Section of General Internal Medicine – VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

Research

Research within the VA Section of General Internal Medicine is led by the Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), a VA Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation jointly based at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) and the Philadelphia VA Medical Center (PVAMC). Established in 2001 as a national HSR&D Center of Excellence, CHERP is dedicated to advancing health equity and improving health outcomes for Veterans by generating evidence that informs high-quality, patient-centered care.

Leadership and Collaboration

CHERP is co-led by Katie Suda, PharmD, MS, FCCP, in Pittsburgh, and David Asch, MD, MBA, in Philadelphia. Its 41 core investigators, consisting of MDs, PhDs, and PharmDs, collaborate with affiliate faculty from VAPHS, PVAMC, the University of Pittsburgh, RAND Health, and the University of Pennsylvania. Faculty expertise spans multiple clinical disciplines, including general internal medicine, nephrology, psychiatry, nursing, pharmacology, pulmonary care, rheumatology, surgery, and women’s health.

Research Strengths and Impact

CHERP’s investigators apply a wide range of quantitative and qualitative research methods, such as clinical epidemiology, health economics, bioinformatics, decision and cost-effectiveness analysis, and community-based participatory research, to address the complex factors that shape Veteran health. With generous core support from the VA HSR&D, VISN 4, and its academic partners, CHERP investigators consistently secure competitive research funding from the VA, NIH, and private foundations.

Training the Next Generation

CHERP is also deeply committed to developing future leaders in health services research. Its Competitive Pilot Research Program has supported 49 projects to date, leading to 38 peer-reviewed publications and more than $21 million in subsequent research funding. In both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, CHERP hosts postdoctoral training programs in health services research sponsored by the VA Office of Academic Affiliations.