Member Newsletter

NAPCRG News is an electronic member newsletter published several times throughout year. 

March 2025 Newsletter

President's Message 

Standing Up, Standing Together – Protecting What Matters Most

Dear NAPCRG Community,

As NAPCRG’s first international president, I could not have anticipated the turbulent times and extraordinary circumstances our organization would face. The past months have shown how rapidly the world can shift—and how vital it is to stay grounded in our shared values.

One of the most pressing developments for primary care researchers and the communities we serve is the proposed dismantling of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a cornerstone of primary care research infrastructure. To oppose these devastating funding cuts and to protect our members, our mission, and the future of evidence-based primary care, NAPCRG is exploring legal options.

Let me be clear: this would not be a political act. As a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we do not—and legally cannot—engage in partisan activity. This would be a principled stand to protect our members, our mission, and the future of evidence-based primary care. 

Meanwhile, NAPCRG is also facing concerns regarding attendance at this year’s NAPCRG Annual Meeting in Atlanta. Abstract submissions are down nearly 40%, including U.S., Canadian as well as international submissions. Many international members have expressed understandable concerns about traveling to the U.S., citing safety, access, and the broader political climate. We hear you. And we stand with you.

However, the 2025 Annual Meeting will proceed in Atlanta. Unfortunately, we must be prepared for it to look and feel different from previous years. As we are contractually bound to hotel room commitments, withdrawing would incur significant financial penalties. Additionally, we plan to issue a second call for abstracts. This will include late-breaking research and our regular categories.

Yet, we need one another. As one of our Canadian members recently shared: “Even if I cannot attend the Annual Meeting, I will still pay the membership fees for my team—because NAPCRG must endure.” A Dutch colleague added: “This is the time to attend—to show that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our U.S. colleagues.” In my own words: “Members should always feel empowered to make their own choices regarding attendance. Whatever decision you make personally, I fully support it — and I hope we all will.”

So, with humility, I ask this of you: if you are in a financial position to do so, please consider renewing your membership in July—whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. Your commitment sustains our shared mission and strengthens our collective voice.

Let us stand together in this moment. Let us lead with courage, integrity, and care. And let us ensure that NAPCRG continues to be a place where research, respect, and resolve thrive—now and in the years to come.
 

With warm appreciation,
Tim olde Hartman, MD, PhD
President, NAPCRG

Meetings and Events

Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) Conference
June 2nd-3rd // Reston, Virginia 
We’re excited to gather in Reston, Virginia, in just six days! If you’re local or thinking about joining us at the last minute — it’s not too late! Find out more about attending here. 
Save the Date: 53rd Annual Meeting
November 21st-25th // Atlanta, Georgia
Students, Residents, and Fellows — this is your moment to shine! Submit your proposal now to the Call for Papers for the opportunity to showcase your work on an international stage. The deadline to submit is July 13, 2025, at 11:59 PM CT. 

Start planning your trip early! Explore all that Atlanta has to offer and secure your hotel reservation here. 

Save the Date: AI Webinar
June 26th
Join us for an engaging webinar on the role of AI in primary care research, tackling a key challenge and exciting possibility of AI in the field. More details to follow!
PaCE Tea-Time
June 27th at 1:00pm CT
You are invited to join us for a PaCE Tea-Time with Alies Maybee and Donna Rubenstein, co-chairs of the Patient Advisors Network (PAN), as they share key insights from the report Reimagining the Research Landscape. Together, we'll discuss the findings and explore what comes next in building a more inclusive and impactful research environment.

Register here!

You can stay up to date on all information pertaining to events at NAPCRG through emails, our website, NAPCRG Connect, and social media. 

Opportunities to Engage:
Research, Scholarship, Leadership

Building Research Capacity (BRC) Fellowship
The BRC Fellowship is now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Cohort! If you are interested in growing your skills in leadership, research organization, and faculty development, with the goal of building research capacity in your institution, learn more and apply here. 

Bring Your Patient Partners to NAPCRG & Help Others Get There Too!
Have you partnered with patients, community members, or clinicians in your research? Celebrate their contributions by including them as co-authors on your abstract and invite them to join you at the Annual Meeting! You can also help more patient partners attend by donating to the Patient/Community Members fund, which supports patient travel costs. 

Other News

Publication from Phillips Futures Fellow, Jacquline Kueper, PhD
This NEJM AI perspective highlights why primary care's core functions and EMR data necessitate tailored machine learning (ML) approaches, distinct from other specialties. It outlines four key considerations: using representative primary care data, constructing cohorts that reflect whole-person care, aligning target outcomes with primary care objectives, and developing validation strategies suited to decentralized clinical settings. The interdisciplinary authorship team aims to increase awareness within the broader AI community and encourage high-quality, relevant ML development specifically for primary care. Read more here!

Congratulations, NAPCRG Past President, Dr. Jennifer DeVoe!
We are thrilled to share that Dr. Jen DeVoe was nominated by Dr. Tom Vansaghi, NAPCRG Executive Director, and Dr. Richelle Koopman, NAPCRG Immediate Past President, for an at-large position on the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Board of Directors. We are proud to announce that Dr. DeVoe has been elected to the position and will serve on the Board through 2030. Please join us in congratulating Dr. DeVoe on this outstanding achievement!

Publication Celebration!
We're excited to share a newly published chapter offering practical strategies for residency directors to integrate research into training and support residents pursuing physician scientist careers. The chapter appears in Graduate Medical Education in Family Medicine and is currently available through book purchase. Congratulations to the authors, Dr. Stephen K Stacey, Dr. Wendy Barr, and Dr. Diane M Harper, on this valuable contribution!

Tune into POEMs! 
Every week, primary care physicians, Dr. Mark Ebell and Dr. Mike Wilkes, discuss a single POEM in a 5 to 10 minute podcast called Primary Care POEM of the Week. POEMs are Patient Oriented Evidence that Matters, and for 25 years they have been reviewing over 100 journals per month to identify the 20-25 studies with the potential to change and improve practice. Those are summarized in short, structured synopses, written independently of industry support or advertising.

You can find POEMs by searching "Primary Care POEM of the Week" on your preferred podcast platform!

WONCA World Conference 2025
The 25th WONCA World Conference is set to take place in Lisbon, Portugal, September 17th-21st. You can find out more here!

Donate to NAPCRG 

Have you considered including NAPCRG in your will or estate plan? As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the U.S., NAPCRG qualifies for the tax benefits associated with charitable giving. In Canada, gifts can be directed through the CFPC to maximize tax advantages.

NAPCRG has supported you throughout your professional journey—now, you have the opportunity to give back and ensure its future impact. A planned gift is a meaningful way to pay it forward.

To learn more about making a donation, planned gift, or estate contribution, please contact Dr. Tom Vansaghi at tvansaghi@napcrg.org. 

Career and Training Opportunities

Associate Chair for Research Programs
Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School

We are seeking eligible candidates at the senior level (Professor or Associate Professor). Candidates should have an M.D., D.O., PhD., or equivalent, and the passion and skills to be successful as a leader and investigator in a research-intensive university. Priority will be given to candidates who display longstanding and sustained enthusiasm for research, have demonstrated leadership experience, and have research interests that align with those of our current research teams. Find out more here!

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