The Alliance of Independent Academic Medical Centers (AIAMC) has recognized Kaiser Permanente Northern California Graduate Medical Education (GME) as their 2026 National Initiative Impact Award Winner.
Kaiser Permanente Northern California GME’s National Initiative IV project created a durable, system-wide transformation in the research culture, scholarly infrastructure, and learner experience across the region. Theresa Azevedo-Rousso, Regional Senior Director of Medical Education and Designated Institutional Official said “The pilot program that was incubated in National Initiative IV is now a robust, regionally-supported model that advances high-quality research, enhances faculty engagement, and strengthens recruitment of residents and fellows by providing them with direct research and scholarly support. Residents and fellows now have streamlined access to expert research guidance from Research Project Managers and our Biostatistical Consulting Unit, which has significantly improved their scholarly productivity. Faculty report greater satisfaction through strengthened research support, reduced administrative burden, and a more collaborative research environment.”
This initiative directly advances Kaiser Permanente’s priorities in research excellence, quality improvement, health equity, and learning system development. Regionwide investment includes nine full‑time Research Project Managers and significant annual funding to support hundreds of scholarly projects. Partnership with the Biostatistical Consulting Unit ensures expert study design, analytics, and methodological rigor for GME research. Kaiser Permanente Northern California GME has disseminated results through national meetings, regional collaborations, and peer‑reviewed publications, including nearly 300 scholarly projects in 2024 alone. Twenty‑eight manuscripts have appeared in peer‑reviewed journals, with sixty‑five conference presentations at major national scientific meetings. The project now serves as a scalable framework for other Kaiser Permanente regions and external organizations seeking to strengthen research capacity within GME.