Bowen to examine the impact of rurality on outcomes in cystic fibrosis-related diabetes

Elizabeth Bowen, MD, clinical assistant professor in Endocrinology and Metabolism, has received a three-year, $193,060 career development and training grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). The organization’s EnVision Emerging Leaders in CF Endocrinology IV Program identifies and supports physician leaders interested cystic fibrosis-related endocrine disorders (CFRD).

Through the program, Bowen will have access to structured education as well as a mentorship team involving national leaders in cystic fibrosis from the University of Iowa and other institutions. Katie Larson Ode, MD, MS, clinical professor in Pediatric Endocrinology, and Doug Hornick, MD, professor in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine, will serve as her Iowa mentors.

The CFF program also blocks time for Bowen to conduct research into rurality’s effects on care. Using data from the CF patient registry, Bowen will examine how proximity to an accredited CF center impacts outcomes in CFRD.

Bowen notes that, although researchers have looked at rurality as it relates to cystic fibrosis in Australia, nobody has looked at this in the US and not specifically with CFRD. “We know rurality impacts outcomes for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but it has not been explored in CFRD.”

Distance from care, she said, is “always top-of-mind when taking care of Iowans.” She hopes that results from her research may lead to better use of diabetes care technology and improved telemedicine options for people with CFRD.

Calling her “a rising leader in the field” in an email announcement, Division Director Ayotunde Dokun, MD, PhD, FACE, said that Bowen’s addition to “this highly competitive program” was evidence of her “outstanding commitment to patient care and academic excellence.”