UMass FMCH Tuesday Talk - January 27, 2026/RESEARCH | | |
Table of Contents
Upcoming Events
Focus of the Week - Research
Announcements
Presentations and Publications
Department Member Recognition
Frankly Speaking Podcast
Resources
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Upcoming Events
FMCH Grand Rounds
Tuesday, January 27th, 12:00 - 1:00pm, Sara Shields, MD, MS, and Shaira Lavandier, CBS, CLC, present "Supporting Lactation in Family Medicine (aka Breastfeeding Myth Busters)".
Meeting ID: 191 986 273
Passcode: FMCH
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/191986273?pwd=NEtlZmNkdWlSUGwyeTJQU3dCeUs1QT09
Psychiatry & Behavior Sciences Grand Rounds
Thursday, January 29th, 12:00 - 1:00pm, Lexi Hooberman, MD, presents "Practicing Hope: For Our Patients and Ourselves". Amphitheater 1 (S2-102) and via Zoom.
Meeting ID: 818 349 233
Passcode: PsyhGR1
https://umassmed.zoom.us/j/818349233?pwd=VVRDNUxZZmF4K3NqNXppTHJiVmNSUT09
Department of Medicine Grand Rounds
Thursday, January 29th, 12:00 - 1:00pm, Omar Mourad, MD presents "Night sweats, weight loss and elevate inflammatory markers". Hiatt Auditorium (S1-608) and Zoom.
https://umassmed.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qsBdErX1SjSiyUobQFnGQA#/registration
Department of Medicine Grand Rounds
Thursday, February 5th, 12:00 - 1:00pm, Anjali Oberoi, MD, PGY-3, Darya Herscovici, MD, PGY-2, Diana Liu, MD, PGY-2, Maria (Elena) Navedo, MD, PGY-2 and Nicolas Fandino-Rudio, MD, PGY-4 present "Language, Trust, and Transitions: Advancing Equitable Care Through Provider-Patient Concordance and Interpreter Partnership". Hiatt Auditorium (S1-608) and Zoom.
https://umassmed.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qsBdErX1SjSiyUobQFnGQA
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Focus of the Week - Research
Jennifer Carroll, MD, MPH, Vice Chair, Research
Suzanne Mitchell, MD, MS, Director, Research
In 2025, despite nationwide funding cuts to many research areas, our department made great strides in both our own projects and collaborations. We hope to continue to support colleagues and each other in this new year. So, we are beginning 2026 by sharing current grant opportunities, for both early career and established researchers. We wish everyone a productive year full of peace and progress.
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2026 Grant Openings
With thanks to Linda Cragin
LGBTQ+ Research
The Lesbian Health Fund research grant cycle application is currently open. Eligible proposals will identify or address health disparities among LGBTQ+ women and girls (e.g., sexual and/or gender minority women or girls, gender diverse people assigned female at birth). The deadline to apply is March 15, 2026. More information can be found here.
Patient Safety Research
Elevance Health Foundation has established a new patient safety prize, to implement a proven solution to a need in one of three areas: health literacy, medication errors, and fall prevention. Registration is due by March 17, 2026. Subsequent applications are due by April 7, 2026. More information can be found here.
Research on Aging
The Sephardic Foundation on Aging is opening a grant cycle for organizations working to support older adults. Eligible programs and projects will be focused on combating social isolation of older adults. Letters of Interest are requested beginning March 23, 2026. More information can be found here.
Group Medical Visit Training
Paula Gardiner, MD, MPH, is vice president and director of research for The Integrated Center for Group Medical Visits (ICGMV). The organization is hosting a research training fellowship this April 6-9, 2026. Information can be found here.
Latest Research Updates
Ekaterina Pivovarova, PhD and colleagues published a paper in the journal BMC Addiction Science & Clinical Practice titled, “Perceived Impacts of MOUD on Mental Health Services and Substance Use Counseling in Carceral Settings: Qualitative Findings from 13 Massachusetts Jails.”
The full paper is available with the below summary: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13722-025-00641-3
Our findings indicate that when medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are introduced into jails, there are direct and indirect consequences on other health services in the jails. Specifically, we found that access to MOUD was perceived to reduce mental health crises, such as risk for suicide, when individuals first entered facility. However, provision of substance use counseling, alongside MOUD, could be difficult as at times it was done by mental health staff and presented with logistical challenges. We also observed that MOUD implementation increased interdisciplinary collaboration by some jails as it required coordination of services across medical, mental health, and substance use providers.
Thank you to our FMCH January Research Forum presenter!
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Kristin Long, PhD presented: “Health-Related Social Needs Screening in Primary and Specialty Care Settings: Perspectives of Racially- and Ethnically-Minoritized Patients”
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Announcements
Worcester's Black Community Calendar has some great events planned for Black History Month! Check them out:
www.tinyurl.com/worcbcc2026
Save the Date - School of Medicine Annual Education Retreat
Vista Reflections: Looking Back, Moving Forward
Monday, February 9th, 12:00-5:00pm, University Campus.
