Family and Community Medicine

The following programs/research are currently under way in the Department of Family and Community in the School of Medicine at Meharry Medical College.

Residency Training in the Patient Centered Medical Home Model of Care
Researcher: Roger Zoorob, MD, MPH, FAAFP
Funding Source: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Project Summary: The major goal of this project is to support the implementation of the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Model with the Family Medicine Residency Training program at Meharry Medical College, and research on this subject.

Southeast Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Regional Training Center
Researcher: Roger Zoorob, MD, MPH, FAAFP
Funding Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Project Summary: The major goal of this project is to establish and operate a center for the recognition, training and prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome, and research on this subject.

Appropriate Childhood Obesity Prevention Program for Hispanic Families
Researcher: Roger Zoorob, MD, MPH, FAAFP
Funding Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Project Summary: The major goal of this project is to conduct a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of a culturally appropriate childhood obesity intervention in Hispanic families.

A comprehensive approach to Type 2 diabetes self-management for low-income women
Researcher: Sylvie Akohoue, PhD
Funding Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Project Summary: The goal is to conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate an educational intervention combined with a patient outreach liaison strategy on health outcomes among low-income women who are at high risk for developing diabetes-related complications.

Meharry Medical College Community HealthCenters-Community Networks Program Center
Researcher: Maureen Sanderson, MPH, RD, PhD
Funding Source: National Cancer Institute  (NCI)
Project Summary: This study examines receipt of the HPV vaccine, subsequent sexual practices, and cervical cancer screening in African American and Hispanic mothers and daughters; with three community health centers in Nashville, Memphis, and Chattanooga.

A multi-center epidemiologic study of breast cancer in African American women
Researcher: Maureen Sanderson, MPH, RD, PhD
Funding Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Project Summary: This study will investigate approximately 21 GWAS-identified loci to discover genetic risk variants relevant to African American women.

Increasing HPV vaccine utilization among African American girls to reduce cervical cancer disparities
Researcher: Maureen Sanderson, MPH, RD, PhD
Funding Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Project Summary: This study will develop a social marketing compaign designed to increase HPV vaccine utilization among African American girls.

Mammographic breast density in a cohort of medically underserved women.
Researcher: Maureen Sanderson, MPH, RD, PhD
Funding Source: Department of Defense (DOD)
Project Summary: This study will strengthen the collaborative relationship between Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt University through the joint conduct of a clinic-based case-control study of mammographic breast density.

Nashville Children Eating Well (CHEW) for Health
Researcher: Robert Levine, MD
Funding Source: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Project Summary: The goal of this program is to generate new knowledge of the behavioral factors that influence childhood obesity and use this information to develop and implement effective family-based, culturally appropriate interventions for preventing overweight and obesity in preschool age children (ages 2-5).

The Role of Federal Legislation on Breast Cancer Disparities
Researcher: Robert Levine, MD
Funding Source:National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Project Summary: The goal of this research project is to test the hypothesis that the Medicare law (which defines medical assistance/health insurance) as a cash benefit regardless of the extent to which cash is a barrier to service acquisition) and administrative policies of the food and Drug Administration (basing drug marketing decisions on biological safety/efficacy without considering possible adverse social effects, contribute to disparities in black/white mortality, helping to ensure that the benefits of life-saving innovations are more likely to accrue to persons of higher socioeconomic status. This is not deny the beneficial effects of these programs, but rather to suggest that any health-related intervention may have unintended, adverse effects.  The present study focuses on breast cancer in order to address the overarching hypotheses as they pertain to Medicare law. We will purchase Medicare claims data from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and SEER-Medicare data. We shall also use data from the Area Resource File and the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information System (CIS) to locate medical resources and programs that support utilization of screening mammography.

The Tennessee Child Passenger Safety Center at Meharry
Researcher: Irwin Goldzweig, MSc
Funding Source: Tennessee Department of Transportation Governor's Highway Safety Office and the Tennessee Department of Health
Project Summary: This project started in 2006 as the Middle Tennessee Child Passenger Safety Center - to reduce the impact of automobile crashes on children. In October 2012, the Middle TN Child Passenger Safety Center at Meharry became the Tennessee Child Passenger Safety Center at Meharry. The Center is now responsible for child passenger safety for the entire state of Tennessee. We offer a 4-day nationally approved curriculum for certification as a child passenger safety technician. We provide child safety seats and installation for low-income families through our network of over 125 fitting stations, across the state. In addition, we provide education for families, expectant mothers, and training for technicians wishing to become child passenger safety Instructors. We also have education and recertification classes for technicians wishing to keep their certification current.

Ready, Safe, Drive!
Researcher: Irwin Goldzweig, MSc
Funding Source: Ford Motor Company
Project Summary: This project will teach high school and college aged young women about motor vehicle safety as well as car care essentials, empowering them to maintain their own vehicles for safety. The program will be conducted at Ford Dealerships in a variety of cities, e.g., Nashville, San Diego, and Puerto Rico. Each program will have approximately 50-60 young women from local schools, safety presentation by Meharry team members, car care training by Ford technicians, and additional safety information from local law enforcement officers.

Walk and Bike Safely
Researcher: Irwin Goldzweig, MSc
Funding Source: National Highway Traffic and Safety Association (NHTSA) and Preusser Research Group (PRG)
Project Summary: This project will test a 6 week curriculum on pedestrian and bicycle safety with approximately 1,000 non-English speaking Latino participants/students who are recent immigrants to the United States. The education program will be conducted in at least 8 cities at community-based organizations such as churches and other local organizations with high populations of non-English speaking immigrants.