Family Medicine and Community Health Research

Research is an integral part of family medicine residency training. The Department of Family and Community Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center is focused on improving health outcomes through a variety of research projects in the following areas:

Health disparities 

• Chronic pain
• Opiate use
• HIV prevention and intervention
• Transgender health

Behavioral Health and Trauma

• Integrated behavioral health 

Cancer and Cardio-Metabolic Disorders

• HPV
• Cancer survivorship
• Management of chronic illness 
• Family-based interventions 

Our Research Core includes faculty and staff from a range of disciplines who collaborate on projects using a team science approach and a variety of research methods. Residents contribute meaningfully to ongoing projects in the department by working in research teams. Each incoming resident is assigned a faculty research mentor to guide them through a structured timeline for their chosen research project across the three years of training.  

Our residents successfully present award-winning posters and oral presentations at a number of state and national conferences every year, including STFM (Society of Teachers for Family Medicine), NAPCRG (North American Primary Care Research Group), and TAFP (Texas Academy of Family Physicians).