Research Scholars Development Awardees
This is a list of the current and past awardees from the REACH Equity Research Scholars Development program. If you are interested in applying for the program, please visit this page to learn more about this opportunity, the application requirements, and more. The Research Scholars Development Award is intended to support early-stage investigators (trainees, postdoctoral students) who are interested in conducting health disparities research.
This program is led by REACH Equity’s Research, Education, and Training Sub-core (RET), please visit their page here for more information about RET.
Cohort 4: 2021-2022
Michelle Franklin, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Margolis Center for Health Policy and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Mentor: Gary Maslow, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Project Title: Tailoring the Duke Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Family Partner Coach Intervention
The goal of this project is to identify facilitators and barriers to inform a cultural adaptation of the Family Partner Coach intervention for the Duke Family Partner Program.
Jashalynn German, MD, Fellow, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology
Mentors: Bryan Batch, MD, and Matthew Crowley, MD, Associate Professors of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology
Project Title: Prescribing and Usage Trends of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
This project will examine patient and provider factors associated with the prescribing and use of CGM among patients with insulin-dependent Type 2 Diabetes.
Colin Smith, MD, Resident, Department of Medicine, Internal Medicine-Psychiatry
Mentor: Jane Gagliardi, MD, MHS, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Project Title: Experiences of African American Individuals Treated in the Psychiatric Emergency Unit at Duke University Hospital
The objective of this study is to explore the experiences of African American individuals who have received care in the psychiatric emergency unit at Duke University Hospital in order to inform future clinical interventions and reduce bias in emergency psychiatry settings.
Cohort 3: 2020-2021

Dominique Bulgin, PhD, Postdoctoral Consulting Associate, Duke University School of Nursing
Mentor: Paula Tanabe, PhD, Professor, Duke University School of Nursing
Project Title: Piloting a Telehealth PHP-SMA Program for Sickle Cell Disease

Theresa Williamson, MD, Medical Resident, Duke Department of Neurosurgery
Mentor: C. Rory Goodwin, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Duke Dept. of Neurosurgery
Project Title: Communication Differences in Critical Decision-Making in Severe TBI
Cohort 2: 2019-2020

Allison Stafford, PhD, Assistant Professor, Duke University School of Nursing
Mentor:Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda PhD
Project title: Patient, family, and provider perspectives on Latina adolescents’ engagement in depression treatment
The purpose of this study is to examine patient, family and health-care provider perspectives of facilitators and barriers to depression treatment engagement.
George Sipa Yankey, MD, Fellow, Duke Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
Mentor: Larry Jackson, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine, Adult Cardiac Electrophysiology
Project title: Factors influencing under-utilization of aortic valve replacement (AVR) as a function of race and ethnicity
The aims of this project are to examine racial differences in reasons for AVR non-receipt and to identify factors most predictive of AVR non-receipt in patients with severe aortic stenosis.
Cohort 1: 2018-2019
Charity Oyedeji, MD, Assistant Professor (effective 7/1/21), Division of Hematology and Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
Project Title: Disparities in advance care planning for adults with Sickle Cell Disease