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Karen E. Schifferdecker, MPH, PhD

Title(s)
Associate Professor of Health Policy and Clinical Practice
Associate Professor of Community and Family Medicine

Additional Titles/Positions/Affiliations
Faculty Adviser, Center for Program Design and Evaluation at Dartmouth

Department(s)
Health Policy and Clinical Practice
Community and Family Medicine

Education
Luther College, BA 1989
U. Connecticut, MA 1993
U. Connecticut, PHD 2000
Dartmouth College, MPH 2011

Programs
The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice

Websites
https://geiselmed.dartmouth.edu/tdi/profile/karen-e-schifferdecker-phd-mph/

Contact Information

1 Medical Center Drive, WTRB-5
The Dartmouth Institute
Lebanon NH 03766

Email: Karen.E.Schifferdecker@Dartmouth.edu


Professional Interests

Qualitative and mixed methods research
Evaluation
Implementation science and quality improvement
Patient-reported outcome measures
Cancer screening
Arthritis outcomes

Grant Information

1R01AG084611-01
Schifferdecker/Fisher (MPIs)
9/30/2023-6/30/2028
Understanding and Addressing Disparities in Primary Care: A National Mixed Methods Study

P01AG019783
Barnato, PI; Schifferdecker/Fisher, Project MPIs
8/15/2023- 7/31/2028
Causes and Consequences of Healthcare Inequity in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

PLACER 2020C3
Calderwood (PI), Role: Subaward PI
06/01/2022-05/31/2029
Colonoscopy Versus Stool-Based Testing for Older Adults with a History of Colon Polyps (COOP Trial)

#78479 RWJF
Fisher/Schifferdecker (Co-PIs)
05/01/2021-09/30/2023
Supporting Development and Implementation of a Second Wave of a National Survey of Physician Practices

Courses Taught

Family Medicine clerkship: Community Project: diversity, cultural competency and care of underserved populations
MPH Seminar: Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice
MPH Hybrid Program: Survey Methods for Public Health Practice and Health Services Research
MPH Residential and Hybrid Programs: Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Public Health and Healthcare Studies

Biography

Dr. Schifferdecker is an Associate Professor in The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice and Community and Family Medicine. As a medical anthropologist and public health researcher, she has led qualitative and mixed methods research over the past 30 years on a variety of topics in health care delivery and beyond, including cancer screening, patient-reported outcomes, and disparities in healthcare delivery with funding from many agencies, including NIH, PCORI, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Administration for Children and Families, and the Arthritis Foundation. Dr. Schifferdecker co-founded and directed the Center for Program Design and Evaluation at Dartmouth for 12 years, where she oversaw a team to provide mixed methods research and evaluation for over 120 projects. Dr. Schifferdecker's current research includes a national National Institutes of Aging-funded study focused on primary care access and quality for older adults, a national comparative effectiveness clinical trial funded by PCORI on improving colorectal cancer screening surveillance for older adults, and Arthritis Foundation-funded research on non-response in RA and pain in children with JIA.


Selected Publications

 

Evaluating rural healthcare workforce programs: Applying modified whole-of-person retention improvement framework in VHA programs.
Longacre MR, Kinney LM, Carluzzo KL, Watts BV, Schifferdecker KE
J Rural Health. 2026 Jan;42(1):e70115. doi: 10.1111/jrh.70115.
PMID: 41556729

U.S. Primary Care Practice Capabilities Linked to Language Services for Patients with Limited English Proficiency.
Chen S, Guadamuz JS, Rodriguez HP, Schifferdecker KE
J Gen Intern Med. 2025 Dec 1; doi: 10.1007/s11606-025-09968-8. Epub 2025 Dec 1.
PMID: 41326932

Facilitators and Barriers to Uptake of Remote Cardiac Monitoring in a Rural Setting: A Qualitative Analysis.
Zeitler EP, Wenner J, Bernstein L, Creager MA, Schifferdecker KE
J Am Heart Assoc. 2025 Oct 7;14(19):e042303. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.125.042303. Epub 2025 Sep 30.
PMID: 41025440

Rural Oncologists' Perceptions of Specialty Scarcity and Repercussions for Care Delivery: A Qualitative Study.
Moen EL, Tirrell C, Brooks GA, O'Malley AJ, Onega T, Schifferdecker KE
JCO Oncol Pract. 2026 Jan;22(1):167-173. doi: 10.1200/OP-24-01065. Epub 2025 May 12.
PMID: 40354601

Primary care preparedness to care for patients with ADRD: A national survey study.
Januszewicz J, Fowler NR, Mackwood MB, Fisher E, Andrews AO, Schmidt RO, Akre EL, Schifferdecker KE
Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Mar;21(3):e70064. doi: 10.1002/alz.70064.
PMID: 40156282

Primary Care Practice Factors Associated With Telehealth Adoption in the United States: Cross-Sectional Survey Analysis.
Mackwood M, Fisher E, Schmidt RO, O'Malley AJ, Rodriguez HP, Shortell S, Akre ER, Berube A, Schifferdecker KE
J Med Internet Res. 2025 Mar 28;27:e70404. doi: 10.2196/70404. Epub 2025 Mar 28.
PMID: 40152920

Sexual Orientation- and Gender Identity-Affirming Activities Provided in Primary Care.
Akre EL, Yang CW, Bauer GR, Mackwood MB, O'Malley AJ, Fisher ES, Schifferdecker KE
JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Mar 3;8(3):e250392. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.0392. Epub 2025 Mar 3.
PMID: 40063021

Organizational characteristics associated with sustained participation in internal quality improvement: Findings from two waves of a national sample of physician practices in the United States.
Hurley VB, Brewster AL, DePuccio MJ, Hung DY, O'Malley AJ, Schifferdecker KE
Soc Sci Med. 2025 Mar;369:117826. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117826. Epub 2025 Feb 8.
PMID: 39961151

Changes in US Primary Care Access and Capabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Mackwood M, Fisher E, Schmidt RO, Yang CW, O'Malley AJ, Rodriguez HP, Shortell S, Akre EL, Schifferdecker KE
JAMA Health Forum. 2025 Feb 7;6(2):e245237. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.5237. Epub 2025 Feb 7.
PMID: 39918830

Trends in Screening for Social Risk in US Physician Practices.
Brewster AL, Rodriguez HP, Murray GF, Lewis VA, Schifferdecker KE, Fisher ES
JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Jan 2;8(1):e2453117. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.53117. Epub 2025 Jan 2.
PMID: 39752156

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