The Education Policy Committee's annual Education Retreat is intended for anyone who interfaces with medical students including preceptors, faculty and residents. This event is a great way to hear about current hot topics in medical education and connect with fellow educators. The event is free and on the university campus. Register here. See flyer for more information.
Getting Started: Qualitative Research Methods
Tuesday, February 24th, 12:00-1:00pm. Presenter: Catherine Dube, EdD; Professor of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences. Register here.
The DARTNet Institute and AAFP Foundation are seeking volunteers to join a panel of reviewers from across the fields of family medicine to review applications submitted to the FMD RapSDI program. FMD RapSDI, a collaboration between the AAFP Foundation and the DARTNet Institute and AAFP National Research Network (AAFP NRN), supports practicing family physicians with little or no research experience to generate new evidence and innovative models for "what works" in real-world primary care settings. FMD RapSDI is designed for anyone who is curious about answering a patient care-inspired question, clinical problem, or clinical conundrum, but hasn't had the support to investigate. Two $40,000 grants will be awarded for the 2026-2027 program year. (For more information about the program visit the FMD RapSDI website.)
Save the Date for the MassAFP 2026 Annual Meeting & Spring Refresher
Friday-Saturday, March 13-14, 2026. Watch the www.massafp.org website for more information.
Save the Date-Warren Ferguson Community Health Professor Grand Rounds-April 14th
Former Worcester District 5 City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj will talk about how we can engage in our communities as medical providers, researchers, and educators. Etel has a background in advocacy and justice - she will share her story of fleeing violence in Albania, serving the public in the Attorney General's office, and working nationally on homeless issues at National Healthcare for the Homeless. The event will be hybrid.
Call for 2026 National Conference of Constituency Leader (NCCL) Delegates
Mass AFP is seeking active physician members interested in serving as a delegates at the upcoming AAFP leadership development conference which will be held Thursday, April 23, 2026 - Saturday, April 26 2026, in Kansas City, MO. Mass AFP is looking for physician members who can represent the following five recognized special constituencies:
- International Medical Graduate (IMG) graduated from medical schools outside the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico)
- LGBTQ+ Physician or Ally
- BIPOC
- New Physician (in the first seven years of practice following residency)
- Women
Please submit a letter of interest for which constituency no later than Tuesday, February 3rd. You must be a MassAFP active member in good standing. If you have any questions or would like additional information please email massafp@mms.org.
Limited spots remain in the Established Clinician Group Coaching Program, presented by the UMMHC Clinician Experience Office at no cost. Registration will close when spots are filled. This virtual coaching program offers physicians and APPs with 3+ years post‑training experience a confidential, supportive peer space to reflect, connect, and grow—guided by Diane Shannon, MD, MPH, PCC an experienced clinician coach. The program is designed to address common challenges to women in medicine. Four 1‑hour virtual sessions in small groups of 5–8 with rolling cohort start dates from February–April 2026. CME eligible. Choose the small‑group schedule that works best:
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Wednesdays, 7–8 pm: February 25, March 4, March 11, March 18
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Thursdays, 9–10 am: February 26, March 5, March 12, March 19
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Fridays, 9–10 am: February 27, March 13, March 27, April 10
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Tuesdays, 5–6 pm: March 3, March 17, March 31, April 14
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Tuesdays, 7–8 pm: March 3, March 17, March 31, April 14
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Thursdays, 5–6 pm: April 2, April 16, April 30, May 14
Learn more on The Hub , review Program FAQs, and apply today! For questions, please contact BWell@umassmemorial.org.
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Presentations and Publications
Jennifer Bradford was the school’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute keynote speaker on Monday, January 26th. Her inspiring presentation will be shared in Family Medicine Moments on Thursday.
Henry Del Rosario, was invited to SUNY Upstate Grand Rounds, to present "POCUS with Purpose: High-Impact Scans Every Family Doc Should Know" on January 23rd, 2026. Slide deck link here.
Steve Martin was recently interviewed for an episode of the New England Journal of Medicine's podcast, Not Otherwise Specified. You can access the podcast interview here: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2514239.
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Department Member Recognition
Congratulations to the providers and team at Hahnemann Family Health Center! Each year, Massachusetts Health Quality Partners (MHQP) recognizes the primary care practices that rank highest on their annual statewide Patient Experience Survey through the “MHQP Patient Experience Awards.” HFHC received the award for Patient-Clinician Communications in adult care. Award recipients will be celebrated at a statewide virtual ceremony on Tuesday, March 3rd from 6:00 – 7:00 pm.
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Frankly Speaking Podcast
Please join us for a weekly Podcast series. Tune in to hear how self-collected vaginal human papillomavirus (HPV) testing has potential to expand access to cervical cancer screening and reduce barriers for your patients. This episode reviews cervical cancer screening guidelines, follow-up recommendations, and how to consider offering self-collection as an option to increase screening rates and improve preventive care in your practice. Guest: Robert A. Baldor, MD, FAAFP, presents, "Options, Access, Comfort: Self-Collected HPV Tests for Cervical Cancer Screening". Frankly Speaking Episode #469. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frankly-speaking-about-family-medicine/id1194659367
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