in

VISN 20 Portland

HSR&D and QUERI Centers, projects, Career Development Awards, and highlighted publications in 

Portland include:

COIN (Center of Innovation): 

Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC)

Director: Steven Dobscha, MD

CIVIC's mission is to conduct research that empowers Veterans to improve their health by 

enhancing active participation of Veterans and their supports in healthcare.

Evidence-Based Synthesis Coordinating Center

 Director: Mark Helfand, MD

Evidence-Based Synthesis Center

 Director: Devan Kansagara, MD, MCR

ESP Centers generate evidence syntheses on important clinical practice topics. These reports help: 

develop clinical policies informed by evidence; the implementation of effective services to 

improve patient outcomes and to support VA clinical practice guidelines and performance 

measures; and set the direction for future research to address gaps in clinical knowledge.

Currently Funded Projects at Portland

• Measuring Cross-Cultural Competence in VA Primary Care – Somnath Saha, MD, MPH

• Acupuncture for Symptom Management in Veterans with Hepatitis C – Patricia Taylor-Young, PhD, 

RN

• Integrating Secure Messaging into Team Care Delivery Workflow – Susan Woods, MD, MPH

• Veteran Interactions with VA Primary Care Prior to Suicide – Steven Dobscha, MD

• Pulmonary Nodule Evaluation: Process and Feelings – Christopher Slatore, MD, MS

• Veterans, Researchers and IRB Members Experiences with Recruitment Restrictions – Linda

Ganzini, MD, MPH

Current Career Development Awardees

• Kathleen Carlson, PhD, MS – TBI & PTSD Comorbidity in OIF/OEF Veterans: Prevalence and 

Predictors

• Christopher Slatore, MD, MS – Lung Cancer Evaluation Process: Understanding Risks Along the 

Continuum

Highlighted Publications

• Study Examines Opioid Prescribing for Veterans with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain

Dobscha S, Morasco B, Duckart J, et al. Correlates of Prescription Opioid Initiation and Long-Term Opioid Use in Veterans 

with Persistent Pain. The Clinical Journal of Pain February 2013;29(2):102-108. 

• Study Shows Most OEF/OIF Veterans who Screen Positive for Depression Receive Timely 

Assessments for Suicidal Ideation

VA Office of Research & Development • Health Services Research & Development Service

www.hsrd.research.va.gov

1/15/2014
Dobscha S, Corson K, Helmer D, et al. Brief Assessment for Suicidal Ideation in OEF/OIF Veterans with Positive 

Depression Screens. General Hospital Psychiatry May-June 2013;35(3):272-78.

• Suicidal Ideation is Common among OEF/OIF Veterans who Receive VA Healthcare

Corson K, Denneson LM, Bair MJ, Helmer DA, Goulet J, and Dobscha SK. Prevalence and Correlates of Suicidal Ideation 

among Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans. Journal of Affective Disorders July 

2013;149(1-3):291-298.

• Study Examines Ethnic Differences in Receipt of Depression Care 

Quiñones A, Thielke S, Beaver K, Trivedi R, Williams E, and Fan V. Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Receipt of 

Antidepressants and Psychotherapy among Veterans with Depression. Psychiatric Services November 1, 2013;e-pub 

ahead of print.

Search the full list of citations from the Portland Center at

www.hsrd.research.va.gov/publications/citations/coe_generator.cfm

VA Office of Research & Development • Health Services Research & Development Service

www.hsrd.research.va.gov

1/15/2014
in

VISN 20 Seattle 

HSR&D and QUERI Centers, projects, Career Development Awards, and highlighted publications in Seattle

include:

COIN (Center of Innovation): 

Center for Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care

Director: David Au, MD, MS

This Center's mission is to conduct outstanding health services research that promotes Veterancentered and value-driven care, generate and disseminate knowledge that contributes to the wellbeing of Veterans, partner with VA policy and operational leaders to implement research findings 

into clinical care, and train the next generation of health services researchers and leaders. 

QUERI (Quality Enhancement Research Initiative): 

Ischemic Heart Disease Center

Director: Christopher Bryson, MD, MS

Implementation Research Coordinator: Christian Helfrich, PhD, MPH

The overall mission of the Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) QUERI is to improve the quality of care 

and health outcomes of veterans with IHD by working collaboratively with operational units and 

other QUERI groups to enable implementation of best practices in acute care, chronic illness care, 

and secondary prevention. 

Currently Funded Projects at Seattle

• Outcomes, Costs and Trends in Dialysis Timing in VA – Paul Hebert, PhD

• Access to Care for Veterans with Chronic Lower Limb Wounds – Gayle Reiber, PhD, MPH

• Implementing Collaborative Care for Depression Plus PTSD in Primary Care – Bradford Felker, MD

• Organizational Factors Related to Hospital Readmissions – Chuan-Fen Liu, PhD, MPH

• A joint evaluation of surgery-related outcomes and costs across VAMCs – Xiao-Hua Zhou, PhD, MSc

• Differences in Practice Styles in VA and Medicare: Causes and Implications – Paul Hebert, PhD

• Addiction Housing Case Management for Homeless Veterans Enrolled in Addictions Treatment – 

Andrew Saxon, MD

Current Career Development Awardees

• Emily Williams, PhD – Implementation Research for Evidence-Based Care for Alcohol Dependence

• Edwin Wong, PhD – Economic Impact of Dual Use and Patient Choice in Primary Care

 

Research Career Scientists

• Gayle Reiber, PhD, MPH

• Xiao-Hua (Andrew) Zhou, PhD, MSc

Highlighted Publications

• Significant Disparities among Women Veterans with and without Mental Illness in Delaying or 

Going without Medical Care

Lehavot K, Der-Martirosian C, Simpson TL, Sadler AG, and Washington DL. Barriers to Care for Women Veterans with 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depressive Symptoms. Psychological Services May 2013;10(2):203-212. 

VA Office of Research & Development • Health Services Research & Development Service

www.hsrd.research.va.gov

1/15/2014
• Study Evaluates Changes in VA Care since PACT Implementation

Rosland A, Nelson K, Sun H, Dolan E, Maynard C, Bryson C, Stark R, Shear J, Kerr E, Fihn S, and Schectman G. The Patient 

Centered Medical Home in the Veterans Health Administration. American Journal of Managed Care July 10, 

2013;19(7):e263-72.

Search the full list of citations from the Seattle Center at

www.hsrd.research.va.gov/publications/citations/coe_generator.cfm

VA Office of Research & Development • Health Services Research & Development Service

www.hsrd.research.va.gov

1/15/2014