Division of Health Research and Evaluation
The Department of Family and Community Medicine is engaged in innovative and diverse research to advance the health of individuals, families and rural communities.
Led by Manorama M. Khare, PhD, MS, the division of Health Research and Evaluation (HRE) provides the foundation for research activities conducted by faculty, clinicians and students. HRE focus areas include community-based research, rural health, mental health, and broad-based evaluation. HRE is supported by local, state and federal grants, as well as private foundations. Faculty share their findings in peer-reviewed journals and academic conferences nationwide.
What We Do Heading link
The Division of Health Research and Evaluation (HRE) provides the foundation for research activities conducted by clinicians, researchers, faculty, and students in the department of family and community medicine. HRE conducts a wide scope of research and provides services, particularly in the areas of community-based research, rural health, mental health, and broad-based evaluation.
Current Projects Heading link
Currently, HRE has several ongoing research projects in these areas:
- Chronic disease
- Obesity prevention
- Health inequities
- COVID-19-related health disparities
These include projects that target rural and underserved populations as well as program evaluations with local, state and international partners.
External evaluations Heading link
Program evaluations
HRE researchers also conduct external evaluations for a variety of programs with long-term partners, including the Illinois Department of Public Health. Collaborations with IDPH include:
- Illinois WISEWOMAN Program
- Illinois Comprehensive Cancer Control Program
- CDC 1815: Diabetes and Stroke Prevention Programs
Presentations and Publications Heading link
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July 2022-December 2023
2023
Sheppard A. Community and Implementation Science: Moving West Virginia Evidence-Based Practice Forward. 31st Annual West Virginia Rural Health Association Meeting, Wheeling, WV, November 13 2023.
Sheppard A. Opioid Dependence Aspects among West Virginia Medicaid Enrollees. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA November 2023.
Sheppard A. Opioid use disorder among West Virginia Medicaid enrollees: A quantitative study. 2023 Appalachian Translational Research Network Summit. Morgantown, WV, October 5 2023
Sheppard A. Leveraging a state-university partnership to meet training needs for implementing the West Virginia Statewide Transition Plan. 2023 Appalachian Translational Research Network Summit. Morgantown, WV, October 5 2023
Sheppard A. Implementing the Person-Centered Trauma-Informed Care provider training in West Virginia: Leveraging a state-university partnership. 2023 Appalachian Translational Research Network Summit. Morgantown, WV, October 5 2023
Squires B. Building Career Pathways to FQHCs. FQHC & Academic Program Meeting. Illinois Primary Healthcare Association Meeting. October 3, 2023.
Chang L, & Sreedhar R. What should I do when I get home from the hospital? An IPE Patient Discharge Training Competency-based Assessment. International Association for Health Professions Education (AMEE) 2023 Annual Meeting. Glasgow, UK. September 2023.
Jones A O, & Khare MM. University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford Family Medicine Residency Program Antiracism Curriculum. STFM conference on Practice and Quality Improvement. St. Louis, MO. September 2023.
Sreedhar R, & Chang L. Using Dialogue-Based Language AI to Score and Generate Feedback for Assessment: ChatGPT for Narrative Assessment. International Association for Health Professions Education (AMEE) 2023 Annual Meeting. Glasgow, UK. September 2023.
Garry JP. Evidence Based Management of Low Back Pain. American Academy of Family Physicians Board Review Express Course. September 29, 2023.
Garry JP. Management of Common Pediatric and Adult Fractures in Family Medicine. American Academy of Family Physicians Board Review Express Course. September 29, 2023.
Garry JP. Sports Medicine Board Review. American Academy of Family Physicians Board Review Express Course. September 28, 2023.
Garry JP. Pediatric Orthopedics. American Academy of Family Physicians Board Review Express Course. September 28, 2023.
Sheppard A. Rural Health Disparities: What will it take to make progress? Research America Alliance Discussions, September 26, 2023.
Squires B. How the AHEC Scholars Program Can Benefit Your Recruitment and Retention Efforts. Illinois Rural Health Association. August 10, 2023.
Khare MM. Program Evaluation for Caterpillar Fellows Scholarship Program. University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria. Peoria, IL. August 2023.
Chang L, & Verzal R. Creating Primary Care Competency-based medical education. Society for the Teachers of Family Medicine-Medical Student Education 2023 Annual Meeting. Tampa, FL. May 2023.
