FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Contact:
Celia Searles
AAFP Public Relations
Csearles@aafp.org
LEAWOOD, KS—The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Foundation selected two new family physicians to join the Family Medicine Discovers Rapid Cycle Scientific Discovery and Innovation (FMD RapSDI) program to research important, complex issues in primary care and innovation in family medicine.
The FMD RapSDI program launched six years ago as a collaboration between the AAFP Foundation and the DARTNet Institute to boost innovation in family medicine by recruiting talented family physicians who are interested in clinical research. Research from FMD RapSDI scholars is frequently used to help physicians navigate complex issues they see in their practice, like Diabetes and Long COVID.
"Research is fundamental to advancing family medicine and improving the health of our patients,” said Jay-Sheree Allen Akambase, MD, FAAFP, AAFP Foundation Board of Trustees President. “We are proud to recognize Dr. Boris Bayerman and Dr. Eric Kramer as the 2024 FMD RapSDI scholars. Their proposed projects have the potential to teach us more about two critical challenges facing our patients -- Long Covid and Type 2 Diabetes. The Foundation is proud to partner with them and encourage this work."
The 2024 program scholars are:
Erik S. Kramer, DO, MP: Kramer’s research centers on the use of Fitbits, diabetes self-management education and support and targeted text messages to inspire activity and exercise in sedentary adults with Type 2 Diabetes in primary care settings. Kramer hopes to provide insight into the potential benefits of these measures in improving diabetes management.
Dr. Boris Bayerman, DO: Bayerman’s research explores whether a virtual Long COVID symptom and functional impairment self-management education course improves self-management skills for adults living with Long COVID. Bayerman is working towards improving the quality of life for people living with Long COVID.
Applications for the seventh cohort of RapSDI open on October 1, 2025, with a due date of January 16, 2026. To learn more about the program visit the SDI webpage.
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The Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Its mission is to advance family medicine through philanthropy using humanitarian, educational, and scientific programming to improve health. For more information visit aafpfoundation.org.