Summary of Research Mission

Our mission is to promote research that positively impacts the health of our community. We strive to accomplish this aim by reducing health disparities; enhancing access to primary care; and improving the quality of healthcare services.  Research in our department is designed to be translational and rapidly disseminated into practice. We provide research opportunities for students and learners from a wide range of disciplines who are interested in primary care research or public health.

Contact Information

Faculty Research Interests

Michael Dulin, MD, PhD
Research Director
704-446-7740
  
Dr. Dulin's research interests center on improving access to and the quality of primary care services. He currently serves as the Research Director for the Department of Family Medicine and Directs the Mecklenburg Area Partnership for Primary Care Research (MAPPR). 

Dr. Dulin was awarded a PhD in neurophysiology prior to receiving his MD at The University of Texas at Houston Medical School. He completed residency training in Family Medicine at CMC and then worked in private practice in Harrisburg for three years. In 2004, he returned to academia by joining the CMC Department of Family Medicine as the director of research and evidence-based medicine. He completed additional fellowship training at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine and recently completed the AAFP's national Grant Generating Project. 

While at CMC, he founded the Mecklenburg Area Partnership for Primary Care Research (MAPPR) in collaboration with UNC-Charlotte, the local and state Health Departments, and the Latin American Coalition. Dr. Dulin is also co-founder of a statewide consortium of research networks, the North Carolina Network Consortium (NCNC), which includes networks from UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University and East Carolina University. Dr. Dulin was selected by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to the 2008 class of their Physician Faculty Scholars Program that will assist him with funding for his research endeavors and additional training for the next three years.

Recent Publications

Dulin MF, Hatcher LF, Sasser HC, Barringer TA. Policosanol is ineffective in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2006; 84: 1543-1548. [PMID: 17158441]

Gasull X, Liao X, Dulin MF, Phelps C, Walters ET. Evidence that long-term hyperexcitability of the sensory neuron soma induced by nerve injury in Aplysia is adaptive. J Neurophysiol 2005; 94: 2218-2230. [PMID: 15944238]

Walters ET, Bodnarova M, Billy AJ, Dulin MF, Díaz-Ríos M, Miller MW, Moroz LL. Somatotopic organization and functional properties of mechanosensory neurons expressing sensorin-A mRNA in Aplysia californica. J Comp Neurol 2004; 471:219-240. [PMID: 14986314]

Current, Recent and Pending Grant Support

Grant Title: Primary Care Practice Based Research Networks (PBRNs)
Funding Agency: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality  (RFP #AHRQ-06-0029)
Role: Co-Investigator
Years: 2007-2012

Grant Title: A Community-Based Participatory Approach for Improving Primary Care Access
Funding Agency: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
Years: 2008-2011

Grant Title: Disease Management and Health Promotion in the Ambulatory Care Setting
Funding Agency: The Duke Endowment
Role: Principal Investigator
Years: 2007-2011

Grant Title: Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) 
Funding Agency: NHLBI / NIH
Role: Local Co-Investigator
Years: 2001-2009

Grant Title: Creation of a PBRN to Study Healthcare Delivery to a Transitioning Community
Funding Agency: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality  (R03 HS016023-01)
Role: Principal Investigator
Years: 2006-2008

Matthew Alexander, PhD

Research Interests: Qualitative Research; Educational Innovations; Spirituality in Medicine; Behavioral Medicine

Recent Publications

Alexander M. A psychologist collaborating with an inpatient family medicine team. Annals of Behavioral Science and Medical Education 2008; in press. 

Alexander M, Waxman D, White P. What's eating Gilbert Grape: a case study of chronic illness. Journal for Learning through the Arts 2007; 2. [Article]

Alexander M. Finding meaning in serious illness: the hows and whys of the spiritual meaning interview. Annals of Behavioral Science and Medical Education 2006; 12.

Thomas Barringer, MD, FAHA
Medical Director, Center for Cardiovascular Health

Research Interests: Clinical Trials in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention - Nutrition, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Dyslipidemia, Hypertension, Diabetes, Obesity, CVD Risk Assessment

Dr. Barringer brings 10 years of experience as principal investigator for over 20 industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated trials, including the NIH-funded ALLHAT and ACCORD trials; Fellow of the American Heart Association (Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism); Fellow of the 10-Day Seminar on the Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease 2004; UNC Faculty Development Fellowship 1997-1998

Recent Publications

Barringer TA, Hatcher L, Sasser H. Effect of a flavonoid supplement on impairment of endothelial function after a high-fat meal. Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2008; in press.