Khare MM. Global Health Elective to India. Rural Medical Educators meeting at the National Rural Health Association Annual Conference. San Diego, CA. May 2023.
Khare MM, Glascoe T. Lavender CA, & O’Hara H. Initiatives to Address Maternal Health Disparities in Rural. National Rural Health Association 46th Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA. May 2023.
Graft W, Jones A O, & Martell S. Assessing intent and potential barriers to COVID-19 vaccination among patients seeking free seasonal influenza vaccination. Poster presented at University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, Research Day. Rockford, IL. April 2023.
Branon L & Jones A O. Knowledge of adverse childhood experiences and trauma informed care in family medicine residents. Poster presentation for Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. Tampa, FL. April 2023.
Kaur R, Winkler MR, John S, DeAngelo J, Dombrowski RD, Hickson A, … & Leone L A. Forms of Community Engagement in Neighborhood Food Retail: Healthy Community Stores Case Study Project, presented at University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford Research Day. Rockford, IL. April 2023.
Barnard J, Harper E, Ahmad I, Martell S, Schulz W, Ross J, Molina Y, & Puri N. Promotion of Low-Dose Computed Tomography Screening and Blood Biomarkers in Minority Communities for Early Detection of Lung Cancer in Northern Illinois. University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford Research Day. Rockford, IL. March 2023. Barnard J, invited to American Association for Cancer Research Conference, Orlando, FL, April 15-18, 2023. Dr. Gary Kruh Research Symposium and Student Poster Competition at UIC. Chicago, IL. April 28, 2023.
Garry JP. Medical Conditions in Athletes, AAFP Family Medicine Update Conference. April 25, 2023.
Alderman R & Garry JP. Non-Pharmacologic Therapies for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain. AAFP Family Medicine Update Conference. April 25, 2023.
DePaul B & Garry JP. Common Youth Sports Injuries. AAFP Family Medicine Update Conference. April 25, 2023.
Kazungu F, Khare MM, Zimmermann K, Pluta D, & Ng A, Mercadente A, Law A. COVID-19 Vaccine Attitudes and Barriers among Unvaccinated Residents in Rural Northern/Central Illinois Counties, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL, March 2023. (Poster) Best Community-Translational Research Poster Award presented by the UIC Center for Clinical and Translational Science.
Auckbarallee F, Ross J, Younis S, Joarder B, Rosunally M, & Munshi A. Bluetooth for Blood pressure? The Pressure is on. University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford Research Day. Rockford, IL. March 2023. Mentor to Drs. Farah Auckbaralle, Bushra Joarder, Muhammad Rosunally & Aarohi Munshi.
Berei J, Vela M, Gautam S, Flora A, Patel B, Ross J, & Puri, N. Development of Mucin-5AC as a Blood Biomarker for Early Detection of Lung Cancer. University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford Research Day. Rockford, IL. March 2023. Best Student Technical Poster.
Dodson L, Smith CJ, Holt J, & Garry JP. NRMP Exception Panel. Wisconsin Collaborative for Rural Graduate Medical Education Meeting. Sauk City, WI. March 10, 2023.
Garry JP. Ligamentous Knee Injuries. Invited presentation to the Department of Family Medicine, Christian Medical College. Vellore, India. February 14, 2023.
Garry JP. Medical Conditions in the Athlete. Invited presentation to the Department of Community Medicine, Christian Medical College. Vellore, India. February 13, 2023.
Garry JP. Evidence Based Management of Low Back Pain. American Academy of Family Physicians Board Review Express Course. Las Vegas, NV. February 5, 2023.
Garry JP. Sports Medicine Board Review. American Academy of Family Physicians Board Review Express Course. Las Vegas, NV. February 5, 2023.
Garry JP. Management of Common Pediatric and Adult Fractures in Family Medicine. American Academy of Family Physicians Board Review Express Course. Las Vegas, NV. February 4, 2023.
Garry JP. Pediatric Orthopedics. American Academy of Family Physicians Board Review Express Course. Las Vegas, NV. February 4, 2023.
2022
Wilkerson J, Robinson C, Lowell C, San Miguel C, Mbande T, Zimmermann K, & Range K, Roesch P. Inequities: Methods for Adapting a Multi-level and Universal Postpartum Intervention. 2022 CityMatCH Leadership and MCH Epidemiology Conference. Chicago, IL. September 2022. (Panel Presentation)
Graft W & Jones A O, & Martell, S. Assessing intent and potential barriers to COVID-19 vaccination among patients seeking free seasonal influenza vaccination. Poster presented for UIC College of Medicine Research Forum. Chicago, IL. October 2022.
