Family and Community Medicine

Currently Funded Grants

Roger Zoorob, MD, MPH, FAAFP

  • NCMHD Health Disparities Research Center of Excellence: “Culturally Appropriate Childhood Obesity Prevention Program for Hispanic Families.” 

A 5-year full proposal  Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) project to test efficacy of culturally-appropriate childhood obesity prevention interventions for Hispanic families through randomized control

  • Southeast Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Regional Training Center (CDC)

A cooperative effort between Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University, the University of Louisville, and Morehouse School of Medicine providing education and support of all FASD programming

  • Pre-doctoral training: Curriculum Enhancement of the 3rd Year Family Medicine Clerkship: Improving the Rotation Experience and Student Performance (HRSA)

Designed to enhance the clerkship experience in an effort to increase performance and interest of students in primary care residency  

  • Academic Administrative Units in Primary Care  (HRSA)

Established new administrative units focused on Chronic Care Model implementation and Elderly Care education

  • Residency Training in the Patient Centered Medical Home Model of Care. (HRSA)

Establishes a PCMH at Meharry and a clinical learning environment focused on PCMH principles, Evidence Based Guidelines, and a chronic disease registry

  • Equipment to Support Family Medicine Residency Training.  (HRSA)

Paul Juarez, PhD

  • Health Disparities Research Center of Excellence at Meharry   (NCMHD)

Established to promote research that:

  • enhances our understanding of the effects of society, economics, culture, behavior and biology on health;
  • engages the community in the research process;
  • improves the health and well-being of ethnic and racial minorities;
  • reduces health disparities
  • The Model States Supported AHEC Program (HRSA)

Established to:

  • improve the supply and distribution of health care professionals with an emphasis on primary care;
  • build productive links between academic centers, health professionals, community organizations, and consumers to the benefit of the underserved
  • Community Outreach Core (Cancer Alliance) (National Cancer Institute)

Established to facilitate community-based partnerships with Meharry, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and Tennessee State University on cancer disparities research and outreach initiatives

  • Nashville Youth Violence Prevention Urban Partnership Academic Center of Excellence (NUPACE) (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control)

Established to promote a partnership between academic institutions and communities to integrate prevention science and community action for violence reduction

Sangita Chakrabarty, MD, MPH

  • Meharry Occupational Medicine Residency Training Program (CDC)

The only such program offered by an HBCU or anywhere in the state of Tennessee. Upon completion of training, residents are board eligible in Occupational Medicine and have earned an MSPH degree from the Meharry School of Graduate Studies

Vincent Agboto, PhD

  • Biostatistics Shared Resources (Cancer Alliance) National Cancer Institute (NCI). ($33,500 per year.)

Irwin Goldzweig, MS

  • Injury Prevention Unit (CDC)

Established to reduce morbidity, mortality, and costs associated with vehicle crashes through a combination of research, education, and advocacy designed to promote safe driving practices among racial and ethnic minority populations

  • Injury Prevention Unit Child Passenger Safety Center (TN Governors Highway Safety Office)

Established 41 fitting stations throughout Middle Tennessee that work with low-income and minority populations to improve child passenger safety by training/certifying technicians, providing car seats, and educating families

  • The Multi-Cultural Communities Belt Use Toolkit (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Established to create a toolkit of motor vehicle safety education materials designed for use in racial/ethnic minority communities

Sylvie A Akohoue, PhD, CNS

  • A Comprehensive Approach to Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management in Low-income Women (NIH)

Assesses the impact of a culturally appropriate self-management intervention combining patient education and outreach on type-2 diabetes outcomes among low-income diabetic women

Robert S. Levine, M.D.

  • Prevention of Obesity (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

With “Nashville Children Eating Well (CHEW) for Health,” department faculty members provide educational services on nutrition, prevention, and diabetes therapies