# Better Together: Leveraging primary care and social network resources to create a patient-centered approach to improve diabetes among immigrant communities

> **NIH NIH K23** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $152,378

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The long-term objective of this project is to improve the reach and uptake of evidence-based lifestyle programs
to reduce disparities in diabetes (T2D) related outcomes among immigrant men. The study will explore the
role of social networks, defined as family and peers, to support healthy lifestyle behaviors among immigrant
men through the shared medical appointment model and to understand the diffusion of health behaviors
amongst participants’ social networks. The aims are to: (1a & 1b) Qualitatively explore perceptions and
cultural preferences for a clinic-based shared medical appointment intensive lifestyle intervention to inform
program adaptation; (2) Conduct a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of social network-
based (participant + social partner) versus individual-based (participant only) SMA ILI among South Asian and
West African immigrant participants with prediabetes/T2D; and (3) Assess the behavioral outcomes of the pilot
intervention amongst members of participants’ social networks to determine if there are spillover effects. The
project will prepare Dr. Shah to transition to an independent clinician scientist using innovative health system-
based models to leverage family and social networks to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities
among vulnerable populations. Her career development plan includes these training goals to: (1) Gain skills in
cultural adaptation of an intervention to reduce prediabetes/T2D; (2) Develop expertise in pragmatic evaluation
design, protocols, and analysis; (3) Obtain advanced skills in social network analysis; and (4) Advance skills in
presentation, manuscript and grant-writing. The research will be conducted in the primary care setting of the
Emory Family Medicine Center in Dunwoody, GA, which serves a diverse patient population and is the site of
Dr. Shah’s clinical practice. This K23 Career Development Award will also leverage the training resources of
the Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance. Results from this project will provide pilot data for an
R01/R18 application to further evaluate the reach and uptake of culturally adapted lifestyle interventions for
immigrant men with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, an underrepresented group in current translational
studies to date.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10589073
- **Project number:** 5K23MD015088-04
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Megha Shah
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $152,378
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-06-19 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10589073

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10589073, Better Together: Leveraging primary care and social network resources to create a patient-centered approach to improve diabetes among immigrant communities (5K23MD015088-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10589073. Licensed CC0.

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