August 8, 2023
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Foundation selected two new family physicians to join the Family Medicine Discovers Rapid Cycle Scientific Discovery and Innovation (FMD RapSDI) program to research important, complex issues in primary care and to drive innovation in family medicine.
FMD RapSDI launched in January 2019 as a collaboration between the AAFP Foundation and the AAFP National Research Network (NRN) to boost innovation in family medicine by recruiting physicians who are interested in learning about and performing clinical research. Research from FMD RapSDI scholars is frequently used to help physicians navigate complex issues they see in their practices, including chronic care management, substance use and intimate partner violence.
“Through their research and dedication, FMD RapSDI allows family physicians to generate new evidence and explore innovative models in primary care settings that will help tackle challenges primary care physicians face every day,” said David R. Smith, MD, MPH, FAAFP, president of the AAFP Foundation Board of Trustees. “I continue to be impressed and inspired by the work of our scholars, who are helping us think about primary care, research and clinical solutions in new, dynamic ways.”
Physicians selected as FMD RapSDI scholars serve as principal investigators for their projects, receive support and mentorship from NRN staff to refine research protocols, perform related project activities, and analyze study data.
The scholars selected for the 2023 program and their topics are:
Chris Oh, M.D., of Montefiore Williamsbridge Family Practice Center: Dr. Oh’s research examines penicillin allergies in primary care and seeks to explore efficacy and safety of a penicillin allergy de-labeling initiative. Patients with a history of a penicillin allergy will be offered an in-office oral challenge where they will be given progressively larger doses of penicillin and monitored for potential reactions.
T.M. Ayodele “Ayo” Adesanya, M.D., Ph.D., of Ohio State University Outpatient Care East Family Medicine Clinic: Dr. Adesanya’s research explores medical-financial partnerships in family medicine. To determine how stronger financial literacy can impact personal health, intervention patients will be paired with financial coaches, and control patients will be provided financial education booklets. Both groups will be screened pre- and post-intervention to assess differences in overall, cardiometabolic, mental and financial health.