RESEARCH

 

UCSF Fresno Department of Family & Community Medicine supports a wide range of research-related activities including:

 

 

OVERVIEW

UCSF Fresno Department of Family & Community Medicine has made a special commitment to the development of community-based primary care research. The research team conducts original research, guides and supports the research interests of clinical faculty and residents, and implements formal evidence-based medicine and community oriented primary care curriculum for residents.



EBM

The evidence-based medicine curriculum is focused on the practical applications of using electronic information and critically appraising the evidence on which clinical decisions are made. Residents and faculty submit clinical questions, receive individualized training in literature search skills to find answers to those questions, discuss evidence pertaining to their questions and apply scientific evidence to improve diagnosis and treatment of patients. This innovative approach is designed to teach residents the skills they need to become life-long and self-directed learners.

 

The Fresno test of EBM was developed and validated in 2002 by faculty in our department.  It was the first test designed to assess evidence-based medicine skills and is in use around the world (available through link on left). 




SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY

During the three-year residency program, residents complete a scholarly project by choosing a topic of interest and forging community connections to provide services or conduct research related to that topic. They receive extensive support, encouragement, and specialized training for their projects from the research team. Previous scholarly projects include speaking in 6th grade elementary school classes about exercise & nutrition, conducting an HIV survey of Hmong community members, and comparing hospitalization risk in diabetic patients by ethnicity.


RESEARCH FACULTY

The Research Director is Susan Hughes, MS, whose training in biostatistics is utilized on many research projects. She is responsible for overseeing research activities and working with faculty in the department. Ms. Hughes won the UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program Faculty Research Award in June 2009 based in part on her publication about trends in rural and urban births in California.  Other members of the research team include Roger Mortimer, MD, Rebeca Lopez, MPH, and Andres Alba, BS. Dr. Mortimer is the clinical expert of the research team. He is active in the HIV clinic where he conducts research on cryptococcal meningitis.  He also has ongoing projects on doctor-patient communication and behavioral interventions in diabetes care. Ms. Lopez completed her MPH while collaborating with Dr. Mortimer to study why pregnant women do not test for HIV.  She works with medical students and residents to coordinate their community based primary care projects.  Mr. Alba is completing his MPH at CSUF and works with medical students.

Other faculty members conduct research activities as well. Family Medicine faculty have been awarded the UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program Faculty Research Award five times. Research and other scholarly activity is ongoing in such areas as diabetes, pain management, parental education when children have an upper respiratory infection,  provider-patient communication, and transgender health.

 

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2011-2012 FACULTY AWARDS


Ivan Gomez, MD was named in the Best of Fresno Doctors in Family Medicine, Fresno Magazine, October 2011 edition.


Susan Hughes, MS was recognized in Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare 2011-2012, 8th edition, November 2011. 


Roger Mortimer, MD received “Best of Show” presentation at the 2011 International Technical Rescue Symposium, November 2011, Fort Collins, CO.


Alex Sherriffs, MD was appointed to the California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board, November 2011.


Alex Sherriffs, MD was named to the governing board of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, November 2011.

 

 

2011-2012 FACULTY PUBLICATIONS

 

Mortimer RB, Wharton DR.  Reply to Suspension Trauma and Rhabdomyolysis [Letter to the Editor].  Wilderness and Environmental Medicine, 2011; 22(3):287-288.

 

Weichenthal L, Allen J, Davis KP, Campagne D, Snowden B, Hughes S. Lightning safety awareness of visitors in three California national parks.  Wilderness Environ Med. 2011 Sep;22(3):257-61. Epub 2011 Jul 21.

 

Hudson S.E., McCurley L.H., Mortimer RB.  Caving and Cave Rescue, Chapter 46.  In: Auerbach P.S., Wilderness Medicine 5th ed. Elsevier Inc. 2012 189-199.

 

Ruff  J. Adversity, Healing, and the Development and Practice of a Woman Psychologist. In: Comas-Diaz, L. Weiner, MB Women Psychotherapists: Journeys in healing. Jason Aronson Publishers, Inc. 2011:143.

