This June nursing faculty member Sarah Kooienga, PhD, FNP, ARNP, was accepted as a Fellow into the Practice Based Research Network. Nursing Dean Mary Burman lets out a "whoop-whoop" and says, "This is really cool and will benefit her research and faculty practice at the Cheyenne Family Medicine Program!" Agreeing with the Dean, Kooienga says, "I think the Cheyenne Family Medicine Program as an academic health center has great potential for practice based research activities."
What is the Practice Based Research Network and fellowship program?
Kooienga helps to define Practice Based Research Networks (PBRNs) by quoting from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) website: "PBRNs are groups of primary care clinicians and practices working together to answer community-based health care questions and translate research findings into practice. PBRNs engage clinicians in quality improvement activities and an evidence-based culture in primary care practice to improve the health of all Americans." https://pbrn.ahrq.gov/
The 10-month fellowship is a certificate program sponsored by 8 Practice Based Research Networks from across the U.S. and AHRQ. As part of her fellowship, Kooienga will participate in 4-6 hours of webinars and other learning activities per month. At the end of the 10 months, she develops a concept paper and the foundation for a research proposal.
Each fellow will have one or more experienced mentors. Kooienga obtained a local mentor--Wendy Braund, State Health Officer, Wyoming Department of Health--and has also been assigned mentors (experienced practice based researchers) from the University of Washington Family Medicine Program as well.
What excites Kooienga most about acceptance into the network?
"I had been involved in a number of practice based research projects using a qualitative ethnographic approach," says Kooienga. "I am excited to increase my research repertoire and learn new methodologies and approaches. Having those approaches embedded in primary care practice does make this endeavor very exciting for me."
----------
Story posted 7/20/2016