Celebrating excellence in research: Penn State College of Medicine faculty shine at NAPCRG conference and awards

The Department of Family and Community Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine made a remarkable showing in primary care research at the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) in late November 2024.

Held in Quebec City, Canada, the NAPCRG conference showcased the outstanding work of a diverse team from the Department of Family and Community Medicine. Eighteen faculty, learners, and staff presented over 20 abstracts as posters or podium presentations. They also garnered two Pearl research awards, which annually highlights top research studies presented at the meeting. The NAPCRG is widely regarded as a top primary care research conference worldwide.

The faculty’s interdisciplinary and interinstitutional collaborations shone brightly as they received two of the coveted PEARL awards. Out of over 600 entries, their research was recognized as among the top ten works likely to make a significant difference in primary care practice. These recognitions are a testament to the quality of the faculty’s research and their commitment to addressing real-world healthcare challenges. The two PEARL awardees were:

• Aleksandra Zgierska, MD, PhD, and Wen-Jan Tuan, DHA, MPH, MS: “Psychological treatments improve outcomes in opioid-treated chronic low back pain: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.” Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, this multi-site project, led by Drs. Aleksandra Zgierska and Bruce Barrett (University of Wisconsin-Madison) as Multiple Principal Investigators, with site Principal Investigators, Drs. Robert Edwards (Brigham & Women’s Hospital) and Eric Garland (University of Utah). The team received an additional international award and an invitation to present its findings at the 2025 Australasian Association for Academic Primary Care conference in Australia. The manuscript detailing this impactful research is currently under peer review, adding to their anticipation surrounding their findings.
• David Rábago, MD, and Regina Sit, MD: “Prolotherapy for Chronic Ankle Instability Improves Postural Balance and Reduces Recurrent Sprains: Results of a 1-year RCT.” This work explores innovative options for managing chronic ankle instability, contributing to the growing body of knowledge about primary care interventions for musculoskeletal conditions.

The recognition associated with the NAPCRG Clinical Pearls awards underscores the importance of research in enhancing clinical practice in family and community medicine and primary care.

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