Areas of Research
Family Medicine is constantly evolving, and research plays a key role in shaping its future. At the Department of Family Medicine, we explore innovative solutions to real-world health care challenges. While the field is vast, our work is centered around key areas of research that will inspire and guide your academic journey.
While all of our faculty and many community members regularly participate in research and scholarly work, those highlighted on this page dedicate at least 30 per cent of their time to research within the department.
Clinical Research
Clinical research is critical for the ongoing exploration of how to provide best care for our patients. Research in this area includes work on:
- Prevention and screening
- Disease management
- Quality improvement
- Evidence synthesis
- Clinical guideline development
- Sport and exercise medicine
- Reproductive and gender health
- Clinical trials
Highlights
- Pragmatic Trials Collaborative: Ongoing randomized clinical trials seeking to improve the care we provide to patients on such topics as optimal management of blood pressure. Directed by Dr. Scott Garrison in collaboration with Dr. Roni Kraut.
- Dr. Doug Klein is an advisor for Change Alberta, and has led clinical trials looking at lifestyle management of metabolic syndrome.
- The PEER team is a group of grassroots primary care providers focused on evidence synthesis, with such products as Tools for Practice, clinical guideline development and CME for practicing providers.
Educational Research
The medical journey starts with education. We research how best to teach medical students and residents and promote this research’s real-world application.
Highlights
- Dr. Shelley Ross is an award winning medical education researcher whose work focuses on examining and developing best practices in teaching and assessment, including competency-based education and assessment.
- Dr. Oksana Babenko has a PhD in Measurement, Evaluation and Cognition, with an interest in Medical Education and Physician Wellness.
Health Services and Systems Research
How can we improve healthcare delivery? This is a critical question, particularly in a time of primary care reform.
Highlights
- Dr. Lee Green is a health services researcher with an interest in optimization of health services delivery including the primary care medical home.
- Dr. Ginetta Salvalaggio is an Associate Scientific Director for the Inner City Health and Wellness Program.
- Dr. Denise Campbell-Scherer is currently the Associate Dean of the Physician Learning Program, with an interest in quality improvement. Most recently, she has championed work on complexity and implementation science.
Indigenous Health Research
Indigenous health research weaves through much of what we do in our department. We continue to collaborate with Indigenous and community partners to further this important work.
Highlights
- Dr. Jessica Kolopenuk holds the prestigious AHS Chair in Indigenous Health within the Department of Family Medicine. Her research focuses on amplifying Indigenous leadership in science, technology, and health fields.
Other Highlights in Research
There are many additional areas of ongoing scholarship with the department, including care of the elderly, Black health, anti-racism in medicine as well as community and private sector engagement.
We have the largest care of the elderly division in Canada, with a very active research component.
Highlights
- Dr. Andrea Gruneir has a PhD in Community Health (Epidemiology), with a special interest in care of the elderly. She was identified as one of the top 50 cited primary care researchers in Canada in 2024.
- Dr. Jasneet Parmar is a care of the elderly physician with a special interest in caregiver-centred care.