Kimberly Johnson, MD, associate professor of medicine (Geriatrics) and senior fellow in the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, has received one of 12 NIH awards to fund a specialized research center designed to conduct multidisciplinary research, research training and community engagement activities focused on improving minority health and reducing health disparities.
The 12 centers, to be funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), will share approximately $82 million over five years, pending the availability of funds.
Dr. Johnson will lead the Duke Center for REsearch to AdvanCe Healthcare Equity (REACH), where researchers will study the effect of a clinician communication coaching intervention—teaching empathic skills and eliciting participatory behaviors—on the quality of communication in cardiology encounters with African American patients; test the use of a mobile app for African American patients receiving palliative care in the ICU and their families to self-report needs, obtain information about patient/family needs, and access decisional support; and develop and pilot test an implicit bias training intervention for providers.
"This is exciting news. Dr. Johnson is a recognized expert in health disparities research and is passionately committed to improving minority health and reducing health disparities. This new center at Duke will create a collaborative environment in which Dr. Johnson and a team of very talented investigators can continue their formative work to improve the health of minority populations in our own community and globally,” said Mary E. Klotman, MD, Dean, Duke University School of Medicine.