Garry JP. Sports Medicine Board Review. American Academy of Family Physicians Board Review Express Course. Virtual Presentation. October 5, 2022.
Garry JP. Care of Common Fractures. American Academy of Family Physicians Board Review Express Course. Virtual Presentation. October 5, 2022.
Garry JP. Pediatric Musculoskeletal Medicine. American Academy of Family Physicians Board Review Express Course. Virtual Presentation. October 8, 2022.
Garry JP. Common Orthopedic Conditions: What’s the Evidence? American Academy of Family Physicians Board Review Express Course. Virtual Presentation. October 8, 2022.
Haen, LS, Desloge, A, Zimmermann, K & Handler, A. Family Connects Chicago: Stakeholder Recommendations for Marketing a Universal Postpartum Home Visiting Program. 2022 CityMatCH Leadership and MCH Epidemiology Conference, Chicago, IL, September 2022. (Poster)
Zimmermann, K., Haen L S, Desloge, A, & Handler A. Stakeholder perspectives on nurse home visitor readiness and training in a universal postpartum home visiting program. 2022 CityMatCH Leadership and MCH Epidemiology Conference, Chicago, IL, September 2022. (Poster)
Chang L, Sreedhar R, & Ping S. Changing the DNA of Pharmacology Curriculum. Project. 26th Annual Conference of the International Association of Medical Science Educators. Denver, CO, June 2022.
Garry JP. Treatments for Sciatica. AAFP Family Medicine Update Annual Meeting. Nashville, TN, June 2022.
Garry JP. SARS CoV-2: Cardiac Issues and Return to Physical Activity. AAFP Family Medicine Update Annual Meeting. Nashville, TN. June 2022.
Garry JP. Joint Injections: The Evidence & the Practice. AAFP Family Medicine Update Annual Meeting. Nashville, TN. June 2022.
Roni M, & Chang L, Gangopadhyaya A. Revisiting Pharmacology Curricula with an Anti-racist Lens. Experimental Biology 2022 Annual Conference. Philadelphia, PA. April 2022.
Zimmermann K, Ng A, & Khare MM. Predictors of long-term retention and effectiveness of a community-based weight loss intervention for rural adults. Society of Behavioral Medicine 43rd Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions. Baltimore, MD. April 2022. (Research Spotlight)
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January 1, 2021-December 31, 2023
2023
Successful Treatment of Recurrent Pyloric Stenosis Using Balloon Dilation. Pirkle JRA, Deutsch D. JPGN Rep. 2023 Sep 25;4(4):e364. doi: 10.1097/PG9.0000000000000364. eCollection 2023 Nov. PMID: 38045639The Role of a Local Health Department in Advancing Health Equity: Universal Postpartum Home Visiting in a Large Urban Setting. Zimmermann K, Haen LS, Desloge A, Handler A. Health Equity. 2023 Oct 23;7(1):703-712. doi: 10.1089/heq.2023.0104. eCollection 2023.PMID: 37908403
COVID-19 Vaccine Policy Implementation and Differential Vaccine Uptake Trajectories in Chicago Communities. Kim SJ, McWhirter N, Duong K, Khare MM, Giles WH, Basu S, Hershow RC, Stiehl E.J Public Health Manag Pract. 2024 Jan-Feb 01;30(1):E21-E30. doi: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000001841.PMID: 37966958
Creating and Implementing a Community Engagement Strategy for the 2022–2027 Illinois Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan Through an Academic–State Public Health Department Partnership. Carnahan LR, Hallock C, Soto B, Kasebier L, Dracos E, Martinez E, Newsome J, Mersha T, Pluta D, and Khare K. Prev Chronic Dis 2023 Aug 10;20:220422
Community Solutions to Increase the Healthfulness of Grocery Stores: Perspectives of Immigrant Parents. Dastgerdizad H, Dombrowski RD, Bode B, Knoff KA, Kulik N, Mallare J, Kaur R, Dillaway H. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Aug 7;20(15):6536. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20156536
Grounded in Reality: Artificial Intelligence in Medical Education. Krive J, Isola M, Chang L, Patel T, Anderson M, Sreedhar R. JAMIA Open, 2023 July 6(2), ooad037 https://doi.org/10.1093/jamiaopen/ooad037
Knowledge, attitude, and behavioral intention about oral cancer among public health students in Southeast Georgia. Kaur R, Shah GH. Int. J. Oral Health Dent. 2023 Jun 30;9(1):10-17. doi: 10.3390/nu15132972. PMID: 37447298
Enhanced Measurement of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Marketing to Young Immigrant Children in Grocery Store Environments. Dastgerdizad H, Dombrowski RD, Kulik N, Knoff KAG, Bode B, Mallare J, Elyaderani DK, Kaur R. Nutrients. 2023 Jun 30;15(13):2972. doi: 10.3390/nu15132972. PMID: 37447298
Interprofessional Art Rounds. Chang L, Mosher D. AMA J Ethics. 2023 May 1;25(5):E317-323. doi: 10.1001/amajethics.2023.317.PMID: 37132616.
