Meet our team
We are an interdisciplinary group dedicated to uniting relationship science and healthcare to create the best experience and outcomes for patients and clinicians.
Ashley Duggan, PhD
BRANCH codirector
“Our work in relationship science examines the process of communication between people to build and maintain relationships, with a particular focus on how patient-clinician communication impacts health. Through research, education, training, policy, and advocacy efforts, the BRANCH initiative strives to apply relationship science to healthcare in ways that support clinicians in today's challenging environment and improve health outcomes and patient satisfaction.
Ashley’s primary role in the BRANCH initiative is to identify and document the key concepts, theories, and research that serve as the foundation for applying relationship science to healthcare in impactful ways; she is also building an international, interdisciplinary network to inform and advance the science and practice of forming trusted clinician-patient relationships. Ashley is a Professor in the Communication Department at Boston College and adjunct Professor and Director of Research Partnerships in the Department of Family Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. As a Fulbright Scholar with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University of Medicine and Health Sciences, she worked with the Centre for Positive Health Sciences to connect relationship science and human communication research with positive health sciences. Bringing two decades of research, teaching, and mentorship in relationship science and human communication research to bear enables Ashley to bridge theory, research methods, and relationship science. Her leadership in bringing new ideas to medical communication brought about her selection for a fellowship in Building Research Capacity with the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) and the Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM). Her interdisciplinary interests have led to her appointment to multiple leadership roles, including with the International Association for Relationship Research (IARR), the National Communication Association (NCA), and the International Communication Association (ICA). Ashley was recently awarded the Berscheid-Hatfield Award for Distinguished Mid-Career Achievement from the IARR. She was also awarded the 2022 Gerald R. Miller Outstanding Book Award for a monograph, awarded by the Interpersonal Communication Division of the NCA, for her book Health and Illness in Close Relationships (2019, Cambridge University Press).
Bernard Ewigman, MD, MSPH
BRANCH codirector
“The US healthcare system has undermined clinicians’ ability to build meaningful relationships with their patients. As a consequence, many patients no longer have access to a personal clinician who has the time to know them, listen, understand, and build the trust that is the cornerstone of healing relationships. Primary care clinicians are rushed, overburdened with administrative work, and burned out. Social movements, transformative leadership, and innovative models of care are critical pathways to restoring the powerfully healing relational elements of primary care informed by relationship science.”
Bernard’s role as BRANCH codirector draws upon his 40+ years of experience as a practicing family medicine physician; medical practice leader; educator, trainer, and mentor; researcher; and innovative leader. As BRANCH codirector, Bernard focuses on organizational development, strategic planning, project management, financial management, external funding, mentoring, and collaborating with communication and relationship scientists to integrate their expertise into research, education, training, advocacy, and policy in primary care. From 1982 to 2002, he served on the faculty of the Department of Family and Community Medicine (FCM) at the University of Missouri-Columbia (UMC), initially as a Robert Wood Johnson Academic Fellow and ultimately as a tenured professor. During this time he practiced outpatient medicine as the medical director of a county health department and subsequently as a founder of a community health center. Bernard practiced adult, pediatric, and obstetrical inpatient medicine for 17 years. He precepted medical students and supervised resident physicians in each of these clinical settings, and conducted seminal research in maternal and child health, with more than $8 million in external funding and publications in leading journals. In 2002 Bernard was recruited to be the founding chair of the Department of Family Medicine at University of Chicago. Over a 20-year period, he grew the department clinical, teaching, training, and research programs. In addition, he served as lead investigator in the Institute for Translational Science, launched a Primary Care Academic Fellowship, and founded the Outcomes Research Network. Beyond these clinical, community-based, and formal academic roles, Bernard has been instrumental in state level legislative initiatives and founded multiple national programs including the Grant Generating Project (GGP) (www.napcrg.org/programs/grantgeneratingproject-ggp/projectdesctipion), the Family Physicians Inquiries Network (FPIN) (www.fpin.org), and the Building Research Capacity (BRC) program (www.adfm.org/programs/building-research-capacity-brc/).
Wayne Altman, MD
BRANCH sponsoring chair and lead for policy and advocacy
“A deeper understanding of how physicians and patients can create more meaningful connection allows us to listen better, be more empathetic, and ultimately help our patients achieve better health and quality of life. Relationship science helps me to be more open to the needs of my patients and to have a richer understanding of my patient’s concerns, leading to customized healthcare solutions for my patients and increased meaning in my work.”
