The MAPMG Physician Research Scholars Program is part of a multifaceted approach to increase research and scholarship opportunities for MAPMG Physicians.
Program Structure and Outcomes
- Up to 3 MAPMG Physician Research Scholars will be selected for a 2-year term through an application process.
- During their term, Scholars will be granted 0.2 FTE to develop one substantive research project with the support of the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Research Institute (MAPRI) staff.
- Scholars will receive scientific mentorship from a MAPRI Research Investigator
- Scholars will engage in a curriculum designed to be a refresher covering research principles and approaches.
- Scholars are expected to have at least one full manuscript and an optional second manuscript for publication in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals within the 24-month period. Scholars are also expected to have at least one abstract and an optional second abstract accepted for presentation, either poster or platform discussion at a peer-reviewed conference in their area of study. Scholars will have access to the MAPRI Scientific Writer to support manuscript and abstract development and submission.
- Scholars to attend weekly study team meetings, monthly All-Scholars conference calls, and All-Scholars special events such as research updates and MAPMG presentations, and be assessed for progress on 3-month intervals.
Read about the 2025-2026 Scholars and their research projects: Vital Signs (Internal Access Only)
James Liu, MD
Mentor: Suma Vupputuri, PhD, MPH, FAHA
Dr. Liu is an Oncologist in the NOVA Service Area.
He was a bench scientist at GlaxoSmithKline before beginning medical school at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Liu completed a Hematology-Oncology Fellowship at University of California Davis Medical Center before joining MAPMG.
Dr. Liu’s research project will focus on the identification of predictive risk factors for unplanned hospital admissions for a subset of patients undergoing treatment for metastatic solid cancer. It is hoped the information learned through this project will lead to increased shared decision-making between physicians and patients.
Andra DiStefano, MD
Mentors: Cabell Jonas, PhD and Nancy Weinfield, PhD
Dr. DiStefano is an Anesthesiologist in the Baltimore Service Area.
She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. She then completed an internship in Transitional Medicine at Albert Einstein Medical Center followed by residency in anesthesia and perioperative care at University of California San Francisco.
Dr. DiStefano’s research is inspired by her gun safety advocacy activities. She plans to learn more about the perceptions and experiences of physicians regarding firearm safety screening and leverage findings for the identification and development of tools for effective patient counseling.
Read about the 2023-2024 Scholars and their research projects: Vital Signs (Internal Access Only)
Natalia Berry, MD, MBA
Mentor: Suma Vupputuri, PhD, MPH, FAHA
Dr. Berry is a Cardiologist in the NOVA Service Area.
She attended Dartmouth Medical School, completed her residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, and finished multiple research and cardiology fellowships at the Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Dr. Berry’s research projects will focus on guideline-directed medical therapy to determine the rates and identify patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.
Abstracts
Berry N, Sheu Y-S, Chesbrough K, Bishop RC, Vupputuri S. Rates and Predictors of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy Among Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction in a Diverse, Integrated Healthcare System. ESC Heart Failure. 2025. In Press.
Berry N. (Poster Presentation). Rates of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy Among Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction in a Large, Integrated Healthcare System. Heart Failure Society of America, Annual Scientific Meeting, Atlanta, GA, September 27-30, 2024.
Jeralyn Jacobs, MD, MPH
Mentor: Nancy Weinfield, PhD
Dr. Jacobs is a Pediatrician in the Baltimore Service Area.
She attended Brown University Alpert School of Medicine and completed her Yale New Haven Hospital residency. While pursuing her master’s in public health at the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, she participated in a Health Services Research fellowship.
Her research will focus on the examination of the development of Type 1 diabetes in children since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abstracts
Jacobs JB. (Platform Presentation). Risk Factors for Development of Type 1 and Prediabetes in Children and Teenagers During the COVID-19 Pandemic. American Public Health Association, Meeting and Expo, Minneapolis, MN, October 27 – 30, 2024.
Jacobs JB. (Platform Presentation). Trends and Incidence of Type 1, Type 2 Diabetes, and Prediabetes in Children and Teens through the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis. Pediatric Academic Societies, Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, May 2 -6, 2024.
Read about Dr. Jacobs’ research in the media.
Research Shows Rise in Pediatric Diabetes and Prediabetes
Alexis McCary, MD, PhD
Mentor: Cabell Jonas, PhD
Dr. McCary is a Gastroenterologist in the DCSM Service Area.
She attended New York University School of Medicine and completed her residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital / Weill Cornell Medical Center. She then received her PhD in Molecular Medicine from University of Maryland Baltimore and completed a Gastroenterology fellowship during her studies.
Her research will focus on questions related to liver disease, specifically patients with Chronic Hepatitis C with and without Metabolic dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease.
Abstracts:
McCary A. (Poster Presentation). Improved Liver Fibrosis Outcomes in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) Patients with Hepatitis C Treatment. American Association of the Study of Liver Diseases – The Liver Meeting, San Diego, CA, November 15 – 19, 2024.
Katharine Raisler, MD, MPH, FACOG
Mentor: Nancy Weinfield, PhD
Dr. Raisler is an OB/GYN in the DCSM Service Area.
She attended medical school at New York University School of Medicine and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical Center.
Dr. Raisler studied contraceptive use among women with complex medical conditions and pregnancy outcomes during COVID-19.
