Summaries of Independent Scientist (K) Awards

Mayer, Michelle (deceased)

Institution: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Grant Title: Access to Pediatric Subspecialty Care in the USA
Grant Number:  K02 HS0133090
Duration: 4 years (2003-2007)
Total Award: $293,675

Project Description: This project had five main goals:

1. To depict the practice location of pediatric and adult subspecialists.
2. To explore the relationship between county characteristics and access to pediatric subspecialty care.
3. To ascertain the extent to which adult subspecialists expand access to care for children with rheumatic diseases To describe the practice patterns of subspecialists, their comfort with treating a variety of pediatric conditions, and the practice, provider, and market characteristics that influence their decisions to treat pediatric patients.
4. To determine the independent effects of selected training, personal, and practice characteristics on the likelihood that an adult subspecialist treats pediatric patients.  In addition, two pilot studies explored the role of general pediatricians in treating children with rheumatic conditions and compared care received across physician management types for children with JRA were be conducted.

Career Goals: The former grantee was a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Administration at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a Research Associate at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research also at Chapel Hill.  Dr. Mayer received both her M.P.H. and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and was awarded a post-doc at the Sheps Center for Health Services Research.

Progress to Date: This grant was completed.  Highlights from the research can be found in the publications listed below.

Highlights and Specific Accomplishments:

• Professional Organizations:
  • Academy for Health Services Research and Health Policy.
  • Registered Nurse, State of NC.
  • Reviewer, American Journal of Public Health
  • Reviewer, WHO Bulletin.
• National Research Service Award (NRSA) Pre-Doctoral Fellowship.

K-Generated Publications:

Mayer ML, Skinner AC.  Too many, too few, too concentrated?  A review of the pediatric subspecialty workforce literature. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 2004. 158(12):1158-65.

Mayer ML. Are we there yet? Distance to care and relative supply among pediatric medical subspecialities in the United States. Pediatrics 2006. 118(6):2313-21.

Mayer ML, Brogan LA, Sandborg CI. Availability of pediatric rheumatology training in US pediatric residencies. Arthritis & Rheumatism 2006. 55(6):836-42.

Skinner AC, Slifkin RT, Mayer ML. The effect of rural residence on dental unmet need for children with special health care needs. Journal of Rural Health 2007. 22(1):36-42.

Bergman DA, Mayer ML, Pantell RH, et al. Does patient presentation explain practice variability in the treatment of febrile infants? Pediatrics 2006. 117(3):787-95.

Mayer ML, Slifkin RT, Skinner AC. Rural residence and perception of need for preventive and specialty care among children with special health care needs. Medical Care Research and Review 2006. 62(5):617-28.

Mayer ML, Preisser JS. The changing composition of the pediatric subspecialty workforce. Pediatrics 2005: 116(4):833-40.

Mayer ML, Skinner AC, Slifkin RF. Unmet need for routine and specialty care: data for the national survey of children with special health care needs. Pediatrics 2004. 113(2):e109-15.

Skinner AC, Mayer ML, et al. Health status and health care expenditures in a nationally representative sample: How do overweight and health-weight children compare? Pediatrics 2008. 121(2):e269-E277.

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