Research and scholarly activity serve as a cornerstone of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. Faculty members engage in a variety of clinical research, health services research, and educational evaluation activities.
 

The Kentucky Ambulatory Network (KAN), the primary care practice-based research network is now in its fourth year. Extramurally funded research projects address cardiovascular risk for type 2 diabetic patients, cancer screening, diet and exercise, health and safety for college athletes, patient safety and quality improvement, physician-patient relations, perceptions of complementary and alternative medicine, and preventive health for the rural elderly. Collaborative training grants improve dental screening, integrate complementary and alternative medicine into the predoctoral medical curriculum, and prepare health care practitioners for rural primary care practice.
 

Fellows, residents, and students are welcome to participate in research and scholarly activity. We share our research and educational innovations at regional and national meetings. Improving quality of care and patient safety, preventive health care, women’s health, cardiovascular health, access to care, and medical education evaluation are the foci of our future research agenda. The department is closely involved with the new Future of Family Medicine.