How do physicians detect autism in young children? How can the state curb its high rate of teen drug overdose? How can Hoosier babies get the best start possible? How can we help victims of gun violence?
For a quarter of a century, the Children’s Health Services Research (CHSR) center, housed within the Indiana University School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics, has sought to answer these questions and more concerning young Hoosiers.
"We're very much oriented around changing systems and organizations to develop better health services and improve the lives of kids and families," said Matthew C. Aalsma, PhD, division director and Jonathan and Jennifer Simmons Professor of Pediatrics.
CHSR is one of the oldest pediatric health service research organizations in the country. With more than 20 faculty and 50 staff members, it is also believed to be the largest such center nationwide.
The center’s work is separated into four equally important research areas: informatics (research utilizing health records data to improve health), implementation science (studying the practice of bringing evidence-based treatment and practices into systems and communities), community engagement (collaboration research efforts with patients, caregivers, healthcare providers and community members health system) and policy and system reform.
It also centers heavily on training the next generation of pediatric researchers.
"Our focus is on our fellowships and educating physicians, psychologists and practitioners that are embedded within clinical departments," Aalsma said.
A special April 16 conference, featuring current and former CHSR researchers, will celebrate the transformational effect of 25 years of work focused on improving the health, safety and wellbeing of Indiana children.
Current researchers set to present at the conference include:
- William E. Bennett, MD, whose areas of study include computerized clinical decision support in gastroenterology, automated depression and anxiety screening in children and adolescents, patient engagement research and automated youth-to-adult care transition.
- Rebecca McNally Keehn, PhD, who has pioneered early autism detection efforts in Indiana and across the globe.
- Jack E. Turman Jr., PhD, whose work revolves around helping incarcerated and low-income mothers build healthy lives for their children.
- Lauren Magee, PhD, who runs one of the nation’s first projects geared toward assisting and researching young victims of gun violence.
- Seethal A. Jacob, MD, a researcher exploring telehealth applications for sickle cell patients.
- Tracey A. Wilkinson, MD, MPH, who leads efforts to expand access to reproductive healthcare for Indiana youth.
The event will highlight CHSR’s lasting impact on American medical and behavioral health research, as many of its former fellows and researchers have gone on to lead departments across the nation.
"I am so proud to have been CHSR’s first fellow. My training and my 10 years as a faculty researcher within CHSR equipped me to help global health systems transform," said Rachel Vreeman, MD, MS, who now chairs the Department of Global Health and Health System Design at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
"I learned to develop innovative models to care for children living with HIV and to rigorously evaluate and continuously improve health systems to best support families all over the world," Vreeman said.
Researchers within CHSR have also gone on to hold leadership positions within the Indiana School of Medicine.
"I am proud to be a part of Children's Health Services Research for over 20 years, my academic home since fellowship where I learned the critical importance of methodological rigor and the value of team science and community partnerships," said Sarah E. Wiehe, MD, MPH, Associate Dean for Community and Translational Research and co-director of the Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute.
"The interdisciplinary and translational research embraced by the division has been evident not only in its reputation nationally but health impact across Indiana," Wiehe said.
Aalsma seeks to reaffirm the center’s mission, which has grown to include training both the healthcare workforce and the communities it serves on the latest technology. The center, as with the school itself, has pioneered the use of electronic health records and artificial intelligence for research.
"We include parents and you to help design and roll out our new programs," Aalsma said. "We want to make sure there’s a caring spirit within this tech that can feel heartless at times."
As for the next 25 years, Aalsma paraphrased a grand rounds speech given by outgoing Department of Pediatrics Chair D. Wade Clapp, MD.
"The world needs pediatric researchers."
