AOD July 17, 2024: MHIR Panel Discussion

Andy's Open Door Recording
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
MaineHealth Institute for Research panel

Andy visited the MaineHealth Institute for Research (MHIR) today for an engaging Andy’s Open Door panel discussion about the evolution, innovation and impact of MHIR in our communities. Joining Andy were MaineHealth Chief Academic Officer Doug Sawyer, MD, PhD; Abby Fleisch, MD, MPH; Aaron Brown, PhD; and Rob Smith, MD, MPH.

Andy opened the program by discussing our Patient-Centered value in the social media space and the importance of protecting the privacy of our patients. 

The panel spoke about the remarkable research under way and how research has evolved at MaineHealth over the past 30-plus years – transforming from a few people engaged in research projects decades ago to an Institute employing 261 people today. They shared their personal and professional journeys to MHIR and their areas of focus – Rob Smith’s Vector-borne Disease Lab, Aaron Brown’s work on obesity and related metabolic disorders, and Abby Fleisch’s environmental health research.

They discussed how MHIR is working together in our rural and island communities, on the state and national level, and with many other research institutions such as Harvard, Tufts, UMass/Amherst and others. They also explored how artificial intelligence will impact research.