Dulin MF, Hatcher LF, Sasser HC, Barringer TA. Policosanol is ineffective in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2006; 84: 1543-1548. [PMID: 17158441]

Raymond LW, Barringer TA, Konen JC. Stress testing in the medical evaluation for hazardous materials duty: results and consequences in three groups of candidates. J Occup Environ Med 2005; 47: 493-502. [PMID: 15891528]

Current, Recent and Pending Grant Support

Grant Title: Omega-3 Fatty Acids for the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation after Cardiac Surgery
Funding Agency: Reliant/GSK
Role: Principal Investigator
Years: 2006-present
  
Grant Title: Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD),
Funding Agency: NIH/NHLBI
Role: Local Co-Investigator
Years: 2001-present
  
Grant Title: Nebivolol in Hypertension
Funding Agency: Forest Pharmaceuticals
Role: Principal Investigator
Years: 2008-present
  
Grant Title: TAK-491 in Hypertension,
Funding Agency: Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Role: Principal Investigator
Years: 2008-present

Michele Birch, MD

Research Interest: Community Health and Healthcare Disparities

Current, Recent and Pending Funding 

Grant Title: Provision of Group Prenatal Care for Charlotte's Underserved Communities
Funding Agency: SOPHIA grant
Role: Principal Investigator
Years: 2008-2009

Rhett Brown, MD
Medical Director, CMC Eastland Family Practice

Research Interest: Improving Quality of Care and Practice Redesign

Current Studies

Creation of a Virtual Heart Failure Clinic
I 3 academic collaborative
Disease Management and Health promotion in the Ambulatory Care Setting

Recent Publications

Brown R, Cable K, Sams R 2nd. Clinical inquiries: Who should get hepatitis A vaccination? J Fam Pract 2005; 54: 624-625. [PMID: 16009092]

Current, Recent and Pending Grant Support

Grant Title: Disease Management and Health Promotion in the Ambulatory Care Setting
Funding Agency: Duke Endowment
Years: 2007-2011

Mary Hall, MD
Department Chair

Recent Publications

Davis CH 3rd, Hall MN, Kaufman L, Danis P. Clinical inquiries. What is the best way to evaluate secondary infertility? J Fam Pract 2007; 56: 573-575. [PMID: 17605951]

Hall MN, Leach L, Kynerd R. Clinical inquiries. In menopausal women, does fatigue indicate disease? J Fam Pract 2005; 54: 895-896. [PMID: 16202379]

Hall MN, Leach L, Beck E. Clinical inquiries. Which blood tests are most helpful in evaluating pelvic inflammatory disease? J Fam Pract 2004; 53: 326,330-331. [PMID: 15068781]

Sindy McCrystle, ANP-C, MSN 

Recent Publications

McCrystle S, Menscer D. Managing the patient with dementia in primary care. N. C. Med J 2005; 66: 53-56. [PMID: 15786680]

Current, Recent and Pending Grant Support

Grant Title: Healthy Brain Project
Funding Agency: Carolinas Geriatric Education Grant (CGEC)
Role: Principal Investigator
Years: 2008-2011

Vanessa McPherson, MD
Residency Director

Recent Publications

Kaiser J, McPherson V, Kaufman L, Huber T. Clinical inquiries. Which UTI therapies are safe and effective during breastfeeding? J Fam Pract 2007; 56: 225-228. [PMID: 17343814]

McPherson V, Wright ST, Bell AD. Clinical inquiries. What is the best treatment for gastroesophageal reflux and vomiting in infants? J Fam Pract 2005; 54: 372-375. [PMID: 15833233]

McPherson V, Leach L, Erlanger L. Clinical inquiries. What is the best treatment for analgesic rebound headaches? J Fam Pract 2005; 54: 277-278. [PMID: 15755384]

Darlyne Menscer, MD 

Recent Publications

McCrystle S, Menscer D. Managing the patient with dementia in primary care. N C Med J 2005; 66: 53-56. [PMID: 15786680]

David Price, MD 
Associate Director, Family Medicine Fellowship in Primary Care Sports Medicine

Research Interests

Concussion impact research using helmet G force sensors
Patient knowledge of family medicine
Sports screening research
Director: Heart of a Champions Day

Recent Publications

Price D, Betancourt V, Kaufman L, Rodríguez JE. FPIN's clinical inquiries. Treatment of impetigo. Am Fam Physician 2007; 75: 703-704. [PMID: 17375518]

Price DE, Elder K, White RD. "Exercise Testing."  In O'Connor, Wilder, Sallis and St. Pierre (eds.).  Sports Medicine-Just the Facts.  McGraw-Hill. 2005; 118-126.

