The MAPMG Physician Research Scholars Program is part of a multifaceted approach to increase research and scholarship opportunities for MAPMG Physicians.
MAPMG Physician Research Scholars Program Application Process Open as of March 1, 2024, for the 2025-2026 cohort of Scholars! The Scholars’ application process has three phases:
Phase I, Notice of Intent to Apply, March 1 – March 26, 2024:
Phase II, Application Submission April 1 – May 24, 2024:
Phase III, Interviews for Selected Applicants, August – September 2024
All potential applicants must submit a Notice of Intent to Apply by the specified deadline to submit a full application. Any applications submitted without a Notice of Intent to Apply will not be reviewed.
Please read the Physician Research Scholars Program Information document below for guidelines and instructions before beginning the application process.
Questions? Email PhysicianResearchScholars@kp.org
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 2 abstracts accepted to peer-reviewed conferences in their area of study and submit 2 manuscripts for publication in high impact, peer-reviewed journals within 24 months. Scholars will have access to the MAPRI Scientific Writer to support manuscript development and submission.
- Scholars to attend weekly progress calls, monthly Scholars conference call, and be assessed for progress on 3-month intervals.
Read about the 2023-2025 Scholars and their research projects: Vital Signs (Internal Access Only)
Dr. Natalia Berry, MD, MBA
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 fellowships in research and cardiology at both the Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Dr. Berry’s research projects will focus on Guideline-directed Medical Therapy on determining the rates and identification of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.
Dr. Jeralyn Jacobs, MD, MPH
Dr. Jacobs is a Pediatrician in the Baltimore Service Area.
She attended the Brown University Alpert School of Medicine and completed her residency at Yale New Haven Hospital. While attending the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health for her Master’s in 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.
Dr. Alexis McCary, MD, 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.
Dr. Katharine Sznajder, MD, MPH, FACOG
Mentor: Nancy Weinfield, PhD
Dr. Sznajder 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. Sznajder studied contraceptive use among women with complex medical conditions and pregnancy outcomes during COVID-19.
Abstracts:
Sznajder K. (2022, Dec 3-5). Contraceptive Use by Females with Chronic Medical Conditions in a Large Integrated Healthcare System. Society of Family Planning, Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
Sznajder K. (2022, May 6-8). Characteristics and Outcomes Associated with COVID-19 Infection in Pregnancy [Poster Presentation]. American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting, San Diego, CA.
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. Sznajder’s research in the media.
Vital Signs (Internal Access Only)
Dr. 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. (2022, November 6-9). A Digital Intervention for Adolescents with Mental Illness in a Time of Need (The DIAMoNd Study) [Poster Presentation]. American Public Health Association, Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.
Burrell TD. (2022, October 7-11). Predictors of Adolescent Outpatient Mental Health Service Utilization during the COVID-19 Pandemic [Poster Presentation]. American Academy of Pediatrics, National Conference and Exhibition, Anaheim, CA.
Burrell TD. (2022, March 9-12). Adolescent Mental Healthcare Utilization during the COVID-19 Pandemic [Poster Presentation]. Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.
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 TD, Sheu YS, Kim S, Mohadikar K, Ortiz N, Jonas C, 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)
Dr. 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 residency at Georgetown University Hospital Center.
Dr. Wenk’s research focused on the utilization of laboratory monitoring during oral Terbinafine and Methotrexate therapies.
Abstracts:
Wenk KS. (2022, May 12-13). Frequency of Laboratory Abnormalities during Terbinafine Therapy for Onychomycosis [Poster Presentation]. Atlantic Dermatology Conference, Philadelphia, PA. Category Winner: Dermatology Quality Improvement and Quality Assessment Projects.
Wenk KS. Frequency of Hepatic Laboratory Abnormalities in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease During Treatment with Oral Terbinafine for Onychomycosis [Poster Presentation]. American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. March 9, 2024.
Wenk KS. Methotrexate Test Dose Use and Frequency of Laboratory Abnormalities in Patients Initiating Treatment. [Poster Presentation]. American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. March 9, 2024.
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 (kaiserpermanente.org)
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.