2026 Health Services Research Day Highlights Growth, Collaboration, and Impact

Igniting new collaborations, Georgia CTSA and Emory Health Services Research Center co-hosted the annual Health Services Research Day. Each year, this event brings researchers from across Georgia together for a full day of networking and sharing scientific innovations. The program featured a robust agenda spanning three scientific sessions, two poster sessions, a keynote presentation, and an expert panel discussion. 

Building on last year’s strong showing of 166 attendees, Health Services Research Day 2026 saw continued growth, welcoming nearly 200 participants and reflecting expanding engagement across Georgia’s health services research community. 

“This year’s Health Services Research Day was a great success. The oral and poster presentations from students, postdocs, staff, and faculty members demonstrated an impressive range of high-quality Health Services Research within our community. The expert panel on navigating the funding landscape was timely and important. It was a great day, full of energy, enthusiasm, and opportunities for making new connections and collaborations,” shares Georgia CTSA Network Capacity Director Neal Dickert, MD, PhD, Professor, Emory School of Medicine.

The dynamic keynote from Dr. Scott Halpern, Professor of Medicine, Medical Ethics, and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, highlighted how behavioral economics can improve care for patients facing complex medical decisions. The two featured talks highlighted the breadth of health services research. Dr. Carolyn Clevenger, Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Georgia, provided insights into comprehensive dementia care, emphasizing models that integrate medical, social, and caregiver support to improve outcomes for patients and families. Dr. Mohammed Ali, Co-Director of Emory Global Diabetes Research Center, offered a sweeping overview of the evolving science of diabetes epidemiology and the clinical advances reshaping the field. 

After poster and oral presentations from trainees and faculty on diverse topics, including innovation, care access, and payment models, the day concluded with an expert panel on the funding landscape in health services research. Together, the sessions reflected a statewide commitment to advancing research that directly improves patient care and a growing momentum behind collaborative, cross‑institutional work. 

Survey feedback highlighted the event’s strong impact on collaboration and learning. Attendees emphasized the value of connecting across institutions and disciplines, with one participant noting, “Being exposed to a variety of health outcomes and people across disciplines, levels, and schools” was a key benefit of the day. Another shared that “networking with colleagues from other institutions” was among the most valuable aspects of the event, reinforcing Health Services Research Day’s role in fostering cross-institutional collaboration. 

Participants also pointed to the program’s practical impact, highlighting “practical and applicable discussions on common healthcare issues we face every day” and the ability to engage directly with a wide range of research through both presentations and poster sessions. 

Reflecting on the day’s impact, Co-Chair Ambar Kulshreshtha, MD, Associate Professor, Emory, remarks, “Georgia’s health services research community turned out in full force for Health Services Research Day, and this year’s event set a new benchmark for both scale and energy... Attendees gathered for the annual showcase, joined by faculty, staff, and trainees from Emory University, Grady Health System, Morehouse School of Medicine, University of Georgia, Georgia State University, and Kaiser Permanente. With nearly 100 abstracts submitted, it was one of the most robust programs in the event’s history.” 

The innovation shared during this year’s Health Services Research Day reflects a statewide commitment to advancing research that directly improves patient care. The increase in attendance from last year underscores growing momentum and continued interest in collaborative, cross-institutional work across Georgia. Thank you to the co-chairs, planning committee, Emory Health Services Research Center, and Georgia CTSA staff for their hard work in making this event a success. 

Congratulations to the following award winners:

• Audrey M. Blake, PhD, MPH, CHPMP, Manager, Research Projects, Emory University 
  • Topic: “African American Women's Lived Experiences with Obstetrics/Gynecology” 

• Jenni Seale Reiff, PhD, OTR/L, Assistant Professor, Geriatrics and Gerontology, Emory University School of Medicine 
  • Topic: “The Impact of Mandatory Bundled Payment on Prehabilitation Delivery for Lower Extremity Joint Replacement”

3rd Place Poster Presentation

• Sonia Tetlow, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Health Policy and Management, Emory Rollins School of Public Health 
  • Topic: “Changes in Outpatient Mental Health Service Use Among Medicare Beneficiaries with Comorbid Depression, Diabetes and Heart Disease After Cost-sharing Parity” 

 
Outstanding Oral Presentation

• Janet R. Cummings, PhD, Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Emory Rollins School of Public Health 
  • Topic: “Outpatient Crisis Services Reduce Pediatric ED Visits for Suicidality”

View the abstract book to see the full list of presenters.