Price DE, Elder K, White RD: Exercise Stress Testing. In O'Connor, Sallis Wilder, and St. Pierre (eds.).  Sports Medicine-Examination & Board Review.  McGraw-Hill. 2005:  25-26.

Lawrence Raymond, MD, ScM
704-446-7708
704-446-7795 Fax

Research Interests

Testing ways of adding heat stress to exertional stress of treadmill electrocardiography, for medical evaluation of candidates for work with hazardous materials (Hazmat Duty)

Effects of collaborative practice with onsite Nurse Practitioners on employer healthcare costs and other outcomes
 
Effects of tissue oxygenation and related factors on extremity wounds in persons with diabetes mellitus

Health aspects of homeland security worker

Dr. Raymond plans to initiate an observational study of the natural history of transcutaneous oxygen measurements in older persons with diabetes during the next year, and compete the first phase of such a study over the next five years. The current study of treadmill heat stress testing will be completed and submitted for publication by end-2008, while observational work with onsite Nurse Practitioners will continue in 2008-2013.

Dr. Raymond completed a fellowship in pulmonary medicine in the laboratory of Dr. John Severinghaus, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco.

Recent Publications

Raymond LW, Jones MM, Warren E, Weinrib DA. Inguinal phlegmon and positive serology for syphilis after penile bite laceration: true, true and unrelated. Am J Emerg Med 2008; 26: 250.e7-8 [PMID: 18272128]

Jessica Saxe, MD

Research Interests: Prevention and Healthy Lifestyle Interventions in the Community

Dr. Saxe received her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and was trained in Duke University Family Medicine program. Dr. Saxe has submitted a grant application for a healthy lifestyle intervention in a low-income community based on a successful small pilot. She would like to bring healthy lifestyle interventions to more communities.

Current, Recent and Pending Grant Support

Grant Title: School Healthlink at Bruns Elementary School
Funding Agency: Kate B. Reynolds Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
Years: 2003 - 2007

Dael Waxman, MD

Research Interests: Integration of Complementary and Alternative Medicine into Primary Care Faculty Development

Current Studies

Effect of Web-Based Educational Intervention on botanical Medicine on the Knowledge Base and Practice Pattern of Primary Care Residents

Recent Publications

Alexander M, Waxman D, White P. What's eating Gilbert Grape: a case study of chronic illness. Journal for Learning through the Arts 2007; 2. [Article]

Waxman D, et al, "Chapter 5: Family Dynamics", "Chapter 11: Anxiety, Depression, and Somatoform Disorders", and "Chapter 17: Interviewing Skills" in Cinemeducation: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Film in Medical Education.  Alexander M, Lenahan P, and Pavlov A, Editors. Oxford, Radcliffe Publishing. 2005.

Patricia White, MD

Recent Publications

Alexander M, Waxman D, White P. What's eating Gilbert Grape: a case study of chronic illness. Journal for Learning through the Arts 2007; 2. [Article]

Irene Zink, MD

Research Interests: Community Health and Resident Education

The Mecklenburg Area Partnership for Primary Care Research (MAPPR)

The Mecklenburg Area Partnership for Primary Care Research is a practice-based research network (PBRN) designed to study barriers to healthcare access for the growing Latino population in Charlotte. The goal for this network is to utilize different sectors of the community to bring about positive change in individual's lives by improving healthcare and quality of life.

The network comprises ambulatory care clinics located within Carolinas HealthCare System (such as Eastland Family Practice, CMC-NorthPark and CMC-Myers Park Pediatrics), private/otherwise affiliated practices and community advocacy organizations (such as the Latin American Coalition, El Centro Betesda and Our Lady of Guadalupe church).

MAPPR is headquartered at the Department of Family Medicine, under the leadership of Michael Dulin, MD, PhD, and is funded through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.