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

Esa M. Davis, MD, MPH, FAAFP

Dr. Davis is an NIH-funded clinical researcher with a patient-oriented research program focused on obesity-related maternal and child health outcomes and in comparative effectiveness research in obesity and tobacco. Much of her work has focused on investigating the perinatal, cultural, and behavioral factors associated with the racial and socioeconomic disparities in obesity among women. She is currently the principal investigator of a NIH funded randomized controlled trial examining differences in perinatal outcomes of women randomized to two screening/diagnostic strategies for gestational diabetes.

Kevin L. Kraemer, MD, MSc

Dr. Kraemer’s research interests are in the delivery and implementation of patient-centered strategies for the detection and early intervention of unhealthy alcohol and drug use, the application of cost-effectiveness methodology to alcohol and drug detection and treatment programs, and the comparative effectiveness of alcohol and drug addiction treatment on HIV outcomes and quality of HIV care.

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).