Last Updated: 6/29/2009

Research Interests
The 1990’s brought renewed interest in the health of underserved populations. Differences in health, healthcare and health outcomes of racial and ethnic minorities became the focus of national research and policy initiatives. At the intersection of these initiatives was the 1993 NIH Revitalization Act. This federal research policy mandated inclusion of women and minorities with the goal of better understanding disparities in health and improving the generalizability of research findings to previously underrepresented groups. Dr. Corbie-Smith’s scholarship has examined the ethical, methodological and practical implications of this mandate in the context of research in health disparities. She has taken the novel approach of examining the impact of policy on the conduct of research, using multiple research methods to examine a problem from a wide range of approaches and now is using that research to address pressing health problems.

Dr. Corbie-Smith has taken a multi-pronged, multi-method approach to these issues: examining participant specific and investigator specific factors that might impact recruitment of minority subjects, analyzing practical experiences with minority recruitment, exploring the methodological challenges and implications of enrolling minorities in research and highlighting the ethical obligations that come with enrolling underserved populations.

Her first grant in this area sought to describe potential minority research subjects’ views of research. At the time of this research much had been written about minority participation but there was little empirical data on the topic. Her work was groundbreaking in explicitly documenting the distrust and concerns of African Americans. The themes that arose in these focus group interviews with African Americans were the catalyst and the base for much of her work in this area. The issues of distrust and concerns about reciprocity that these participants expressed would be areas of inquiry that she returned to in future work.

The results of these focus groups were the preliminary data for two career development awards: a K award through the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and a Robert Wood Johnson Minority Medical Faculty Development Award. With these grants she focused on the participant-specific and investigator specific-factors that might influence minority recruitment into research. The analysis of data from a national survey that examined racial differences in distrust were presented at the plenary session at the Society of General Internal Medicine and attracted considerable attention in the lay and scientific press. She then went on to collect and analyze data from in-depth interviews with investigators and a national survey of investigators funded by NHLBI on minority recruitment that queries investigators about the strategies used in minority recruitment and the implications of this mandate for their research. Here too in areas where there had been no empirical work she used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods in novel and effective way to explore new areas.

In an effort to provide a comprehensive view of the implications of the NIH mandate, Dr. Corbie-Smith also analyzed data from clinical trials that sought to recruit a diverse sample. The Women’s Health Initiative had explicit goals on the number of minority women those investigators hoped to enroll; she described the recruitment experiences, successes and challenges, of minority women in that large clinical trial. One of the perceived challenges in this area is that minority subjects are more difficult to recruit to participate in research. In the Women’s Estrogen Stroke trial, she was able to demonstrate that, using a comprehensive recruitment strategy that maintains denominator data, there was no difference in the rates of enrollment by race in that randomized controlled trial. This seminal work was later included in a review of the literature on this topic. She also examined the use of a innovative community based approaches to involving minority participants in Partnership to Reach African Americans to Increase Smart Eating (PRAISE!) and found high levels of trust, benefit and satisfaction among participants in this trial that used an intervention with particular attention to cultural appropriateness and long-term sustainability within the church environment.

In addition to concerns about the most effective strategies to improve minority participation in clinical research, several methodological and ethical challenges also arise. Her first publication in this area uses the Tuskegee Syphilis Study as an example of culturally appropriate recruitment gone awry and highlights the methodological challenges and potential ethical pitfalls in this area. The issue of how and whether to use race as a variable has generated much debate in the scientific literature in recent years and left investigators struggling with what to do in their work. From the qualitative interviews with investigators she are preparing a manuscript that examines how investigators interpret the concept of “race” and use it in their research. While the NIH mandate has been in effect for over 10 years there still remains much controversy and confusion about its application. In an attempt to further clarify the goals of the NIH mandate as it pertains to the phrase “appropriate representation” of minorities in research, she has suggested approaches for application of these goals in clinical research in order to aid investigators in the application of this policy in their work.

Mandated inclusion of previously underrepresented groups and often medically underserved groups raises several ethical issues. Inherent in the mandate is the call for social and distributive justice- ensuring individuals in our society are equitably represented in research and that the benefits are appropriately distributed. She tackled these issues in the manuscript on appropriate representation and in a manuscript that explores investigators obligations beyond the protection of research subjects. The newest wave of research in genetic variation that seeks to describe and identity genetic variants that might account for some differences in health by race also highlights some important ethical issues. She is currently completing a study examining how participation in such a study may change perceptions of illness and what concerns and benefits participants identify in being part of a genetic variation study. Her work on this grant was awarded the Jefferson-Pilot award in Academic medicine for junior investigators in the School of Medicine in August 2003.

