
May 16, 9 am - 2 pm
Emory Department of Medicine's Health Equity Day aims to raise awareness and encourage action around the systemic health disparities that exist across racial, ethnic, cultural, and social groups while also recognizing interventions and research centered on health equity and historically underrepresented groups in medicine. All members of the Emory DOM and SOM community are welcome to attend. J. Marshall Shepherd will be the keynote speaker for the day.
Recommended by Dr. Kim Curseen: Pregnancy and Residency - Overdue for Equity (NEJM)
Check out past recommendations in the FPM J.E.D.I. Virtual Library.
SAVE THE DATE: Diversity and Inclusion Week
May 15-19 | Hybrid
Diversity and Inclusion Week is a school-wide celebration of the broad range of identities and experiences that make up our diverse community. This year's theme Practices Not Promises: Moving Towards Action, will feature engaging lectures and cultural activities. And back by popular demand, a SOM Block Party. Registration opens soon - keep checking the website for updates.
Diversity Engagement Survey
March 20 - April 17
The Diversity Engagement Survey is underway and results will lead to action in the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the School of Medicine. This survey was last offered in 2020 and resulted in new faculty affinity groups and affinity month celebrations, Diversity and Inclusion Week, the DEI and Racial Advocacy Curriculum Thread, and quarterly community forums to share updates. We hope you take a few minutes to make your voice heard. A unique survey link from "EUSOM DES" was sent to your Emory email. For questions, email SOMDiversity@emory.edu.
News from the Office of Faculty Development
Equity in Compensation Panel Discussion
April 20, 5:30-7:30 pm
Woodruff Health Sciences Center Administration Building Auditorium
Join the Emory Alliance for Women in Medicine and Science for a moderated conversation about efforts underway to ensure salary equity for women faculty. This moderated conversation will serve as a follow-up to the Salary Equity Statement and the Understanding Compensation in the SOM lecture and will provide more information about faculty compensation in the SOM and the work actively underway to ensure salary equity.
Panelists:
Heather Hamby, Executive Associate Dean and Chief Business Officer, School of Medicine
Reshma Jagsi, Acting Professor and Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology
Tina-Ann Kerr Thompson, Director, Division of Family Medicine
Register by April 13, 2023
COACHE faculty satisfaction survey
available now through
April 12 - Deadline extended!
Faculty should have received an email from coachefaculty@abtassoc.com with a personalized survey link. This survey is designed to enhance the understanding of faculty experiences at Emory University and is the first step in a process to transform data into actionable policies and practices. As the largest school at Emory, it is critically important that the unique needs and concerns of School of Medicine faculty are heard and incorporated into future planning efforts - both at the university level and within the SOM. Visit Emory's COACHE website to see results and recommendations from the 2020 survey.
