The world-class research faculty in the Division of General Internal
Medicine are experts in their fields, committed to studying health
problems that affect the Bronx communities in which we work and those of
global concern. We strive to conduct research that is helpful for and
important to our patients, amplifies patient voices, and engages community
members as partners. Our research is funded primarily by the National
Institutes of Health and additionally by other government agencies and
foundations. Our researchers work in collaborative teams to bring multiple
perspectives and skillsets together and to promote learning among all
members of the team.
The major DGIM research programs address:
Substance Use and Health of People Who Use Drugs
Researchers in the Division of General Internal Medicine have a
longstanding commitment to advancing the health of people who use drugs
through innovative research. Our projects include studies led by
Dr. Aaron Fox,
Dr. Shadi Nahvi,
Dr. Benjamin Hayes, and
Dr. Andrea Jakubowski
about treatments for opioid use disorder, studies by
Dr. Shadi Nahvi
to help people who use drugs to stop or reduce commercial tobacco use, and
studies led by
Dr. Brianna Norton
to improve access to treatment for Hepatitis C infection.
Dr. Joanna Starrels
and other researchers in the IMPOWR-ME Research Center study treatments
that meet people with chronic pain and opioid use disorder where they are.
Dr. Tiffany Lu
and
Dr. Laila Khalid
are studying care innovations and treatment outcomes in primary care based
addiction treatment.
Dr. Andrea Jakubowski,
Dr. Kristine Torres-Lockhart
and others are studying the impact of an Addiction Medicine Consult for
hospitalized patients.
HIV Treatment and Prevention and other infectious diseases
Our researchers have large programs of research locally and
internationally, to understand prevention and treatment of HIV and how to
improve the lives of people living with HIV (PLWH).
Dr. Kathy Anastos,
Dr. Anjali Sharma, and Dr. David Hanna (Department of Epidemiology and Population Health)
lead the longstanding New York City site of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort
Study (MACS)/Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) Combined Cohort Study to
understand the progression and impact of HIV-related comorbidities.
Dr. Marcel Yotebieng,
Dr. Kathy Anastos,
Dr. Jonathan Ross, and
Dr. Natalia Zotova
study strategies to improve a range of health outcomes for PLWH in Central
Africa including access to care and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Dr. James Brust
and
Dr. Marcel Yotebieng
study treatment of HIV and TB coinfection in Sub-Saharan Africa. In
collaboration with
Dr. Anjali Sharma
also collaborates with colleagues in Psychiatry and Neuroscience to
understand mechanisms of depression and neurocognition in PLWH.
Dr. Viraj Patel
studies HIV testing and implementation of PrEP in the US and India and in
Central Africa together with
Dr. Jonathan Ross
and
Dr. Natalia Zotova.
Dr. Matthew Akiyama
studies HIV and viral hepatitis prevention among people who inject drugs
in East Africa.
Health Equity and Access to Care
DGIM research aims to improve access to care and health outcomes for
people and communities who are racially or ethnically minoritized,
LGBTQIA+, and/or immigrants.
Dr. Viraj Patel
and
Dr. Robert Beil
and others conduct pragmatic research to improve the health and well-being
of LGBTQIA+ communities and study how to train medical providers to
provide LGBTQIA+ sensitive care.
Dr. Chanelle Diaz
and
Dr. Jonathan Ross
study immigration policies as social/structural determinants of health
that drive health inequities, and how to engage impacted communities as
partners in research on improving health outcomes for immigrants.
Dr. Iman Hassan,
Dr. Shani Scott, and
Dr. Shwetha Iyer
study approaches to train physicians and medical trainees to address
structural and social determinants of health.
Dr. Sharon Rikin
studies innovative strategies to improve access to medical specialists
using electronic consultations (e-consults) and remote monitoring for
blood pressure and diabetes management. Research at DGIM described
elsewhere also addresses health equity in substance use, HIV, and criminal
justice.
Dr. Deborah Swiderski
leads the Serious Illness Conversation Project, training providers in
end-of- life communication skills and conducting qualitative research to
understand barriers to this work in the Bronx communities we serve.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can be debilitating and innovative approaches are needed.
Dr. Hector Perez
studies virtual reality for chronic pain.
Dr. Joanna Starrels
and
Dr. Hector Perez
have examined several issues related to longterm opioid use for chronic
pain, including best practices for opioid prescribing and tapering.
Dr. Laila Khalid
and
Dr. Serena Roth
created, lead, and examine innovative models for clinical care including a
primary care-embedded clinic that cares for patients with chronic pain
while training the next generation of physicians.
Dr. Justina Groeger
studies chronic pain and opioid use in older adults, including
post-operatively.
Medical Cannabis
As cannabis use has expanded across the United States, there is a great
need to understand the risks and benefits.
Dr. Julia Arnsten
and
Dr. Deepika Slawek
lead a cutting-edge program of research to study how people use medical
cannabis and how use impacts chronic pain and opioid use. Dr. Slawek also
conducts research about medical cannabis in people living with HIV.
Criminal Legal System and Health
DGIM research aims to understand and improve health of currently and
formerly incarcerated people.
Dr. Matthew Akiyama
studies strategies to test and link people with Hepatitis C Virus, HIV,
and COVID- 19 to care during and after incarceration.
Dr. Aaron Fox
studies strategies to link and retain patients in care for substance use
disorder treatment after incarceration.
Dr. Chanelle Diaz
studies the health harms associated with immigration detention and
strategies to link immigrant patients with serious health issues to
trauma-informed care post-release.
Preventive Oncology
DGIM research aims to reduce preventable cancer, such as cancers related
to infectious agents or substance use.
Dr. Kathy Anastos
and
Dr. Marcel Yotebieng
study the impact of HIV and human papilloma virus (HPV) on cancer in PLWH
in the Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in collaboration with
local and international colleagues.
Dr. Shadi Nahvi
conducts clinical trials to test treatments to reduce nicotine and tobacco
use, particularly in people who use drugs.
Medical Education
In parallel with DGIM’s commitment to high-quality education and training
for medical students, resident physicians, and all of our physicians, many
DGIM faculty conduct research to optimize medical training.
Dr. Felise Milan
and
Dr. Sandra Oza
study approaches to medical student clinical skills development and
Dr. Sheira Schlair
and
Dr. Deborah Swiderski
focus on training providers to improve their communication skills.
Dr. Iman Hassan
and
Dr. Shani Scott
develop and test curricula to improve structural competency.
Dr. Shwetha Iyer,
Dr. Erin Goss, and
Dr. Lauren Shapiro
study innovative strategies to train resident physicians in social justice
and patient care.
Dr. Darlene LeFrancois
studies training in physical examination and bedside clinical skills.
Dr. Tiffany Lu,
Dr. Kristine-Torres-Lockhart,
Dr. Laila Khalid, and
Dr. Melissa Stein
develop and test curricula to increase medical trainees’ clinical
knowledge and skills in addiction care and reduce stigma around substance
use.