Overview

Our "lab" is defined by the work rather than a space. We are interested in clinically relevant questions with actionable answers. We like stuff that is challenging, fun, and interesting. Our goals are to unlock new information that informs health-related decisions, communication, and education.

We are currently thinking about...

Preference Elicitation and Values Clarification. Patient-centered care makes sense from an ethical perspective (as well as a selfish one, since most of us will be a patient at some point). Treatment decisions are complex, especially when there isn't one option that is clearly the best for most patients most of the time. Time constraints that make it challenging (if not impossible) to understand a person's social context and values during a clinic interaction that may last less than 15 minutes. Identifying this information and bringing it to the surface can make patients more active participants in shared decisions. Clarifying patient goals and values allows personalized strategies combining this information with clinical data. We hope to move beyond “one size fits all” approaches that often treat the patient like a diagnosis instead of a person.

Integrating Patient-Reported Outcomes with Clinical Data. Surveys and activity tracking can help patients tell us if their treatments are working, redefining success from their perspective. These tools can also let patients assess their own progress and share it with providers (and each other).

Understanding how Patient- and Treatment-Related Factors Affect Outcomes. Matching the right treatment with the right patient requires combining the important information about both. When available evidence doesn't adequately explain things, an opportunity exists to fill in the gaps. This requires creativity, innovative thinking, and willingness to challenge standard approaches.

Health Communication and Literacy. Understanding how patients, providers, and their families communicate can help everyone. Shared expectations, goals, and information can break down barriers. We are interested in how communication succeeds (and fails). This information will help us redesign how we educate, prepare, and support patients (even before their treatment begins).

Clinical and Research Ethics. Many clinical and research questions can be informed by ethical perspectives. Recognizing these opportunities leads to research and conversations that inform clinical, research, and policy decisions.