Building research capacity in departments of family medicine: pearls from NAPCRG 2013.

Abstract

One of the ongoing goals of the ADFM research committee is to assist chairs in building research capacity in family medicine departments. As a part of this effort, there were 3 separate events at the 2013 North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) annual meeting focusing on this issue. The first event was actually 9 events—“mini-consultations” given by chairs with research experience to those working to develop research within their departments. The second was a 90-minute session called “Secrets of My Research Success,” during which 3 experienced and successful family medicine researchers told their stories and answered questions from an engaged group of about 70 participants. Finally, approximately 17 Canadian and US family medicine chairs in attendance at NAPCRG conducted their customary NAPCRG joint meeting, and the focus was building research capacity. We (J.H., T.K.) had the privilege of attending all 3 sessions and would like to share the take-away lessons. These lessons are for both department chairs and aspiring researchers.