A close collaboration between clinical practitioners and research experts is necessary for meaningful health care research and the implementation of evidence-based practices. The multi-professional nature of ARC is reflected in its structure and processes. The two ARC Directors, Dr. Diane McKee, and Dr. Ben Gerber represent extensive clinical experience and wide-reaching research competency. ARC coordinator, Diana Rinker, supports communication and operations within ARC to enhance sharing of knowledge and effective workflows.
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Dr. Diane McKee,
ARC Director
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Dr. McKee came to UMass Chan in 2019 from the Department of Family and Social Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, where she held a position as professor and vice chair of research. Dr. McKee graduated from Cornell University and the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis and completed a family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island. She also holds a Master of Science in clinical research methods. Dr. McKee's outstanding expertise in practice-based research networks comes from her previous work as a PBRN director of the New York City Research Improvement Networking Group (NYC RING) practice-based research network and BraveNet Coordinating Center. While NYC RING is an urban PBRN dedicated to primary care research and program development that improves outcomes and decreases health disparities, BraveNet Coordinating Center is a national PBRN dedicated to conducting research related to integrative medicine. As a clinical outcomes and health services researcher, Dr. McKee has conducted projects using mixed methods to explore health issues with funding from the American Cancer Society, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NIH, HRSA, and PCORI. Dr. McKee is a strong leader and advisor to many investigators on health research methods interfacing with the clinical delivery system, learning health systems research, and diabetes care in vulnerable, high-risk populations.
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Dr. Ben Gerber,
ARC co-Director
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Dr. Ben Gerber joined UMass Chan as a Professor and Division Chief in the Division of Health Informatics and Implementation Science in 2021. Ben is an internist and health services researcher coming from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). His research interests include diabetes self-management and health behavior promotion through technology in the ambulatory clinical environment. He has extensive experience in designing, developing, and implementing mobile health (mHealth) solutions targeting low-income, minority populations with limited access to healthcare services. His research group has involved health coaching interventions, 2-way text messaging support, multimedia education, mobile app development and implementation, and physiologic measures, including wearables for real-time engagement. Currently, he is leading a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the use of mHealth in diabetes adherence support, including clinical pharmacists and community health workers.
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Diana Rinker,
ARC coordinator
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Diana Rinker joined the Family Medicine department at UMass Chan in 2021 as the PBRN coordinator. Diana received her Masters in Educational and Developmental Psychology and practiced as a mental health provider serving minority and disadvantaged populations in Worcester and Fitchburg. She specialized in PTSD, child trauma, and foster care support. Diana is a professional training, services, and research coordinator, enthusiastic about improving health care with quality evidence-based research and inter-professional collaboration. Her research interests are around integrative care and complex trauma. Diana is involved in many research projects in the Family Medicine and Community Health department and is a great resource for research teams to connect and find support.
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You can reach out to ARC Directors or Coordinator via email or our
contact form.
