Resident Scholarly Research

At Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency, we focus on training our residents to be proficient in the theoretical underpinnings and applied practice of evidence-based medicine. Attendance and participation at monthly Journal Club and bi-monthly Research Seminar meetings is required of all PGY-2 and PGY-3 residents. PGY-2 residents will also review articles & publish in Family Physicians Inquiries Network.

Clinical Inquiry
Residents participate in data collection and reviews of network studies. Scientific inquiry is required of all residents through a small research project or a clinical quality improvement project. In recent years, Fitchburg Family Medicine faculty and residents have been active in sharing innovations and initiatives with colleagues through conference presentations and publications. Residents are strongly encouraged to work toward presenting their ideas at regional and national conferences and are given time and assistance to attain this goal. Our residents also get the opportunity to work with a research preceptor to stay current with their scholarly activity.

Recent Project Topics
Diabetic Foot Exam with a Touch of Asthma
Improving Influenza Vaccine rates in People with Diabetes.
CHF Related Hospital Re-admissions: A Closer Look at the High-Risk CHC Population
Asthma (Based on the MA Patient Centered Medical Home Initiative)
Optimizing Influenza Immunizations of Diabetics 
Prevention of Inappropriate Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Geriatric Patients
Influenza Vaccinations for Diabetic Patients
The Rate at Which Medical Patients are Referred to Behavioral Health
STI Screens Pathway
Fluoride Application in Primary Care
Healthcare Proxy Screening
Depression Screening in Primary Care

Scientific writing is encouraged, and residents are frequently invited to contribute to chapters in family medicine textbooks, including The Five-Minute Clinical Consult, edited by Dr. Frank Domino of UMass Chan Medical School. The residency practice is a member of the UMass Family Medicine PBRN and the AAFP National Research Network.


Journal Club
A key component of the residency's commitment to helping residents understand the principles of evidence-based medicine is the Journal Club, which meets monthly. Residents present and critique a journal article on a clinical issue that arose from their practice. The article is evaluated regarding type and quality of research, and the conclusions of the article are assessed as to the relevance to the clinical question.