Our success as a leading family medicine research group goes far beyond success in grant funding. We strive to foster a supportive and inclusive academic research environment. An atmosphere of evidence-based inquiry, rigor, and excellence pervades, and scholarly activities are encouraged and valued. Our faculty members hold editorial board and manuscript review positions on a wide range of academic research publications, including every major family medicine journal.
Areas of Research
Research News
January 31, 2020
New study finds deaf and hard of hearing women more likely to have pregnancy complications
Women who are deaf and hard of hearing have more pregnancy complications and worse outcomes than those without hearing impairment, a study indicates.
January 23, 2020
Understanding risk-taking behaviors, beliefs associated with young people
MyVoice data used in a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report providing suggestions for funding holistic health programs, encouraging healthy behaviors
January 3, 2020
Physicians often recommend own diet strategies to patients
A survey of female physicians in an online weight-loss support group found they were most likely to recommend their own strategies, including intermittent fasting, low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets.
December 6, 2019
Defining postpartum endometritis and infection after incomplete or complete abortion due to maternal immunization
Study cites the new global case definitions of endometritis and uterine infections occurring after fetal loss after maternal immunization.
December 4, 2019
More medical students are disclosing their disabilities, and schools are responding, study finds
Increased disability diversity and accommodation among future physicians could improve patient care, researchers say.
Research in Our Clinic
Because of our diverse patient populations, the Family Medicine clinics are in high-demand as research sites. Over the past 8 years, 35 studies have used the clinics to recruit, conduct study visits and complete questionnaires.
If you would like to post research flyers, recruit patients, survey providers or staff, or use facilities for research activities at Briarwood Family Medicine, Chelsea Health Center, Dexter Family Medicine, Family Medicine at Domino's Farms, Livonia Health Center, Ypsilanti Health Center or the Walk-in Clinic, your study must be reviewed and approved by the Department of Family Medicine before you start any aspect of the study. Ideally, investigators should discuss the project with the Medical Director at the clinical site of interest (find Medical Director contact information here) or a Family Medicine research faculty member before ever submitting a grant or IRB application.
To start the review and approval process to conduct research and/or post study flyers, you must complete one or both of the application forms found below. Further instructions for completing the applications are included with the forms.
- Download and complete the research application.
- Download and complete the separate clinic staff recruitment application if you intend to recruit UM Family Medicine clinic staff as participants in your research.
- Download the Study Flyer Application:
FMFlyerOnlyApplicationRevised7-29-16.doc
Please send the completed form as well as the required documents for approval, to Mary Rapai, email: mrapai@med.umich.edu and/or by fax: 734-998-7335.
Demographics of Our Clinics
To get a snapshot of each clinic's demographics, click on the clinic site to see descriptive data, pulled from January 1-December 31, 2019:
Briarwood Family Medicine - Ann Arbor, MI
Total Patients: 10118
Female: 5923
Male: 4195
Patients ages 0-18 years: 1464
Caucasian: 7013
African American: 1541
Asian: 817
American Indian or Alaskan Native: 31
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 11
Other: 548
Chelsea Health Center - Chelsea, MI
Total Patients: 11932
Female: 6683
Male: 5249
Patients ages 0-18 years: 1228
Caucasian: 11343
African American: 210
Asian: 93
American Indian or Alaskan Native: 33
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: < 10
Other: 148
Dexter Health Center - Dexter, MI
Total Patients: 6834
Female: 3805
Male: 3029
Patients ages 0-18 years: 1293
Caucasian: 6329
African American: 110
Asian: 170
American Indian or Alaskan Native: 22
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: < 10
Other: 112
Domino's Farms Health Center - Ann Arbor, MI
Total Patients: 7969
Female: 4437
Male: 3532
Patients ages 0-18 years: 1123
Caucasian: 5239
African American: 686
Asian: 1663
American Indian or Alaskan Native: 19
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: < 10
Other: 242
Livonia Health Center - Livonia, MI
Total Patients: 7741
Female: 4361
Male: 3380
Patients ages 0-18 years: 1375
Caucasian: 4456
African American: 745
Asian: 2131
American Indian or Alaskan Native: 22
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: < 10
Other: 261
Ypsilanti Health Center - Ypsilanti, MI
Total Patients: 7322
Female: 4456
Male: 2866
Patients ages 0-18 years: 958
Caucasian: 3156
African American: 3078
Asian: 233
American Indian or Alaskan Native: 29
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: < 10
Other: 732
FAQ's for Conducting Research in Our Clinics
What is a Letter of Support (LOS)?
The Letter of Support is a key document in your research application. The LOS provides approval from the research site's Medical Director and details the clinic's support of your research. Details should include what the clinic will be providing, in terms of: space, personnel, labs, etc. The Letter of Support should either 1.) placed on clinic letterhead, dated and signed by the Medical Director or 2.) be a direct email from the Medical Director to Mary Rapai (mrapai@med.umich.edu). The LOS can be brief, but should 1.) name the study, 2.) state why the research is important, and 3.) list exactly what the clinic will be doing to support the research. Your study staff can write the letter for the Medical Director, but you must inform the Medical Director that they are welcome to edit or rewrite the LOS, at the Medical Director's discretion.
At what point should I start the application process?
The application(s) can be submitted anytime prior to the start of research, but please allow for enough time for approval. It is a good idea to start working on the application as soon as you receive your award notice.
What research is currently being conducted at your clinic sites?
See a list of our clinics' active studies here.
U-M Family Medicine faculty are also passionate leaders and contributors in several national and international health organizations, with leadership positions in:
