Overview of VCOM’s Community Health
Initiatives and Research
W. Eryn Perry MA
Administrative Director for Research
Research Department
“The success or failure of any government in the final analysis
must be measured by the well-being of its citizens. Nothing can
be more important to a state than its public health.”
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
What is Community Health Research?
• Collaborative approach to research that equitably
involves all partners in the research process and
recognizes the unique strengths that each brings.
• Begins with a research topic of importance to the
community and has the aim of combining
knowledge with action and achieving social
change to improve health outcomes and
eliminate health disparities.
WK Kellogg Foundation Community Health Scholars Program
What is Community Health Research?
The NIH further defines community health research as
that which:
• Addresses diseases and conditions disproportionately
affecting the community's health (NIMHD).
• Promotes collaborations between health care
scientists and community leaders to foster sustainable
efforts to facilitate the translation of research advances
into improved health for all (NINR).
What is Community Health Research?
• Intervention for common diseases and symptoms,
delivered at the community level by an interdisciplinary
team.
• Increasing the delivery of healthcare to underserved
areas.
• Engaging in comparative effectiveness research in the
treatment of common diseases and symptoms.
• Studying the impact of decisions made by patients
about health care and health practices for themselves,
their families and their communities.
What is Community Health Research?
Primary Care:
• “The provision of integrated, accessible health
care services by clinicians who are accountable
for addressing a large majority of personal health
care needs, developing a sustainable partnership
with patients, and practicing in the context of
family and community.”
National Academy of Medicine (formally Institute of Medicine)
How is it Different?
Recognizes community as a unit of identity
Builds on strengths and resources within the community
Facilitates collaborative partnerships in all phases of the research
Integrates knowledge and action for mutual benefit of all partners
Promotes a co-learning and empowering process that attends to social
inequalities
Involves a cyclical and iterative process
Addresses health from both positive and ecological perspectives
Disseminates findings and knowledge gained to all partners
Israel BA, Schultz AJ, Parker EA, Becker AB. Review of community-based research: assessing partnership
approaches to improve public health. Annu Rev Public Health. 1998;19:173-202 [PMID: 9611617].
VCOM’s Community Health Initiatives
VCOM’s initiatives are closely matched with our mission:
• To prepare globally-minded, community-focused
physicians to meet the needs of rural and medically
underserved populations and promote research to
improve human health.
• And that of the Research Department: to conduct
multidisciplinary biomedical, clinical and communitybased research.
VCOM’s Community Health Initiatives
• Global Health Research
– Collaborative foundation of local medical schools,
hospitals and clinics, government officials and
community/village leaders
– Public heath, community health and social
determinants of poor health
– Community health research focus: infectious diseases,
women’s and children’s health, sanitation, access to
healthcare
VCOM’s Community Health Initiatives
• Appalachian/Underserved Populations Health
Research
– VCOM network of hospitals, area free clinics,
ambulatory clinics and local community groups
– Health disparities and local health issues
– Many times traditional research efforts not
successful
VCOM’s Community Health Initiatives
• OMM Techniques and Approach to Patient Care
– A principle within the AOA’s Strategic Plan is to enable
a culture of osteopathic research within the
osteopathic family.
– The AOA mission statement - to advance the
distinctive philosophy and practice of osteopathic
medicine - focuses the profession on a common goal:
to emphasize research that investigates and
demonstrates its distinctive philosophy and practice.
VCOM’s Community Health Initiatives
Our goals for community health research:
• Increase the evidence base for the practice of
medicine.
• Improve health care delivery and infrastructure in
underserved communities.
• Reduce prevalence of chronic diseases.
• Increase partnerships with community groups in
the areas we serve.
Who Funds Community Health
Research?
