Jarett Beaudoin, MD

Johns Hopkins University |  Preventive Medicine Residency

While at the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), I had the opportunity to participate in and contribute to the work of the United States Preventive Task Force (USPSTF). There are many steps in the creation of a USPSTF recommendation, all the way from selecting topics for review to developing communication strategies for newly minted recommendations. My projects included fact-checking draft or final recommendations, assisting with reports to Congress on research gaps, and writing articles for medical journals discussing new recommendations. The breadth of these responsibilities truly helps Preventive Residents understand the vital process to create a USPSTF recommendation.

This rotation further cemented my interest in how evidence becomes policy. I chose the AHRQ rotation because they are one of the few organizations that actually has the breadth of knowledge and regulatory power to create such policies. In just over a year, a topic becomes a systematic review, then is translated into a recommendation that impacts the care of millions. The ability to have this large of an impact is why I went into Preventive Medicine. Our specialty is the only residency in which physicians learn to treat populations, not just individuals, and I hope to take the important lessons from my rotation at AHRQ to continue to provide this type of care.

How has your experience at AHRQ Impacted your career path and goals?
Seeing how evidence becomes policy has continued to increase my interest in policy research. I have become more interested in government service, and was able to see roles in the Federal government where original research is created.