Research
Our faculty are national leaders in chronic disease outcomes, innovative care models, health disparities, clinical health psychology, faculty development, and medical education. As scholars, we bring both clinical and research expertise in community engagement, pragmatic clinical trials, evidence-based practice, behavioral and mental health, implementation science, learning health systems, data analytics, and education innovation. Search for faculty members’ publications.
The Division of General Internal Medicine is a powerful environment in which to test innovative models and evidence-based solutions, and to prepare future research leaders. To reshape and scale up the way clinical care is delivered and received, we team up with University of Minnesota colleagues in Family Medicine and the School of Public Health, the VA’s Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, and partner with other community-based organizations and health systems. In our multidisciplinary teams, we’re addressing the health challenges that matter most, one breakthrough at a time.
Primary research has five content areas
Behavioral Health & Lifestyle Change
We develop and evaluate interventions that support sustainable behavior change by examining the psychological, social, and behavioral factors that impact health; such as stress, diet, exercise, and substance use.
Health Disparities
Our faculty, including those who are part of the Program in Health Disparities Research, investigate differences in health outcomes and access to care across communities, often influenced by social, economic, and environmental factors. We identify these root causes and co-develop interventions with the communities impacted.
Medical Education
We improve teaching and learning processes to enhance clinical competence and patient care for medical trainees and professionals, studying curriculum development, instructional methods, assessment strategies, and learner outcomes.
Optimizing Clinical Care
This research applies evidence-based approaches to clinical decision-making and care processes. It improves patient outcomes by enhancing the quality, efficiency, and safety of healthcare delivery.
Faculty Development
We advance the skills, knowledge, and career growth of academic healthcare professionals through mentorship, leadership training, and educational innovation to support long term success in teaching, research, and clinical practice.
Our faculty are passionate about physicians’ roles in human rights advocacy, restorative justice frameworks, and identifying patients’ social needs.
We support a Health Psychology Fellowship, an IM Research Fellowship, an IM Residency, an IM and Dermatology Residency, and an IM and Pediatric Residency.
We aim to improve patient outcomes by providing collaborative comprehensive care and good communication during every clinical encounter.