Dr. Alicia Cohen stands as a distinguished figure in the realm of Abfm Family Medicine, seamlessly blending her clinical practice with impactful health services research. Her multifaceted roles as an Investigator at the VA Center of Innovation in Long Term Services and Supports and Assistant Professor at Brown University’s Alpert Medical School and School of Public Health highlight her commitment to advancing healthcare. Within these esteemed institutions, she dedicates her expertise to Family Medicine and Health Services, Policy, and Practice, shaping future generations of medical professionals and contributing significantly to healthcare research. Dr. Cohen’s direct patient care at the VA Providence Healthcare System, serving both the Homeless clinic and Women’s Health clinic, further grounds her academic pursuits in the realities of diverse patient populations.
Dr. Cohen’s research is laser-focused on understanding and effectively addressing social determinants of health within clinical environments, with a particular emphasis on the pervasive issue of food insecurity. As a recipient of the VA Career Development Award, she is at the forefront of developing and rigorously evaluating innovative strategies designed to optimize the processes of screening and referral. These strategies aim to connect Veterans grappling with food insecurity with vital resources, both within the VA system and in their wider communities. The significant impact of her work is underscored by citations in Congressional testimony concerning Veteran and military hunger, demonstrating its relevance at the highest levels of policy and decision-making. Further amplifying her influence, Dr. Cohen co-leads the national VA initiative “Assessing Circumstances and Offering Resources for Needs” (ACORN), a collaborative endeavor with the VA Office of Health Equity and VA National Social Work Program, tackling social risk screening and referral on a national scale. Her service extends to numerous national VA committees and workgroups, and she lends her expertise to the Research Advisory Committee for the Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network (SIREN), contributing to the broader landscape of social interventions research. Currently, Dr. Cohen’s engagement as a VA Fellow with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Roundtable on the Promotion of Health Equity further solidifies her dedication to health equity at a national level.
Dr. Cohen’s robust academic foundation began with her MD from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She honed her skills in family medicine, completing her residency training at the UCSF-Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, followed by a specialized Integrative Medicine Fellowship at the University of Michigan, showcasing her interest in holistic patient care. Her pursuit of advanced knowledge led her to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program at the University of Michigan, where she earned a master’s degree in Health and Health Care Research, strengthening her research capabilities. Subsequently, Dr. Cohen completed an Advanced Health Services Research & Development Fellowship at the VA Ann Arbor Center for Clinical Management Research and the VA Providence Center of Innovation in Long Term Services and Supports, solidifying her expertise in health services research and her commitment to the VA system. Through her dedication to ABFM family medicine principles and her pioneering research, Dr. Cohen is making substantial contributions to improving healthcare access and outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations.
