\u201cClinician researchers, embedded within clinical care, are core to identifying the biggest questions within their specialties, answering those questions, and helping implement change. They put the \u2018evidence\u2019 in evidence-based care,\u201d said Douglas\u00a0Corley<\/a>, MD, PhD, chief research officer for\u00a0TPMG and DOR research scientist. \u201cWe are so fortunate to have these 7 new clinician-researchers join the PRP.\u201d<\/p>\n The new physician researchers kicked off their work in August, as they began collaborating with their specialty chief\u2019s group, DOR associate directors, members of the Delivery Science and Applied Research (DARE<\/a>) program team members, and the 13 current PRP physicians.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the heart of the learning health system are dedicated clinicians who want to systematically examine the care that we provide, find ways to improve it, and then integrate change that helps our patients lead healthier, longer lives,\u201d said DARE Director and DOR research scientist Jacek Skarbinski<\/a>, MD. \u201cI am thrilled to be working with this new cohort of clinician-researchers joining the PRP.\u201d<\/p>\n The 7 new physician researchers selected by TPMG regional executives and clinical specialty leads and their areas of interest are:<\/p>\n Jason Balkman<\/a>, MD: Reducing critical\u00a0errors in radiology reports using on-premises\u00a0large\u00a0language models<\/p>\n Balkman is a radiologist with a subspeciality in breast imaging who uses advanced imaging to detect cancer and diagnose other conditions.<\/p>\n Research project:\u00a0My research explores inhabited artificial intelligence (AI), technology that blends into clinical life, becoming essential while fading into the background. I focus on how providers cohabitate with AI using dashboards and language models to surface insights at the point of care.<\/p>\n The opportunity: \u201cEvery morning, I wake up excited to learn from people outside my area of expertise,\u201d said Balkman. \u201cFor me, the Physician Researcher Program represents the intersection of research, technology, patient care, and the dedicated Kaiser Permanente staff who support those distinct arms of medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n DOR Mentor: Vincent Liu<\/a>, MD, MS<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Dustin Ballard<\/a>, MD: Incorporating emergency medical services (EMS) data into emergency department (ED) risk stratification tools: a triage-based proof of concept study<\/p>\n Ballard is an emergency medicine physician at the Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center and a member of the CREST Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n Research project: The clinical goal of this work is to safely improve ED triage of 911 EMS patients by using electronic data available at the time of EMS arrival. Safe and effective sorting of EMS patients will improve ED throughput, which will beneficially impact downstream inpatient services.<\/p>\n The opportunity: \u201cWhat doesn\u2019t excite me about joining the PRP?\u201d said Ballard. \u201cThis is an amazing opportunity to work with a group of smart and accomplished physician-researchers on practice-changing research while representing my awesome colleagues and collaborators.\u201d<\/p>\n DOR Mentor: Mary Reed<\/a>, DrPH<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Lisa Gilliam<\/a>, MD, PhD: Development and evaluation of a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)-based decision support tool\u00a0for primary care providers<\/p>\n Gilliam is an endocrinologist who has practiced at TPMG since 2012. She serves as the research liaison for the TPMG\u2019s Diabetes Population Care program, the Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Leader, and the diabetes technology leader.<\/p>\n Research project: My work will combine a research passion with a critical operational need to develop tools by which primary care providers can utilize complex CGM data to guide appropriate treatment decisions in their patients.<\/p>\n The opportunity: \u201cI consider my selection as a member of the upcoming PRP cohort to be the highlight of my career at TPMG,\u201d said Gilliam. \u201cI\u2019m truly excited to engage with such a brilliant group of physician researchers \u2014 there\u2019s so much I can learn from them!\u201d<\/p>\n DOR Mentor: Andrew Karter<\/a>, PhD<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Liang is a staff otolaryngologist\u2013head and neck surgeon who specializes in the comprehensive medical and surgical management of chronic and complex sinonasal disease, as well as sinonasal and skull base tumors.<\/p>\n Research project: My research focus is on outcomes of biologic medications for chronic sinus disease and nasal polyps, a very new and exciting area of research that is changing the management paradigm of upper airway disease and achieving profound quality of life improvement for patients.<\/p>\n The opportunity: \u201cI am so excited and thankful to be joining the Physician Researcher Program at TPMG,\u201d said Liang. \u201cThis program really allows clinician-scientists to collaborate in a supportive scholarly community, strengthen essential research skills, and conduct important projects that will optimize clinical care for our patients.\u201d<\/p>\n DOR Mentor: Michael Silverberg<\/a>, PhD, MPH<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Nareg Roubinian<\/a>, MD: Development and evaluation of risk stratification tools to aid decision making on pulmonary nodules suspicious for lung cancer<\/p>\n Roubinian is a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Kaiser Permanente Oakland and Richmond Medical Centers. He leads the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine fellowship program.<\/p>\n Research project: My research will provide insight into the effectiveness of the #PUL5 program, a unique TPMG initiative to expedite the care of patients with pulmonary nodules suspicious for lung cancer.<\/p>\n The opportunity: \u201cI am most looking forward to being part of a collaborative group of KP colleagues supporting one another in our individual research projects,\u201d said Roubinian<\/p>\n DOR Mentor: Lori Sakoda<\/a>, MD<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Fernando Velayos<\/a>, MD: Identifying barriers and facilitators to biosimilar use in inflammatory bowel disease: creating a culture of confidence with data<\/p>\n Velayos is the director of the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program.<\/p>\n Research project: My research will focus on addressing the safety of efficacy of biosimilars as well as physician and patient concerns with their use in order to improve confidence, increase affordability, and ultimately improve access to these highly effective and life changing therapies.<\/p>\n The opportunity: \u201cI am excited to join a cadre of accomplished researchers and mentors who are focused not only on discovery but implementing that knowledge into improving the lives of our members,\u201d said Velayos. \u201cIn these challenging times, this unique program is an incredible investment in our physicians, in research, and improving care. I am excited to be part of this next cohort and look forward to learning from my colleagues in this collaborative environment.\u201d<\/p>\n DOR Mentor: Jeffrey Lee<\/a>, MD, MPH<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Jason-Balkman-1615216_portrait-250x300.png\")
<\/a>Jason Balkman, MD<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Dustin-Ballard-6691077_portrait-250x300.png\")
<\/a>Dustin Ballard, MD<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lisa-Gilliam-7565811_portrait-250x300.png\")
<\/a>Lisa Gilliam, MD<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Jonathan-Liang-4715869_portrait-250x300.png\")
<\/a>Jonathan Liang<\/a>, MD, MPH: Outcomes and utilization of dupilumab for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal\u00a0polyps<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Nareg-Roubinian-5788743_portrait-250x300.png\")
<\/a>Nareg Roubinian, MD<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Fernando-Velayos-0867271_portrait-250x300.png\")
<\/a>Fernando Velayos, MD<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Edward-Yap-2901122_portrait-250x300.png\")
<\/a>Edward Yap, MD<\/p>\n