The natural extension of her work was to use innovative methods to engage communities of color and underserved communities more effectively in research; three projects are noteworthy. The first of these, with funding from the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, she had developed and is pilot testing several methods to accrue African American adults in North Carolina to a registry of potential research participants. This registry would serve as a resource for investigators hoping to include minority subjects in their studies. She was also awarded a grant to test the novel approach of using a mobile unit to recruit and conduct HIV/AIDS clinical trials among rural minorities in North Carolina. The third study, Project GRACE (Growing Reaching, Advocating for Change and Empowerment), is a partnership between community leaders, public health and academics to address the spread of HIV in rural African American communities. This project was recently awarded the Robert E Bryan Award for Public Service award for excellence in service to communities of North Carolina.

Recent Accomplishments and Honors
*1997-1999: Fellow, Association of American Medical Colleges Health Services Research Institute
*2000: David E. Rogers Junior Faculty Education Award, "Reaching the Unreached: Research participation and underserved populations", Society of General Internal Medicine
2003-2007: Jefferson-Pilot Fellowship in Academic Medicine
*James E. Bryan Award for Public Service, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007- award for excellence in service to communities of North Carolina

Training
*Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, B.A., 1986, Biology
*Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, M.D., 1991, Medicine
*Yale University/New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, Residency, 1991-1994, Internal Medicine
*Emory University, Atlanta, GA, Masters of Science, 1997 -2000, Clinical Research/Epidemiology

Publications
De Marco M, Cykert S, Coad N, Doost K, Roman Isler M, Schaal J, White B, Young D, & Corbie Smith G. Views on Personalized Medicine: Do the attitudes of African American and White prescription drug consumers differ? (in press, Public Health Genomics)

Fowler-Brown AG, Bennett GG, Goodman MS, Wee CC, Corbie-Smith GM, James SA. 2009. “Psychosocial Stress and 13-year BMI Change Among Blacks: The Pitt County Study”. Obesity, in press.

Shaw MG, Morrell DS, Corbie-Smith G, Goldsmith LA. “Perceptions of Pediatric Clinical Research among African-American and Caucasian Parents”. Journal of the National Medical Association, in press (September 2009).

Paranjape, A, Corbie-Smith GC, Thompson, N, Kaslow, NJ. When older African American women are affected by violence in the home: A qualitative investigation of risk and protective factors. Violence against Women (in press).

Cherrington A, Ayala GX, Amick H, Scarinci I, Allison J, Corbie-Smith G. 2008. “Applying the Community Health Worker Model to Diabetes Management: Using Mixed Methods to Assess Implementation and Effectiveness”, Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, Nov; 19(4):1044-59.

Bussey-Jones J., Henderson G, Garrett J, Moloney M, Blumenthal C, Corbie-Smith G. 2009. “Asking the right questions: views on genetic variation research among participants in a colorectal cancer genetic epidemiology study”, Journal of General Internal Medicine, Mar; 24(3):299-304.

Williams, S.W., Hanson, L.C., Boyd, C., Green, M., Goldmon, M, Wright, G. & Corbie-Smith, G. Communication, decision making and cancer: What African Americans want physicians to know. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 2008, Nov;11(9):1221-6.

Cherrington, A, Ayala G, Amick H, Allison J, Scarinci I, Corbie-Smith G. 2008. “Implementing the Community Health Worker Model within Diabetes Management: Challenges and lessons learned from programs across the United States.” Diabetes Educator, Sept/Oct, 34(5):824-33.

Corbie-Smith G, Blumenthal C, Dorrance J, Henderson G., Estroff SE “How Do Investigators Conceptualize Race in their Research?” Journal of National Medical Association, 2008, 100(10): 1235-1243.

Mejia G, Kaufman JS, Corbie-Smith G, Rozier RG, Caplan DJ, Suchindran C. A conceptual framework for Hispanic oral health care. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 2008, Winter; 68(1):1-6

G. Corbie-Smith, C. Blumenthal, G. Henderson, J. Garrett, J Bussey-Jones, M. Moloney, R.S. Sandler, S. Williams Lloyd, J. Dorrance, J. Darter. “Studying Genetic Research Participants: Lessons from the ‘Learning About Research in North Carolina’ Study”, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, 2008, August 17(8): 2019-24.

Akers AY, Bernstein LB, Doyle J, Corbie-Smith G. Older Women and HIV Testing: Examining the Relationship between HIV Testing History, Age and Lifetime HIV Risk Behaviors. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 2008, Apr;35(4):420-423.

Henderson G, Garrett J, Bussey-Jones J, Moloney ME, Blumenthal C, Corbie-Smith, G. Great Expectations: Views of genetic research participants regarding current and future genetic studies. Genetics in Medicine, 2008 Mar;10(3):193-200.

