The APBRN Coordinating Center serves as the network's operational base and as central interface between member physicians and other individuals and organizations, such as investigators and other PBRNs and PBRN-related agencies. Its primary function is to help facilitate opportunities for members to engage in research of particular relevance to them in daily practice, and to support investigators who wish to conduct research in primary care community based settings.  

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Personnel

T. Michael Harrington, MD - Director

Chairman, UAB Department of Family & Community Medicine

Dr. Harrington was Principal Investigator of Building the APBRN (AHRQ) and Co-PI on Testing PDA-Based Interventions for Smoking and Unhealthy Diet (RWJF). He was also PI of Enhancing Research Infrastructure in Family Medicine (HRSA), which laid the foundation for the APBRN and brought additional expertise to the Division of Research. Dr. Harrington has been in academic family medicine for the past 25 years and is an active member of numerous academic committees within the UAB Health System. As APBRN Director, he provides leadership and oversigt to the membership and Coordinating Center.

Jean Marie White, BA - Coordinator

Program Coordinator, UAB Family & Community Medicine Research

An experienced project manager, Ms. White has been the APBRN program coordinator since inception. She is responsible for day-to-day Coordinating Center operations and communications, serving as the central liaison between the membership and external organizations, including funding agencies and other PBRNs. She also assists with research design and implementation, as well as grant applications and presentation of results.

Jeff James, BS - Technical Support

Information Systems Specialist, UAB Family & Community Medicine

A highly skilled IT professional, Mr. James has been responsible for implementing and maintaining APBRN's system of electronic data collection and transfer. His technical expertise has been instrumental to development of the PDA-based protocols and maintenance of the server connections necessary to facilitate data transfer from remote sites. 

Myra A. Crawford, MPH, PhD - Consultant

As Director of the UAB Family & Community Medicine Division of Research, Dr. Crawford spearheaded the APBRN's formation in 1999-2000, serving as Co-Director until November 2005 when she formally retired from the University after 30 years of service. While APBRN co-Director, Dr. Crawford was Principal Investigator of Testing PDA-Based Interventions for Smoking and Unhealthy Diet (RWJF), Co-PI of Building the APBRN (AHRQ), and Co-PI of Enhancing Research Infrastructure in Family Medicine (HRSA). She also served a 3-year term on the Steering Committee of the Federation of PBRNs and on various funding review committees. She is currently consulting for the electronic Primary Care Research Network on the Universal IRB project.