 

Mehra, N, Venturina, A, Imanzahrai, A. Guidelines for End of Life curriculum for Family Medicine Residency Programs. American Academy of Family Physician. AAFP Reprint No. 269, July 2011. Available at:
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/aboutus/specialty/rpsolutions/eduguide.html

 

 

2011-2012 FACULTY ABSTRACTS

 

Lopez, RA, Mortimer, R.  Self-reported experiences of prenatal HIV testing in Fresno County.  Journal of the 33rd Annual Central California Research Symposium.  April 13, 2012.  California State University, Fresno.

 

Herrera-Mata, L, Hughes, S. Reach Out and Read Fresno: Ongoing Benefits in Early Literacy Practices Among Underserved Families. Family Medicine, Vol 44; Sup 4; June 2012. Available at:
http://www.stfm.org/fmsup/fmconferencesupplement.cfm?confid=177

 

Lopez, RA, Gomez, I, Hughes, S.  OSCE Assessment of Resident Competency With and Without Interpreters.  Family Medicine, Vol 44; Sup 4; June 2012. Available at: http://www.stfm.org/fmsup/fmconferencesupplement.cfm?confid=177

 

Padilla, A. Preparing for Teaching Health Center Residency Programs: Migrant and Farm Worker Fourth-year Transition Elective. Family Medicine, Vol 44; Sup 4; June 2012. Available at:
http://www.stfm.org/fmsup/fmconferencesupplement.cfm?confid=177

 

 

2011-2012 FACULTY PRESENTATIONS

 

Sherriffs, A, Greenlee, A, Hughes, S, Hewett, L. Clinical utility of brief mental status exams in identifying early dementia. Lecture presented at the 8th Annual UCSF FCM Colloquium, March 23, 2012, San Francisco, CA.

 

Herrera-Mata, L, Hughes, S. Reach out and read Fresno: ongoing benefits in early literacy practices among underserved families. Poster presented at the 8th Annual UCSF FCM Colloquium, March 23, 2012, San Francisco, CA.


Burnett, J. Safe and Efficacious Protocol for Treatment of Male-to-Female Transsexuals. Poster presented at the 8th Annual UCSF FCM Colloquium, March 23, 2012, San Francisco, CA.

 

Min, Y, Gomez-Gonzales, M, Lopez, RA. Awareness, Knowledge and Attitude of HPV among Underserved Women in Fresno County. Poster presented at the 8th Annual UCSF FCM Colloquium, March 23, 2012, San Francisco, CA.

 

Gomez, I. Why we are here: Preventing Pediatric HIV. Lecture presented at The Perinatal HIV Summit Conference, October 26, 2011, Fresno CA.


Gomez, I. Considerations for Treating HIV in Diverse Populations. Lecture with Pacific AIDS Education and Training Centers, April 5, 2012, Fresno, CA.


Gomez, I. Expert Panel Discussion:  Third-hand Smoke Exposure: A Review of Current Evidence.  Exploring Third-Hand Smoke Exposure: A Two Day Symposium, May 25, 2012, Fresno, CA


Mortimer, R.  Hospice and Palliative Medicine and AIDS.  Lecture presented to Community Regional Medical Center Hospice and Palliative Medicine Group, April 13, 2012, Fresno, CA.


Mortimer, R. Suspension Trauma Revisited, PMI Webinars, March 6, 2012. Available at: http://www.pmirope.com/rescue-tv/webinars/

 

Moir, A. Care of the Medically Indigent in Fresno County. Lecture to Reedley Community College students, 2011, Reedley, CA.

 

Moir, A. Universal Health Care and Care of the Medically Indigent. Lecture to Sanger High School AP Government students, 2011, Sanger, CA.

 

Moir, A. Barriers to Breastfeeding. Lecture to Obstetric Nursing Department, Adventist Medical Center, 2011, Selma, CA.

 

Lopez, RA, Mortimer, R. Self-reported experiences of prenatal HIV testing in Fresno County.  Poster presented at the 33rd Annual Central California Research Symposium, April 13, 2012, Fresno, CA.

 

Lopez, RA, Gomez, I, Hughes, S.  OSCE Assessment of Resident Competency With and Without Interpreters. Poster presented at the 45th Annual STFM Annual Spring Conference, April 27, 2012, Seattle, WA.

 

Padilla, A. Preparing for Teaching Health Center Residency Programs: Migrant and Farm Worker Fourth-year Transition Elective. Poster presented at the 45th Annual STFM Annual Spring Conference, April 27, 2012, Seattle, WA.