Abstracts:
Sznajder K. (Poster Presentation). Contraceptive Use by Females with Chronic Medical Conditions in a Large Integrated Healthcare System. Society of Family Planning, Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD, December 3 -5, 2022.
Sznajder K. (Poster Presentation). Characteristics and Outcomes Associated with COVID-19 Infection in Pregnancy. American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting, San Diego, CA, May 6 – 8, 2022.
Publications:
Sznajder K, Jefferson CR, Kim S, and Weinfield NS. (Submitted). Characteristics and Outcomes Associated with COVID-19 Infection Throughout Pregnancy.
Sznajder K, Jefferson CR, Kim S, Weinfield NS. (Submitted). Contraceptive Use by Females with Complex Medical Conditions in a Large Integrated Healthcare System: a Retrospective Cohort Study.
Read about Dr. Raisler’s research in the media.
Vital Signs (Internal Access Only)
Tierra Burrell, MD, MHS
Mentor: Michael Horberg, MD, MAS, FACP, FIDSA and Cabell Jonas, PhD
Dr. Burrell is a Pediatrician in the Baltimore Service Area.
She attended medical school at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine and completed her residency in Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Dr. Burrell studied methods to reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms among adolescents as well as adolescent mental health care utilization during COVID-19.
Abstracts:
Burrell TD. (Poster Presentation). A Digital Intervention for Adolescents with Mental Illness in a Time of Need (The DIAMoNd Study). American Public Health Association, Annual Meeting, Boston, MA. November 6 – 9, 2022.
Burrell TD. (Poster Presentation). Predictors of Adolescent Outpatient Mental Health Service Utilization during the COVID-19 Pandemic. American Academy of Pediatrics, National Conference and Exhibition, Anaheim, CA, October 7 – 11, 2022.
Burrell TD. (Poster Presentation). Adolescent Mental Healthcare Utilization during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 9 – 12, 2022.
Publications:
Burrell TD, Kim S, Mohadikar K, Jonas C, Ortiz N, Horberg MA. Family Structure and Adolescent Mental Health Service Utilization During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2023 Apr 7:S1054-139X(23)00065-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.01.018
Burrell TC, Sheu YS, Kim S, Mohadikar K, Ortiz N, Jonas MC, Horberg MA. COVID-19 and Adolescent Outpatient Mental Health Service Utilization: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis. Acad Pediatr. 2023 Jun 9:S1876-2859(23)00197-3. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2023.05.016
Read about Dr. Burrell’s research in the media.
Pediatrician Studies Pandemic’s Impact on Adolescent Mental Health Utilization: Vital Signs (Internal Access Only)
This 5-Minute Habit Helps Kids Struggling with Mental Health: Vital Signs (Internal Access Only)
Pediatrician to Conduct Research on Preventing Gun Violence (kaiserpermanente.org)
Kurt Wenk, MD
Mentor: Michael Miller, RPh, DrPH, FAPhA
Dr. Wenk is a Dermatologist in the NOVA Service Area.
He attended medical school at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and completed his Georgetown University Hospital Center residency.
Dr. Wenk’s research focused on utilizing laboratory monitoring during oral Terbinafine and Methotrexate therapies.
Abstracts:
Wenk KS. (Poster Presentation). Methotrexate Test Dose Use and Frequency of Laboratory Abnormalities in Patients Initiating Treatment. American Academy of Dermatology, Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 9, 2024.
Wenk KS. (Poster Presentation). Frequency of Hepatic Laboratory Abnormalities in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease During Treatment with Oral Terbinafine for Onychomycosis. American Academy of Dermatology, Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 9, 2024.
Wenk KS. (Poster Presentation). Frequency of Laboratory Abnormalities during Terbinafine Therapy for Onychomycosis. Atlantic Dermatology Conference, Philadelphia, PA, May 12 – 13, 2022.
Category Winner: Dermatology Quality Improvement and Quality Assessment Projects.
Publications:
Wenk KS, Wu X, and Miller MJ. 2023. Infrequent laboratory abnormalities during terbinafine therapy for onychomycosis: a retrospective cohort analysis within an integrated health system. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Published September 14, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/jaad.2023.08.086
Read about Dr. Wenk’s research in the media.
Antifungal for Nail Fungus May Be Safer Than Originally Thought
How often is the MAPMG Physician Research Scholars Program open to applications?
The MAPMG Physician Research Scholars Program is open to applications every two years. The next cycle of applications will be available in Spring 2024.
Is research support available?
Yes! Selected Physician Research Scholars will have access to data analysts, biostatisticians, scientific writing, and project management support during their scholar timeframe.
Will basic science research be supported?
No. The MAPMG Physician Research Scholars Program is unable to support basic science research.
Will clinical trial research be supported?
Clinical trial research cannot be supported through the MAPMG Physician Research Scholars Program except under the rarest of circumstances. Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss research project ideas with the Scholars team before submission to determine project feasibility.
Will both adult and pediatric projects be considered?
Absolutely!
Who is responsible for the approval of all research projects?
Dr. Michael Horberg (Associate Medical Director Research) and your Physician In Chief (PIC) must approve all research projects. All selected Research Scholars must complete required training and submit research protocols to the MAPMG Institutional Review Board (IRB) for approval.