Event celebrates research achievements of first cohort of TPMG clinician researchers
How might patients benefit if The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG) created an opportunity for a select group of physicians to divide their time between clinical practice and conducting research in partnership with Division of Research (DOR) investigators?
The answer was on display November 17 at the first Physician Researcher Program (PRP) Symposium, held at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Pleasanton. And there is no question that the results exceeded everyone’s expectations.
“These 6 physician researchers who are graduating from our program have improved the care we provide at Kaiser Permanente and have enhanced our national reputation,” said Doug Corley, MD, PhD, chief research officer for TPMG and PRP founding director. “Since 2017, this cohort has authored more that 270 publications, with insights for transforming care. They have also brought in more than $11 million in additional research funding, including grants from the National Institutes of Health.”
Corley noted that this research success was possible only because DOR and TPMG leaders at the time “were able to envision a program that would make research part of the standard culture for KPNC and TPMG.” These leaders included former DOR Director Tracy Lieu, MD, former TPMG Executive Director and CEO Robert Pearl, MD, and former TPMG Associate Executive Director Philip Madvig, MD.
The event’s keynote address was given by TPMG Associate Executive Director Smita Rouillard, MD. She accentuated the ways each physician researcher’s work has elevated KPNC and TPMG. “Research is the bridge between discovery and improved patient care,” said Rouillard. “I commend you on the community of physician researchers you have developed, the impact you have had at national specialty meetings, and all you have done to transform how we provide care at Kaiser Permanente.”
In his closing remarks incoming PRP Director Jacek Skarbinksi, MD, a DOR research scientist and TPMG infectious diseases and HIV specialist, reflected on how far the program had come since the “seminal moment in 2015” when Corley and physician researcher Betty Suh-Burgmann, MD, presented the initial concept for PRP to the TPMG board.
“What we have now is a real learning health system that is systematically evaluating all aspects of care,” said Skarbinski. “And to current PRP cohorts— enjoy the journey. The most valuable part of the program is the community that you become part of.”
In their own words
The symposium provided an opportunity for the inaugural cohort of 6 physicians selected for the PRP in 2017 to reflect on what they had learned upon their graduation from the program. They also presented words of wisdom for the physician researchers following in their footsteps. To date, a total of 19 physicians have been accepted into the PRP.
“I am most proud of having my work result in tangible changes in how we do things at KPNC. One thing I learned — and my words of wisdom to the new cohort — change is hard.”
Dan Li, MD
“My greatest accomplishment has been taking a national leadership role in gastric cancer prevention. My words of wisdom: Don’t be intimidated by the complexity of applying for federal funding.”
David Vinson, MD
“My goal was to help doctors be better doctors in the emergency department by taking the best evidence and bringing it to doctors at the bedside to make it accessible. My words of wisdom: Spy on and learn from your colleagues.”
Joe Presti, MD
“What I am most proud of is the prostate cancer risk calculator I developed that is now in HealthConnect. My advice to the new cohort: Study something you are passionate about and persevere.”
Matthew Solomon, MD, PhD
“Kaiser Permanente is one of the true learning health systems, and one of my proudest contributions is the KP-TAA study in JAMA Cardiology that won the 2024 Morris F. Collen Research Award. Remember: Every dataset is someone’s story, and we owe that story justice and respect.”
Bobby Chang, MD
“I am speaking to you from the VEITH Symposium, which I first attended years ago. Now, I am faculty and have a seat at the table, and that is due to the research that I did as part of the PRP. My words of wisdom: Learn how to budget and how to say ‘no’ so that you have time and space to think.”
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