Nisco, M.  Translating POLST into Inpatient DNR Orders.  National POLST Taskforce, April, 2011.

 

Nisco, M.  Ethics and End-of-Life Care.  Trinity Health National Palliative Care Conference, February, 2012.

 

Burnett, J. Wholistic Health Care for TG Religious Leaders. Lecture at Transgender Religious Leaders Summit 2011, Nov 4, 2011, Berkeley, CA.

 

Nisco, M.  Communications Regarding Code Status.  UCSF School of Medicine, Emergency Medicine Fellowship, November, 2011.


Nisco, M.  Contemporary Palliative Care.  National Life Care Association, November, 2011, Beijing, China.


Nisco, M.  Bioethics Workshop.  Lead Presenter, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Clinical Conference, October, 2011.


Burnett, J. Harm Reduction Model for Treatment of M to-F Transsexuals - Four-Year Follow-up. Lecture at World Professional Assoc. for Transgender Heath, 22nd International Symposium, September 27, 2011, Atlanta, GA.

 

Burnett, J. Christianity and GID- Reconciling Your Faith, Cross-Gender Hormone Treatment for GID and Dx and Tx of GID- Ask the Doctors. Talk at Gender Spectrum Conference, July 30- Aug 1, 2011, Berkeley, CA.

 

Burnett, J. Keeping the Faith: Discussing My Child's Gender in My Faith Community, Ask the Doctors Panel. Gender Spectrum Conference, July 14-15, 2012, Berkeley, CA. 

 

Min, Y. PAP Smear, HPV Virus and Cervical Cancer Prevention for PHPT - Program for HIV. Presentation at HIV Prevention and Treatment Conference, May 2012, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

 

Min, Y. Instrumental delivery. Workshop presented at the UCSF Fresno Advanced Life Support Obstetrics course, May 10-11, 2012, Fresno, CA.

 

Gomez, I. Intrapartum Fetal Surveillance, Third and Fourth Degree Perineal Lacerations. Workshops presented at the UCSF Fresno Advanced Life Support Obstetrics course, May 10-11, 2012, Fresno, CA.

 

Burnett, J. Shoulder Dystocia & Assisted Delivery, Laceration Repair. Workshops presented at the UCSF Fresno Advanced Life Support Obstetrics course, May 10-11, 2012, Fresno, CA.

 

Blossom, HJ. Highlights of the California AHEC Program, AHEC/Community Health Centers (CHC) collaboration. AHEC Branch webinar, 2012. 


Blossom, HJ. Primary Care Health Professions in the Inland Empire.  Panel member for Community Clinic Association of San Bernardino County, mini-conference, panel member, 2012.


Blossom, HJ. The CA AHEC.  Lecture to the Fresno Healthy Community Access Partners, San Joaquin Valley AHEC Advisory Board, 2011, Fresno, CA.

 


2011-2012 FELLOW PRESENTATIONS


Khan, K.  Adverse Events in Chronic Pain Patients. Lecture presented to UCSF Fresno Family Medicine Research Committee and HPM faculty, October 21, 2011, Fresno, CA.

 


2011-2012 RESIDENT ABSTRACTS


Vang, K, Yang, H, Mortimer, R, Hughes, S. Hmong Preferences Regarding Their Doctor. Family Medicine, Vol 44; Sup 4; June 2012. Available at: http://www.stfm.org/fmsup/fmconferencesupplement.cfm?confid=177

 

 

2011-2012 RESIDENT PRESENTATIONS


Vang, K, Yang, H, Mortimer, R, Hughes, S. Hmong Preferences Regarding Their Doctor. Poster presented at the 45th STFM Annual Spring Conference, April 27, 2012, Seattle, WA

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Min, Y, Gomez-Gonzales, M, Lopez, RA. Awareness, Knowledge and Attitude of HPV among Underserved Women in Fresno County. Poster presented at the 8th Annual UCSF Rodnick Colloquium, March 23, 2012, San Francisco, CA.

 

 

2011-2012 RESIDENT SUBMISSIONS

 

Moalemi, N, Martinez, L.  What caused this patient’s right upper abdominal pain and liver mass? Case report submitted to Journal of Family Practice, April 2012.


Basurco, D, Payan, N. A 68-year old man with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Letter to the editor submitted to American Family Physician, April 2012.