Application of the consolidated framework for implementation research to understand implementation context of a cardiovascular disease risk-reduction intervention in rural churches. Zimmermann K, Muramatsu N, Molina Y, Carnahan LR, Geller SE. Transl Behav Med. 2023 Apr 15;13(4):236-244. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibac110. PMID: 36694377
Association of in-school and electronic bullying with suicidality and feelings of hopelessness among adolescents in the United States. Nguyen T, Shah G, Muzamil M, Ikhile O, Ayangunna E, Kaur R. Children. 2023 April;10(4):755
2022
Primary care for the urban poor in India during the pandemic: Uninterrupted management of non-communicable diseases and home-based care of patients with COVID-19 infection. Abraham S, John SM, Gupta A, Biswas S, Khare MM, Mukherjee P, Frankline AC. Front Public Health. 2023 Jan 9;10:1043597. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1043597. eCollection 2022. PMID: 36699918
COVID-19 Vaccine Attitudes and Barriers among Unvaccinated Residents in Rural Northern/Central Illinois. Khare MM, Zimmermann K, Kazungu FK, Pluta D, Ng A, Mercadante AR, Law AV. Ethn Dis. 2022 Oct 20;32(4):305-314. doi: 10.18865/ed.32.4.305. PMID: 36388860
First-Year Resident Perceptions of Virtual Interviewing. Hays A, Khare M, Pluta D, Verzal R, Garry JP. Fam Med. 2022 Nov;54(10):814-819. doi: 10.22454/FamMed.2022.364201. PMID: 36350746
Refining the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey (NEMS) for Healthy Community Stores: Adaptations to Capture Alternative Food Retailers and Align with Dietary Guidelines. Hill AB, Kaur R, Sundermeir SM, Kasprzak C, Winkler M, John S, Dombrowski RD, Bode B, Gittelsohn J. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 8;19(19):12875. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191912875. PMID: 36232175
Balancing Mission and Margins: What Makes Healthy Community Food Stores Successful. John S, Winkler MR, Kaur R, DeAngelo J, Hill AB, Sundermeir SM, Colon-Ramos U, Leone LA, Dombrowski RD, Lewis EC, Gittelsohn J. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 11;19(14):8470. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19148470. PMID: 35886315
A Commentary on the Healthy Community Stores Case Study Project: Implications for Retailers, Policy, and Future Research. Sundermeir SM, Winkler MR, John S, Colón-Ramos U, Kaur R, Hickson A, Dombrowski RD, Hill AB, Bode B, DeAngelo J, Gittelsohn J. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 20;19(14):8824. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19148824. PMID: 35886677
Pilot study of a culturally sensitive intervention to promote genetic counseling for breast cancer risk. Henderson V, Madrigal JM, Kendall LC, Parekh P, Newsome J, Chukwudozie I. B, Comer-Hagans DL, Coffey V, Grumbach G, Spencer S, Rodgers C, Kaur R, Balay L, Maga T, Ramamonjiarivelo Z, Balthazar C, Winn R, Watson K, Odoms-Young A, Hoskins KF. BMC Health Serv Res, 2022 Jun 25:22(1):1-9. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-08193-x. PMID: 35752812
Forms of Community Engagement in Neighborhood Food Retail: Healthy Community Stores Case Study Project. Kaur R, Winkler MR, John S, DeAngelo J, Dombrowski RD, Hickson A, Sundermeir SM, Kasprzak CM, Bode B, Hill AB, Lewis EC, Colon-Ramos U, Munch J, Witting LL, Odoms-Young A, Gittelsohn J, Leone LA. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jun 7;19(12):6986. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19126986. PMID: 35742235
COVID-19 behavioral questionnaire (CoBQ): Comparing the pandemic’s impact on health behavior in three US states. Mercadante AR, Chu V, Chen AMH, Wong JC, Khare MM, Law AV. J Am Coll Clin Pharm. 2022 Jun;5(6):590-598. doi: 10.1002/jac5.1625. PMID: 35572211
Using maps to promote physical activity in rural communities. Dalstrom M, Hawley A, Onsrud K, Zimmerman K. Khare M. Pract. Anthropol. 2022 March;30;44(2):21-26.
