Comparative effectiveness research (CER) can be defined as the study of "Which treatment works best, for whom, and under what circumstances?" (Slutsky and Clancy, Am J Med Qual 2009). Many CRHC faculty have expertise in CER and conduct systematic reviews and meta-analyses, analyses of electronic health records and other databases, and comparative effectiveness trials. These methods are used to compare the effectiveness of particular strategies in improving specific outcomes for the treatment of conditions such as gestational diabetes as well as alcohol and substance use disorders.

Faculty

Yi-Fan Chen, PhD

Dr. Chen has been a biostatistician with extensive experience in collaborative research and hands-on data analysis since 2013. She is also interested in machine learning, particularly tree-based modeling for subgroup identification, the design and analysis of clinical trials, and meta-analysis.

Kathleen McTigue, MD, MPH, MS

Director, PaTH Clinical Research Network

Dr. McTigue's research interests are in the prevention of chronic disease with focuses on obesity, women's health, and information technology.  Dr. McTigue's work on improving the quality of patient care extends to a focus on the development of infrastructure for supporting pragmatic, patient-centered clinical research via the PaTH Clinical Data Research Network, a member of the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network (PCORnet).

Ann-Marie Rosland, MD, MS

Director, Caring for Complex Chronic Conditions Research Center

Dr. Rosland focuses on innovations in care for chronic health conditions and studies health system efforts to improve primary care delivery. Dr. Rosland's work draws on her expertise in health intervention design and evaluation, health behavior change, social and family support, primary care for complex patients, and Participatory Research.

Holly N. Thomas, MD, MS

Dr. Thomas seeks to conduct innovative, interdisciplinary, patient-centered clinical research that will improve the health and quality of life of women across the lifespan. In particular, she is interested in understanding the physical and psychosocial factors that contribute to sexual dysfunction in midlife and older women and using this understanding to develop effective behavioral health interventions.