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Family Medicine Research

In an effort to develop real solutions to society’s problems to improve the health and lives of the residents of Indiana, the Department of Family Medicine research faculty and staff collaborate on a variety of research projects that offer new vision and hope for Indiana’s health care utilization and system outcomes. Together, the Department of Family Medicine’s Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy and other departmental investigators work collaboratively to support this mission.

Research Centers

Expert Interview

To schedule an interview with an IU School of Medicine investigator or learn more about research studies underway, contact the Communications team.
A paper with a graph on it lies in the foreground, with a computer in the background.

Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy

The Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy provides expert technical assistance and research expertise on health workforce issues, evaluations, and strategic planning support. Through partnerships with state agencies, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, health professionals, employers, and community advocates, the Bowen Center analyzes complex health workforce challenges to inform policy and programming. Topics such as supply, demand, and distribution of health professionals in Indiana, Medicaid enrollment, and policies affecting health professionals are central service activities. Other expert research activities include producing technical resources from the collection and management of health workforce information, and the tracking and analyzing of the impact of policy trends across different states to inform evidence-based policy decisions in Indiana. Hannah Maxey, PhD directs the IU School of Medicine Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy.

Health-Education Research

The educational arm of the Department of Family Medicine is active in health-education research at the national and international levels. The department’s Indiana Area Health Education Centers Network has secured federal funding from Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA). Other research includes continuous improvement in educational settings, faculty development, flipped classroom, behavioral health integration and tobacco cessation.

Research News

A graphic showing a headshot of Douglas Wallace, plus the text, "2025 Steven C. Beering Award winner, Douglas C. Wallace, PhD, MD (h.c.). Aug. 25. "Mitochondrial Medicine: The New Biomedical Reality"

Founder of mitochondrial genetics field to speak at IU

Douglas Wallace, PhD, MD (honoris causa), and his colleagues are widely recognized for founding the field of human mitochondrial genetics more than 35 years ago. Since then, his groundbreaking work has been reshaping the way scientists think about aging, disease and even the way our bodies respond to viruses like COVID-19. On Aug. 25, Wallace will share his work with the Indiana University School of Medicine community.  

July 14, 2025

A headshot of Karen E Pollok, a woman with mid-length hair smiling and wearing a white IU labcoat.

Pediatric cancer researcher explores novel treatments for solid tumors

The lab of  Karen E. Pollok, PhD, bears the name of Caroline Symmes, who was just under 4 years old when she was diagnosed with metastatic Wilms Tumor and just 5 years old when she passed away.

July 10, 2025

An image of a eye scan appears on a computer screen next to microscopes in a research lab

IU School of Medicine awarded prestigious grant to propel vision research

The Department of Ophthalmology has received funding that will help advance research and lead to innovative treatments.

July 09, 2025

Pregnant person having blood pressure measured by doctor

Epigenetic marker may provide early detection for risk of preeclampsia-related preterm birth

IU School of Medicine researchers are studying how medical professionals can make a preeclampsia diagnosis earlier and more accurately.

June 25, 2025

A group of students and observers having a discussion in front of a set of poster boards showing research projects.

Medical students to present research projects at summer symposium

The IU School of Medicine community is invited to learn more about medical students’ summer research projects at a July poster symposium on the Indianapolis campus.

June 25, 2025