Rosenberger KD, Cibulka NJ, Barron ML. (2022) Guidelines for nurse practitioners in ambulatory obstetric settings (3rd. ed.). Springer.
2021
Feasibility of promoting physical activity using mHEALTH technology in rural women: the step-2-it study. Khare MM, Zimmermann K, Lyons R, Locklin C, Gerber BS. BMC Women’s Health. 2021 Dec 16;21(1):415. doi: 10.1186/s12905-021-01561-5. PMID: 34915900
Using IPEC pedagogy to transform the future rural advanced practice nursing workforce. Rosenberger KD, Olson H, MacDowell M. & Gruss V. J Nurs Educ Pract. 2021 October;11(10):1-8. doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v11n10p1
Supporting a rural wellness intervention through assessing and mapping rural physical activity environments. Dalstrom M, Guth B, Lizer C, Zimmermann K, Khare M. Prev Med Rep. 2021 Sep 20;24:101567. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101567. PMID: 34976633
Unhealthy behaviors in urban Illinois communities affected by eviction: A descriptive analysis. Hazekamp C, Yousuf S, Khare M, MacDowell M. Health Soc Care Community. 2021 May;29(3):867-875. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13312. PMID: 33533076
The aging general surgeon of rural America. Shelton J, MacDowell M. J. Rural Health. 2021 May:37(4):762-768. doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12577
Recurrent miscarriage: evidence to accelerate action. Coomarasamy A, Dhillon-Smith RK, Papadopoulou A, Al-Memar M, Brewin J, Abrahams VM, Maheshwari A, Christiansen OB, Stephenson MD, Goddijn M, Oladapo OT, Wijeyaratne CN, Bick D, Shehata H, Small R, Bennett PR, Regan L, Rai R, Bourne T, Kaur R, Pickering O, Brosens JJ, Devall AJ, Gallos ID, Quenby S. Lancet. 2021 May 1;397(10285):1675-1682. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00681-4. PMID: 33915096
On the prevalence of autoimmune disease markers in a working population and its relationship to wellness. Waheed U, Greenlaw R, Falsetti S. IJDRP. 2021 May;3(2). doi.org/10.22230/ijdrp.2021v3n2a237
Appointment attendance and patient perception of drive-up INR testing in a rural anticoagulation clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Zobeck B, Carson E, MacDowell M, Hunt A, Reeder A. JACCP. 2021 April;4(4):459-464. doi.org/10.1002/jac5.1390
Health literacy assessment of detained individuals and correctional officers within a large urban jail: Optimizing health education. Welvers A, Rosenberger KD, Corbridge S. J. Nurs. Care Qual. 2021 March;36(1):84-90. doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000477
Beyond the disease symptoms: Additional impacts of COVID-19 on rural health and health professions education: A reflection of where we have been and opportunities for the future. Hinkle H. EfH. 2021 Jan-April:34(1):34-36. doi: 10.4103/efh.EfH_216_21
Perceptions and attitudes toward community health and interprofessional education in students with and without an additional community medicine-focused program. Jungbauer D, Glasser M, MacDowell M. Med.Sci.Educ. 2021 January;20:31(2):535–547. doi.org/10.1007/s40670-021-01210-4
Comparing the roles of social context, networks, and perceived social functioning with health-related quality of life among rural female cancer survivors. Carnahan LC, Rauscher GH, Watson KS, Altfeld S, Zimmermann K, Ferrans CE, Molina Y. Support. Care Cancer. 2021 Jan;29(1):331-340. doi: 10.1007/s00520-020-05497-8. PMID: 32361830
Meet our HRE team Heading link
HRE staff members have extensive expertise and experience in planning, implementing, analyzing, and evaluating a wide array of community-based and rural research. Core staff have experienced research teams with both content and methodological expertise. HRE draws on faculty to engage in multi-disciplinary quantitative and qualitative research.