• National Institutes of Health: Health disparities research,
health education programs
• Health Resources Services Administration & Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality: Healthcare delivery
methods and access to care
• Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute: Comparative
effectiveness research, methods and infrastructure
• American Osteopathic Association and American Osteopathic
Foundation: Osteopathic-centered research
Examples of VCOM’s
Community Health Research
“Prevalence rates of chronic diseases in coal dependent
communities in southwest VA”
• Research on the health status of people in coal mining communities
• Community well-being and how coal mining influences it
• Objective is to compare the rates of the chronic health conditions
with comparison regions in Virginia
• Data on heart disease, diabetes and cancer were compared to
comparison regions in the state
• Community partners include hospitals in region and local health
departments
Susan Meacham, PhD
Examples of VCOM’s
Community Health Research
“The Other 45”
• Goal to increase access to care and lessen the burden on medical
services by reducing the readmission rate
• Average medical visit does not always leave time to ensure the
patient understands condition and management
• Allows patient additional time to discuss diagnosis and treatment
• Focus is on addressing management for the most common chronic
diseases prevalent in Spartanburg
• Involves the healthcare community: clinician, pharmacist, nutrition
counselor and other members of healthcare team
Matt Cannon, DO and Alexis Stoner, MPH
Examples of VCOM’s
Community Health Research
“Does participation in the PLAY Program (Promoting
Lifelong Activity in Youth) influence BMI, self-esteem and
health related quality of life (HRQOL) of children?”
• Meeting Street Academy, VCOM, local task force on obesity
and Spartanburg PHD
• Provide children with knowledge to understand health benefits
of exercise and cultivate a positive self-image that will
empower them to commit to lifelong wellness
• Goals to improve mental, physical and emotional health
• At-home goal tracking involves parents
Hanna Sahhar, MD
Resources at VCOM
Research Department/Office of Research
Administration
• Identifying funding opportunities
• Proposal preparation
• Budget development
• Application submission and processing
• Developing community partnerships and
collaborations with other institutions/outside groups.
Resources at VCOM
Have an Idea?
Research Department can help!
Find funding sources/Review
Guidelines
Match your idea with
sponsor priorities
Develop Partnerships
Help find partners; Liaise with
community groups and others
Develop Proposal and Budget
Help with sponsor guidelines;
Build budget
Review and edit
Help with formatting, editing and
proofing; Internal approvals
Resources at VCOM
Biomedical Researchers and Labs
• Abundant equipment and techniques to aid in primary
care research
• Relatively quick assays can be done on blood or urine
• Allows for the incorporation of hard data into work to
support your hypothesis
• Remember: these are not certified clinical labs, so
results cannot be used to diagnose – for research
purposes only!
Resources at VCOM
• Assays for oxidative stress
– Measurement of parameters
of oxidative stress, such as
total antioxidant potential
– Levels of antioxidant enzymes
– Damaging compounds
caused by oxidative stress
Resources at VCOM
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Disease markers in plasma or urine
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Inflammatory markers in plasma or urine
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Erythropoietin
Adiponectin
Growth factors,
Vascular angiogenic factors
Interleukins
Cytokines
Interferons
Prostaglandins
These biomarkers are all measureable and quantifiable biological
parameters that serve as indicators of disease-related processes.
Resources at VCOM
Biostatistics Assistance
• Help is available for questions on:
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Research study design
Hypothesis definition
Refining study variables
Sample size calculation and power analysis
Statistical analysis and interpretation of results
Data collection methods and forms
• Support and assistance is also available for data collection and
survey tools such as Qualtrics and REDCap.
• In the process of hiring a full-time biostatistician who will collaborate
with and assist faculty in developing research protocols and
statistical approaches.
Resources at VCOM
Institutional Review Board
• All projects involving human subjects or
data will need to be reviewed by IRB.
• Assistance is available in understanding
the requirements, completing the forms
and navigating the application process.
Contact us!
P. Gunnar Brolinson, DO
Vice Provost for Research
pbrolins@vcom.edu
W. Eryn Perry, MA
Administrative Director for Research
eperry@vcom.edu
540-231-1465
Greg Reaves
ORA Director
greaves@vcom.edu
540-231-8239
Stephanie Hurt
IRB Coordinator
shurt@vcom.edu
540-231-5280
Coming Soon – I promise!
Research Statistician
Thank you!
• Thanks to Dr. Hanna Sahhar, Dr. Susan Meacham and
Dr. Matt Cannon and Alexis Stoner for allowing me to
highlight their community health projects.
• Thanks to Dr. Beverly Rzigalinski for the excellent
information on biomedical lab resources.
• And thank you for listening!
Questions?