Department Research

The University of Rochester Department of Family Medicine Research Programs is one of the leading family medicine departments in the U.S.  Our research focuses on improving communication between patients and health professionals, behavior change, and reducing disparities in health and health care. Specific areas of research include:

• Improving-patient-family-physician communication in serious illness
• Patient-centered care in safety net practices
• Patient navigation to reduce disparities in cancer care
• Patient activation to improve recognition and treatment of depression in primary care
• Promoting physical exercise in minority populations
• Improving patient-physician communication about risk, uncertainty and prognosis
• Improving patient-clinician communication and healthcare for deaf patients and families who communicate with American Sign Language (ASL)
• Promoting mindfulness and self-monitoring in clinical practice
• Peer review to improve quality of care and professionalism
• Healthcare needs of refugees

Our research programs, directed by Dr. Ronald Epstein, is located at 1381 South Avenue in Rochester. We emphasize a collaborative approach to research, including a variety of disciplines and areas of expertise, including psychology, family systems, epidemiology, qualitative methods, psychometrics, and analysis of large claims databases.