Ford C, Konrad TR, Godette DC, Corbie-Smith G, Acceptance of routine ELISA testing among black women STD patients: Relationship to patient-provider racial Concordance, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Mar 2008;35(3): 211-3.

Cherrington A, Corbie-Smith G, Pathman DE, Do adults who believe in periodic health examinations receive more clinical preventive services? Preventive Medicine, 2007 Oct; 45(4):282-9.

Durant R, Davis R, St. George DM, Williams IC, Blumenthal C, Corbie-Smith G, “Participation in Research Studies: Factors Associated with Failing to Meet Minority Recruitment Goals,” American Journal of Epidemiology, 2007 Aug;17(8):634-42

Akers A, Bernstein L, Henderson S, Doyle J, Corbie-Smith G, “Factors Associated with Interest in HIV Testing in Older At-Risk Women,” Journal of Women’s Health, 2007, June, 16(6):842-58.

Sapienza J, Corbie-Smith G, Keim S, Fleischman A, “Community Engagement in Epidemiological Research,” Ambulatory Pediatrics, 2007 May-Jun;7(3):247-52.

Corbie-Smith G, Williams IC, Blumenthal C, Dorrance J, Estroff SE, Henderson G. Relationships and communication in minority participation in research: Multidimensional and multidirectional. Journal of the National Medical Association, 2007, May, 99(5): 489-498.

Fowler-Brown A, Corbie-Smith G, Garrett J, Lurie N “Risk of Cardiovascular Events and Death – Does Insurance Matter?” Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2007, April, 22(4):502-7.

Sterling R, Henderson G, Corbie-Smith G, “Public Willingness to Participate in and Opinions about Genetic Variation Research: A Review of the Literature,” American Journal of Public Health, 2006, 96(11): 1971-1978

Corbie-Smith G, Durant R, St. George DM, “Investigators’ Assessment of NIH Mandated Inclusion of Women and Minorities in Research,” Contemporary Clinical Trials, 2006, 27(6): 571-79

Williams IC, Corbie-Smith G, “Investigator Beliefs and Reported Success in Recruiting Minority Participants,” Contemporary Clinical Trials, 2006, 27(6): 580-586

Cherrington A, Guadalupe A, Sleath B, Corbie-Smith G, “Examining Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs About Depression Among Latino Adults with Type 2 Diabetes,” The Diabetes Educator, July/August 2006, 32(4): 1-11

Pathman DE, Fowler-Brown A, Corbie-Smith G, “Differences in Access to Outpatient Medical Care for Black and White Adults in the Rural Southeast,” Medical Care, May 2006, 44(5): 429-438

Corbie-Smith G, Ford CL, “Distrust and Poor Self-reported Health, “Canaries in the Coal Mine?” Journal of General Internal Medicine, April 2006, 21(4): 395-977

Fowler-Brown A, Ashkin E, Corbie-Smith G, Thaker S, Pathman DE, “Perceptions of Racial Barriers to Health Care in a Southern Rural Population,” Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, February 2006, 17(1): 86-100

Paranjape A, Bernstein L, St. George DM, Doyle J, Henderson S, Corbie-Smith G, “Effect of Relationship Factors on Safer Sex Decisions in Older Inner-City Women,” Journal of Women’s Health January-February 2006, 15(1): 90-97

Bussey-Jones, Genao I, St. George DM, Corbie-Smith G, “The Meaning of Race: Use of Race in the Clinical Setting,” Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Medicine, October 2005, 146(4): 205-209

Bussey-Jones J, Genao I, St. George DM, Corbie-Smith G “Knowledge of Cultural Competence Among Third-Year Medical Students,” Journal of the National Medical Association, September 2005, 97(9): 1272-1276

Corbie-Smith G, “Minority Recruitment and Participation in Health Research.” North Carolina Medical Journal, November-December 2004, 65(6): 385-387

Horner RD, Salazar W, Geiger J, Bullock K, Corbie-Smith G, Cornog M, Flores G, “Changing Healthcare Professionals' Behaviors to Eliminate Disparities in Healthcare: What Do We Know? How Might We Proceed?” American Journal of Managed Care, September 2004, 10: SP12-SP19

Henderson SJ, Bernstein LB, St. George DM, Doyle JP, Paranjape A, Corbie-Smith G, “Older Women and HIV: How Much Do They Know and Where are They Getting Their Information?” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, September 2004, 52(9): 1549-1553

Sengupta, S, Corbie-Smith G, Thrasher, A, Strauss, R, “African American Elders’ Perception of the Influenza Vaccine in Durham, North Carolina,” North Carolina Medical Journal, July/August 2004, 65:(4) 194-199

