Last Updated: Jul 1, 2021
The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) awarded $500,000 in grants to physicians and organizations in a new program that encourages innovation in health care. The eight winners were announced at PAMED’s annual meeting Oct. 26, 2020 in Hershey.
Recipients from Allentown, Harrisburg, Lancaster-Lebanon, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and West Chester will each receive between $33,368-$80,000. Applications were reviewed and winners were selected by a committee of PAMED physician members.
“Our physician members care passionately about providing the best care to their patients, and many have innovative ideas for how to do that,” said PAMED President Lawrence John, MD. “We are proud to support these projects and look forward
to seeing the impact they will have on lowering the cost and raising the quality of care for patients in Pennsylvania.”
Renée Cassidy, MD, West Chester, Pa.
Award amount: $33,368
Funding will support education and collaboration activities for the Regional Overdose Prevention Coalition, which addresses the opioid crisis in southeastern Pennsylvania. The coalition is comprised of individuals representing public health, health care,
law enforcement, and the community.
Anna Marie Chang, MD, MSCE, Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University
Award amount: $80,000
Funding will be used to study the feasibility of providing medically tailored meals to patients with heart failure through a partnership with Philadelphia Corporation for Aging Meals on Wheels.
Kimberly Legg-Corba, DO, Allentown, Pa.
Award amount: $33,368
Funding will be used to grow the newly formed Pennsylvania Direct Primary Care Association. This non-profit aims to raise awareness and develop education about the direct primary care practice model, where patients pay a flat monthly fee (instead of using
health insurance) to receive more time with their family physicians.
Gwendolyn Poles, DO, Harrisburg, Pa., South Central PA Sickle Cell Council
Award amount: $33,368
Funding will be used to improve patient outcomes in south central Pennsylvania for patients with Sickle Cell disease. By hiring additional staff, the organization can help increase patient adherence to medication and reduce emergency department visits
and in-patient hospitalizations for this mostly Medicaid-insured population. The organization sees patients in 26 counties.
Kristin Rising, MD, MS, Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University
Award amount: $79,936
Funding will support development of a tool to facilitate advanced care planning discussions between patients with early dementia, their caregivers, and primary care providers. The tool will be designed to empower patients to more effectively identify
and prioritize their own unique goals to help guide care planning discussions.
Kristy Shine, MD, PhD, Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University
Award amount: $79,960
Funding will be used to develop a tool that improves 3D printed models for pre-surgical planning and education. These models can help reduce surgical times and enhance knowledge and confidence of physicians, trainees, and patients.
Arvind Venkat, MD, and Jesse Pines, MD, Pittsburgh, Allegheny Health Network Research Institute
Award amount: $80,000
In collaboration with U.S. Acute Care Solutions, funding will be used to implement a software solution to address 1) lack of systematic assessment of communication and treatment in the acute care setting and 2) under what circumstances patient problems
occur after being discharged from an emergency department.
Daniel Weber, MD, Literacy Council of Lancaster-Lebanon
Award amount: $80,000
Funding will be used for a collaboration between local health care professionals and The Literacy Council of Lancaster-Lebanon to provide services to internationally trained medical professionals that support them in their effort to reclaim health care
careers in their new home. Services include certified medical assistant training, legal support for immigration status issues, English as a Second Language education, simulated clinical experience, and job interview preparation.