Wayne has actively facilitated the BRANCH initiative through leadership, administrative support, and financial support through the Department of Family Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. In addition, he has made critical connections with the foundations funding BRANCH development and projects. In addition to serving as lead for policy and advocacy for BRANCH, Wayne is a member of the core planning team for the initiative’s strategic plan. Wayne is Professor and Chair of Family Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. During his more than 20 years at Tufts University School of Medicine, he served as the Family Medicine Clerkship Director for 17 years, directed the Foundations of Patient Care Curriculum since 2009, and taught at the Tufts Family Medicine Residency since 2001. He practices family medicine at the Family Practice Group, Arlington, MA, where he is President and co-owner. His interests include the use of group visits to enhance patient wellness, faculty development and physician satisfaction, medical education, and helping students care more effectively for patients with disability. Wayne is the Cofounder of Wellness Campaign, a nonprofit organization created to support communities, patients, and providers. In addition, he cofounded Care That Matters, a multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals across the country advocating for patient-centered and evidence-based pay-for-performance quality measures. Wayne also founded MA Primary Care Alliance for Patients, which advocates for antiracist health policy that features an emphasis on social determinants of health, a prospective global payment for primary care, and the doubling of investment in primary care.
Core BRANCH facilitation team
Meet our team members who bring strategic planning, community engagement, and stakeholder engagement expertise. In addition to their commitment to the BRANCH initiative, they possess intellectual humility and transdisciplinary perspectives informed by their experience in primary care, organizational development, and relationship science. Plus, they offer urban, rural, national, and/or international perspectives.
Richard L. Street, Jr., PhD
Professor of Communication and Journalism at Texas A&M University and Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. His research focuses on clinician-patient communication, and he has led advancements in modeling pathways through which clinician-patient communication processes contribute to improved health outcomes. His research and teaching awards include being a Fellow of the International Communication Association, and having received an Outstanding Health Communication Scholar designation by the International Communication Association, the L. Donohew Health Communication Scholar Award from the University of Kentucky, the TAMU AFS Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching and Research, and the George L. Engel Award from the American Academy on Communication in Healthcare. With more than 200 publications to his name, Rick is recognized as a worldwide expert in physician-patient relations and continues to add to the important conversation around shared decision-making and effective communication in healthcare settings.
Debra Stulberg, MD, MAPP
Professor and Chair of Family Medicine at the University of Chicago. She joined the University of Chicago faculty in 2007, with a primary appointment in Family Medicine and secondary appointments in Obstetrics & Gynecology Section of Family Planning & Contraceptive Research. She is also a faculty member in the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics and Senior Scholar in the Bucksbaum Siegler Institute for Clinical Excellence. Debra graduated from Harvard Medical School and completed her Family Medicine residency at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, IL. She received a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Chicago, where she also completed fellowship training in Primary Care Research and Clinical Medical Ethics. Her research focuses on reproductive health service delivery in the United States. This includes studies on incorporating reproductive health in primary care, addressing racial and socioeconomic disparities in pregnancy outcomes, and understanding how institutional policies affect care delivery. She directs the Reproductive Health Outcomes and Disparities (RHOADs) Research Group, a multidisciplinary and multiorganization lab focused on improving reproductive care and outcomes in the United States and reducing disparities. She cofounded and codirects the ExPAND Mifepristone learning collaborative, which supports primary care clinics in establishing medical management of early pregnancy loss and abortion care. Debra provides patient care at Friend Health, a federally qualified health center on Chicago’s south side. As Chair of Family Medicine at the University of Chicago (2020–present) she served as coexecutive sponsor for the creation of a new primary care practice serving the community near campus, which has become the first Family Medicine faculty practice at UChicago and a valued community asset. Under her leadership, the department is currently submitting a new program application to the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education for a Family Medicine residency at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital.
Frank DeGruy III, MD
Distinguished Professor in the University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine and member of the National Academy of Medicine since 2007. Frank’s research examines difficulties in integrating behavioral healthcare with primary care, particularly for medically underserved and disadvantaged people. He chaired the Department of Family Medicine at CU between 1999 and 2021, was the founding chair of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s National Integration Academy Council, and was president of the North American Primary Care Research Group, in addition to holding dozens of other leadership or advisory roles. One of the first to demonstrate and write about the indivisibility of patients’ behavioral and physical health, Frank is a strong advocate for the use of team-based primary care models that recognize the holistic nature of health. He also publishes on the integration of these principles into curricula for Family Medicine residency programs.
Pádraic Dunne, PhD
Senior Lecturer (US Associate Professor) and lead researcher of the Digital Health Research Group in the Centre for Positive Health Sciences at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Dublin, Ireland. He supports the development of health and wellbeing programs for postgraduate healthcare professionals, corporate workforces, patients with chronic diseases, and the general public. As a European Mentoring and Coaching Council-accredited senior coach, Pádraic is a strong believer in the capacity of positive health coaching for wellbeing. Pádraic is also keenly interested in the interaction between mental stress and the immune system. In addition to his role as codirector of the Centre’s MSc in Positive Health Coaching, he is a practicing psychotherapist and meditation teacher.
