Office of Research & Development |
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VA ORD’s ability to ensure innovations in healthcare for the benefit of our nation’s Veterans is dependent upon fostering a pool of highly talented, motivated scientists from diverse backgrounds who will help to further VA’s mission. The first DEI Research Supplement awardees were announced in July 2021. They are:
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SUPPLEMENT AWARDEE |
VA MEDICAL CENTER / MENTOR |
TITLE OF MERIT AWARD / SUPPLEMENT DESCRIPTION |
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Valerie Harris-Lewis 
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Oklahoma City VAMC Scofield, R. Hal |
Merit Award: Sex Chromosome Aneuploidies in Autoimmune Disease |
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Supplement description: Drs. Harris-Lewis and Scofield will continue work to determine the molecular basis of the X chromosome dose effect in autoimmune disease. |
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Nadir Balba 
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Portland VAMC |
Merit Award: Supplementation with Amino Acid Rehabilitative Therapy in TBI (SmART-TBI): A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial to Improve Sleep |
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Supplement description: This supplement project will test the feasibility of a novel internet-delivered mindfulness intervention for Veterans with TBI/PTSD. |
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Marva Foster |
Bedford VAMC |
Merit Award: Capturing the Dynamics of Homelessness through Ethnography and Mobile Technology |
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Supplement description: This supplement project will study self-management behaviors among Veterans experiencing homelessness through use of mobile technology. |
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Melissa Chinchilla |
Los Angeles VAMC |
Merit Award: Passive Mobile Self-Tracking of Mental Health by Veterans with Serious Mental Illness |
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Supplement description: This supplement project seeks to identify evidence-based care models that can be tailored to improve social integration, housing, and health for homeless-experienced Veterans with serious mental illness. |
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Letitia Graves 
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Cleveland VAMC |
Merit Award: Biomarkers for pressure injury risk following spinal cord injury: Development of a multi-scalar predictive model for personalized preventive health care |
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Supplement description: Identify potential biomarkers for pressure injury and identify symptoms and risk factors following spinal cord injury (SCI) with the goal of improving care and symptom management for Veterans with SCI. |
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Shamira Rothmiller 
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Iowa City VAMC Hadlandsmyth, Katherine |
Merit Award: Preventing Chronic Post-Surgical Pain and Prolonged Opioid Use: The Perioperative Pain Self-Management Program |
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Supplement description: This project seeks to explore racial healthcare disparities through the lens of provider-patient mistrust within the VHA. |
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Olamide Alabi 
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Atlanta VAMC |
Merit Award: Molecular Repair of Diabetic Mesenchymal Stem Cells (dMSC) for Peripheral Arterial Disease |
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Supplement description: This project will address healthcare disparity and provide clinicians with better tools to inform peripheral arterial disease care in underserved/vulnerable Veteran populations. |
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Darius Dawson 
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Houston VAMC |
Merit Award: A pragmatic trial of brief CBT for anxiety in VA primary care |
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Supplement description: To improve access to care for African American and Hispanic Veterans, this project will examine disparities among anxiety disorder presentation, mental health treatment in primary care, and mental health research participation. |
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Briana Mason 
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South Texas VAHCS |
Merit Award: Preclinical Psychopharmacology of Substance Abuse |
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Supplement description: This is a preclinical study looking at repurposing of chemokine receptor antagonists for treatment of substance use disorders. |
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A'mie Preston 
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Central Arkansas VAMC |
Merit Award: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Apathy in Mild Cognitive Impairment |
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Supplement description: This supplement project focuses on assessing feasibility of an immersive virtual reality (iVR) intervention for cognitively impaired older Veterans. |
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Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins |
Philadelphia VAMC |
Merit Award: Racial Bias in a VA Algorithm for High-Risk Veterans |
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Supplement description: This supplement project will develop a Racism focusEd Trauma INformed cAre (RETINA) Algorithm that uses predictive modeling to inform healthcare decision-making tools and clinical resource allocation for patients and providers in nephrology care. |
VA grants first diversity, equity, and inclusion research awards
VA supports early career investigators from minority backgrounds through new research awards.... (09/10/2021)
Dr. Bruce Ovbiagele elected to National Academy of Medicine
Health disparities researcher Dr. Bruce Ovbiagele was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) during its annual meeting on Oct. 18, 2021. This honor recognizes outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. (11-01-2021)
From HRO to HERO
Making Health Equity a Core System Capability
Moy, Ernest MD1; Hausmann, Leslie R. M. PhD2; Clancy, Carolyn M. MD3
American Journal of Medical Quality: September 8, 2021
Abstract
As many health systems have been working to become high-reliability organizations (HROs), health equity has been largely absent from discussions and applications of HRO principles. This is a serious oversight. Disparities in health and health care represent systematic failures to achieve reliable outcomes for certain groups. Acceptance of disparities is antithetical to the essential HRO goal of “zero harm.” We propose adding Equity to HROs in the most literal sense by designating it as a key component and achieving High Equity Reliability Organizations. We describe how equity should be a crucial element of all 5 HRO core concepts: sensitivity to operations, preoccupation with failure, deference to expertise, resilience, and reluctance to simplify.