Fouad M, Corbie-Smith G, Curb D, Howard B, Mouton C, Simon M, Talavera G, Thompson J, Wang CY, White C, Young R, “Special Population Recruitment for the Women’s Health Initiative: Successes and Limitations,” Controlled Clinical Trials, August 2004, 25(4): 335-352

Corbie-Smith G, Moody-Ayers S, Thrasher A, “Closing the Circle: Minority Inclusion in Research and Reduction of Health Disparities, Archives of Internal Medicine, July 2004, 164: 1362-1364

Sengupta S, Strauss RP, Corbie-Smith G, Thrasher A, “What Can the Elderly Do to Protect Themselves from the Flu in Addition to Getting a Flu Vaccination?” American Journal of Public Health, June 2004, 94(6): 905

Hutchinson AB, Corbie-Smith G, Thomas SB, DelRio C, “Understanding the Patient’s Perspective on Innovative Approaches to HIV Counseling & Testing: Results from Qualitative Research in a High Risk Population,” AIDS Education and Prevention, April 2004, 16(2): 101-114

Torke AM, Corbie-Smith G, Branch WT, “African American Patients’ Perspectives on Medical Decision Making,” Archives of Internal Medicine, March 2004, 164: 525-530

Corbie-Smith G, Miller W, Ransohoff DF, “Interpretations of ‘Appropriate’ Minority Inclusion in Clinical Research,” American Journal of Medicine, February 2004, 116: 249-252

Ammerman A, Corbie-Smith G, St. George DM, Weathers B, Washington C, “Research Expectations Among African American Church Leaders in the PRAISE! Project: A Randomized Trial Guided by Community-Based Participatory Research,” American Journal of Public Health, October 2003, 93(10): 1720-1727

Genao I, Bussey-Jones J, Corbie- Smith G, Brady D, “Building the Case for Cultural Competence,” American Journal of Medical Sciences, September 2003, 326(3): 136-140

Corbie-Smith G, Ammerman A, Katz M, St. George DM, Blumenthal C, Washington C, Weathers B, Keyserling T, Switzer B, “Trust, Benefit, Satisfaction and Burden in a Randomized Controlled Trial to Reduce Cancer Risk through African American Churches Using a Community-Based Participatory Research Approach,” Journal of General Internal Medicine, July 2003, 18(7): 531-541

Corbie- Smith G, St. George DM, Moody-Ayers S, Ransohoff DF, “Adequacy of Reporting Race/Ethnicity in Clinical Trials in Areas of Health Disparities,” Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, May 2003, 56(4) 416-420

Corbie-Smith G, Viscoli C, Kernan W, Brass L, Sarrel P, Horwitz R, “Influence of Race, Clinical and Other Sociodemographic Features on Trial Participation” Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, April 2003, 56(4) 304-309

Corbie-Smith G, Thomas SB, St. George DM, “Distrust, Race and Research,” Archives of Internal Medicine, November 2002, 162: 2458-2463

Brady D, Corbie-Smith G, Branch W, “’What’s Important to You?’: The Use of Narratives to Promote Self-Reflection and to Understand the Experiences of Medical Residents,” Annals of Internal Medicine, August 2002, 137: 220-223

Corbie-Smith G, Flagg EW, Doyle JP, O’Brien MA, “The Influence of a Usual Source of Care on Differences by Race/Ethnicity in Receipt of Preventive Services,” Journal of General Internal Medicine, June 2002, 17: 458-464

Frank E, Kunovich-Frieze T, Corbie-Smith G, “Characteristics of Women Internists,” Medscape General Medicine, March 18, 2002, 4(1): 11

Corbie-Smith G, Frank E, Nickens H, “The Intersection of Race, Gender and Primary Care in US Physicians: Results from the Women Physicians’ Health Study,” Journal of the National Medical Association, October 2000, 92: 472-480

Corbie-Smith G, Thomas S, Williams M, Moody-Ayers S, “Attitudes and beliefs of African Americans Toward Participation in Medical Research,” Journal of General Internal Medicine, September 1999, 14: 537-546

Corbie-Smith G, “Tuskegee as a Metaphor,” Science, July 1999, 284(5424): 47

Corbie-Smith G, Frank E, Nickens H, Elon L, “Prevalence and Correlates of Ethnic Harassment in the U.S. Women Physicians’ Health Study,” Academic Medicine, June 1999, 74(6): 695-701

Corbie-Smith G “The Continuing Controversy of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study: Implications for Clinical Research,” American Journal of Medical Sciences, January 1999, 317(1): 5-8

E-mail: gcorbie@med.unc.edu
Telephone: (919) 843-6877
FAX: (919) 966-7499
Address: 342 C MacNider Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7240

Click here to update this profile