Stan Deetz, PhD
Professor Emeritus and a President’s Teaching Scholar at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has published more than 150 essays and 9 books regarding stakeholder representation, decision-making, cultural change, and community and organizational development. He has lectured widely in the US and Europe and worked on projects in over 20 countries. Stan was a Senior Fulbright Scholar and is a Past President and Fellow of the International Communication Association and a National Communication Association Distinguished Scholar. His studies and professional work promote the development of more collaborative communication practices in intersector interactions resulting in greater democracy, higher-quality decisions, and more productive interactions among stakeholders.
BRANCH team members
Get to know the people actively involved in BRANCH research, teaching, or advocacy projects.
Allen F. Shaughnessy, PharmD
Professor, Department of Family Medicine of Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, and Director of the Master Teacher Fellowship at the Tufts University Family Medicine Residency at Cambridge Health Alliance. Allen received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Medical University of South Carolina and his Masters in Medical Education from the University of Dundee, Scotland. He has completed a faculty development fellowship and the Department of Health and Human Services Primary Care Health Policy Fellowship. Allen has edited several books and published over 200 research papers in the areas of medical education, continuing medical education, evidence-based medicine, pharmacology, family medicine education, prescription writing, and medical information management. He is assistant editor for American Family Physician and Senior Editor of Essential Evidence Plus. As the recipient of several awards for teaching, Allen has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Family Medicine Education Consortium and the Innovative Program Award from the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. He is a member of the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society. In 2022 Allen was awarded The Lynn and Joan Carmichael Recognition Award for outstanding leadership in advancing family medicine as a discipline, the highest award given by the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine.
Laura Miller, PhD
Associate Professor in the School of Communication Studies at the University of Tennessee. Laura received her undergraduate, master's, and PhD degrees from the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She teaches courses in communication theory, health communication, and qualitative methods. Her research explores how individuals communicate about health, how families communicate support amid health stressors, and how illness-related uncertainty is managed. Laura was awarded the William H. Swain Professorship in 2022, recognizing an outstanding record of research, teaching, and service that uniquely contributes to the University of Tennessee. She is passionate about global education, currently serving as the Director of Programs Abroad for her school, and has taught in Beijing, Dublin, and Sydney. Laura is involved in the BRANCH initiative vision and implementation including think tank writing retreats and partnership projects.
Marie Haverfield, PhD
Interpersonal and health communication scholar with training in implementation science. Marie’s research focuses on examining communication and relationships in high-risk settings and the effects these interactions have on health and well-being. She employs mixed-methods, incorporating interviews, survey data, coded interactions, and biomarker tools to facilitate a comprehensive view of communication behavior and effects. Marie’s work with BRANCH involves leading an evaluation of the Mirah collaborative care model to determine improvements in behavioral health outcomes, financial sustainability, workforce efficiency and acceptability, and the promotion of equitable health practices.
Amy Allen
Writer, editor, and communications consultant. Amy supports BRANCH and the Law Stroud Foundation with communications about their mission, projects, and dedication to supporting meaningful clinician-patient relationships and increasing compassion in healthcare delivery. Previously, Amy held numerous leadership roles in healthcare communications and content development. As senior director at the healthcare management firm Health Dialog, Amy wrote extensively about shared decision-making in healthcare and led the development and production of decision aids that helped patients and clinicians make collaborative medical decisions. At the digital health firm Good Measures, Amy served in a similar role focusing on patient engagement and business development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism, a master’s degree in gastronomy (food studies) from Boston University, and a graduate certificate from The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
Audrey Sparano
Undergraduate research assistant at Boston College under the direction of Ashley Duggan. Audrey’s work focuses on connecting the concepts of relationship science with data collected by the Larry A. Green Center to assess the impact of COVID-19 on clinical practices. She is writing her Boston College senior capstone thesis on the overlap between relationship science, primary care, and public health, focusing on trust and vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. Audrey's major at Boston College is Global Public Health for the Common Good, and she is currently nominated as Scholar of the College for her senior thesis in progress. She spent a semester studying public health in Cork, Ireland.
Shaw Miller
Research assistant with the Department of Family Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. Shaw’s work with BRANCH includes data management and analysis for the Mirah collaborative care evaluation under Marie Haverfield, conducting literature reviews, and building a unified literature database for BRANCH projects. Shaw enjoys finding unexpected ways that fields of research can overlap or inform each other. Fittingly, he worked as a research assistant and then as department administrator with the Tufts University School of Medicine Department of Family Medicine between 2019 and 2021, while he also completed his studies in Geology and Biology at Brown University. Also holding a national EMT certification, Shaw is excited to be involved in projects that promote human connection in medical care.