Siri Chirumamilla, MS, DO

Emory University, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine

Some of the projects that I was able to participate in during my rotation were reviewing public comments about draft recommendations on prevention topics, critically appraising literature, and contributing to plans for research that informs recommendations.

As a board-certified family medicine physician, I was grateful for the opportunity to have trained within family medicine and be able to learn and appreciate the unique needs of my patients across the spectrum of life. During my second year in family medicine training, the COVID-19 pandemic happened, and the intersectionality of many social and structural determinants affected access to care, and health inequities were worsened as a result. As a clinician, I wanted further training in understanding how to collectively and objectively examine the unique circumstances and needs of marginalized collectives and communities and plan interventions that can promote broader community-oriented health and wellness. This was my primary reason for pursuing training in preventive medicine.

In particular, I chose the AHRQ rotation during my preventive medicine fellowship because I have an interest in understanding the development and impact of USPSTF recommendations on communities and populations I was working in. As a family medicine physician, I implemented the recommendations within communities I worked in. Through the preventive medicine lens, I wanted to understand the intricate processes that lead to recommendations to empower a nation's health.