Dr. KariLynn Dowling-McClay, an assistant professor of Pharmacy Practice at East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, has received an $11,998 ETSU Research Development Committee (RDC) Grant to study pharmacist-prescribed contraception (PPC) as a means of filling the gap in regional access to birth control in Appalachia and the southern U.S.
âThis is a nationwide issue with almost half of all pregnancies in the U.S. being unplanned or âsurpriseâ pregnancies each year,â said Dr. Dowling-McClay. âIf a pregnancy occurs when it is not intended, there are greater risks to mom, baby and family. Consistent access to effective birth control methods is the best way to prevent unplanned pregnancies.â
This spring, East Tennessee State University launched its inaugural ETSU Mentored Substance Use Research training program, designed to train substance use researchers across multiple disciplines in order to improve health outcomes in Central Appalachia.
Ten ETSU graduate students from multiple colleges and disciplines were selected for the inaugural cohort and are paired with a faculty mentor to train them in substance use research. Ten faculty members are participating as mentors in the program, which is led by Dr. Manik Ahuja, assistant professor in the Department of Health Services Management and Policy in the ETSU College of Public Health.
Ahuja, a trained substance use researcher, spearheaded the EMSUR program at ETSU after he was selected as one of five faculty members from across the country to attend New York Universityâs Substance Abuse Research Education and Training Visiting Development Mentor Program.