Health Research and Evaluation

Five people looking at charts.

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.

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. Read on for details of the areas of focus, program evaluations and our collaborators

Health promotion and disease prevention

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Diabetes
  • Cancer
  • Oral health
  • Vaccine hesitancy
  • Tobacco control
  • Maternal health
  • Diet adherence in rural cancer survivors
  • Community gardens
  • Food security

Behavioral health

  • Substance use and mental health care for justice-involved populations
  • PTSD and trauma

Medical education and training

  • Structured Training for Rural Enhancement of Community Health in Obstetrics (STRETCH-OB)
  • Increasing Resident Capacity for the Primary Care Training and Enhancement-Residency Training in Street Medicine
  • Research Fundamentals Seminar Series for students and residents
  • Clinical Learning and Education in Addiction (CLEAN)
  • STFM Mentoring in Medicine series
  • Research mentoring for medical students, residents, junior faculty and clinicians

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) education

  • Anti-racism curriculum for medical students and residents
  • Learn and Educate Through Actions to Diversify (LEAD) Medicine

Needs assessment

  • Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN) and other health needs assessments
  • Physical activity environment assessments
  • Rural cancer screening capacity assessment
  • Rural social services
  • Food environment assessments
  • Community resource assessments

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

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.

May 14 2026

Division of Health Research and Evaluation Open House

Thursday, 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
UIC Rockford