Annie Rouza, MD, MPH

Emory University Preventive Medicine Residency & Fellowship

Recognizing the significant impact of preventive measures on individuals and communities, I pursued a career in preventive medicine due to its focus on preemptive health measures to avert diseases. Opting for a residency rotation at AHRQ was a strategic choice, driven by the understanding that a thorough grasp of the USPSTF guideline determination process would enhance my ability to effectively communicate the importance of preventive care to patients.
During this rotation, my goal was to understand how gaps in literature on clinical preventive services are identified, addressed, and how evidence is assessed, ultimately contributing to the dissemination and implementation of recommendations for the benefit of diverse stakeholders.

While completing my AHRQ rotation, I had the opportunity to learn about the systematic process of evidence review and grading by Task Force members. I also assisted the team in scoping out and conducting high level summaries of peer reviewed articles that could potentially inform Task Force guidelines, critically appraised a peer reviewed article that could potentially inform recommendation on a prevention topic, critically appraised a national survey as part of resident rounds activities, and attended Task Force meetings.

My experience at AHRQ strengthened my desire to work in governmental public health. It also made me realize the need for healthcare research because recommendations from the USPSTF are informed, and sometimes limited, by the available evidence.