Abstract
Background/Aims The Essentia Institute of Rural Health (EIRH) conducts clinical, translational and health services research. Essentia Health (EH), headquartered in Duluth, MN, is EIRH’s parent organization. EH was created in 2004, and is an integrated health system serving mostly rural populations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and Idaho. EIRH’s mission is to improve the health and health care for the rural population in the United States through research and education. The vision of the institute is: by 2018 to be recognized as a national leader for research and education for the health and health care of patients in the rural United States. In 2011, EIRH became a member of HMORN.
Methods The purpose of this poster is to describe the EIRH including its: organizational resources, scientists, recent publications and current grants.
Results EIRH, established in 2010, has a staff of seven senior-level doctoral-trained scientists and plans to hire seven additional scientists over the next 2 years. There are also two biostatisticians on staff. Dr. Tom Elliott, executive director of the institute, has a successful record of community-based research projects, leading research teams, and building research programs. The EIRH has an established Institutional Review Board that is currently chaired by Charles Gessert, MD—a senior research scientist at the institute. There is also a scientific review board co-chaired by two institute scientists: Drs. Cathy McCarty and Nawal Lutfiyya. Dr. Irina Haller is the director of the newly established informatics division and Mr. Brian Johnson is the manager of the virtual data warehouse project. All scientists at the institute have active research programs and in 2011 produced approximately 25 peer-reviewed publications; 23 national or international conference presentations; and 2 international plenary presentations. With 20-some active grants funded by federal agencies and other foundations, research grant procurement is ongoing. Research interests range from Alzheimer’s disease, human genetics, chronic illness, palliative care, to rural health disparities.
Discussion As the EIRH grows over the next several years to realize its vision we anticipate continued high research productivity with procurement of more federal funding, additional peer-reviewed publications and elevated visibility both nationally and internationally.
