Research at the School of Medicine

Internal Medicine Research

Led by Elizabeth Jacobs, MD, MAPP, FACP, the Department of Internal Medicine at the UC Riverside School of Medicine collaborates closely with hospital and physician partners to fulfill their mission. Internal medicine research serves as the backbone of modern clinical practice, focusing on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of complex diseases. By bridging the gap between bench-side science and bedside care, this field investigates everything from infectious disease management and public health interventions to the long-term management of chronic conditions. The following studies highlight recent efforts to optimize emergency care, improve vaccination uptake, and understand the lived experiences of patients navigating the healthcare system.

Internal Medicine Research

COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Messaging in Emergency Departments: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial

In this 3-arm, cluster randomized clinical trial of 852 participants across 6 EDs, neither a tailored messaging intervention nor inquiry about vaccine acceptance significantly increased 30-day vaccine uptake compared with usual care. These findings suggest that tailored messaging and simple inquiry alone may be insufficient to increase updated COVID-19 vaccine uptake among ED patients.

Molina MF, Eucker SA, Rising KL, Kean ER, Rafique Z, Mesbah H, Glidden DV, Arreguin MI, Alvarez C, Rodriguez RM.

JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(10):e2537655. Epub 20251001. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.37655. PubMed PMID: 41091465; PMCID: PMC12529187.

Validation of the naloxone cardiac arrest decision instrument for identifying opioid-associated cardiac arrests

Up to fifteen percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) are precipitated by occult drug overdose - cases without history or evidence of drug use that are often attributed to a non-overdose cause. We conducted a retrospective validation using data from EMS-attended OHCA patients and coroner records in Ontario, Canada between 2020-2021. NACARDI had a sensitivity and specificity sufficiently high to aid in the real-time identification of occult OA-OHCA in the field. NACARDI has the potential to guide targeted interventions for OA-OHCA.

Dillon DG, Allan KS, Montoy JCC, Visanji M, Rodriguez RM, Lin S, Wang RC.

2025;217:110851. Epub 20251006. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2025.110851. PubMed PMID: 41062055; PMCID: PMC12716235.

Rates of Recommended Shingles Vaccination and Interest Among Emergency Department Patients: A Multicenter Study

Shingles is a condition with a high risk of complications. Vaccination can reduce the risk of postherpetic neuralgia, and guidelines recommend all adults aged ≥50 years be vaccinated. Recent data also suggest reductions in dementia and cardiovascular disease. However, insufficient primary care access can lead some individuals to miss routine preventive care, receiving the majority of their care instead in the emergency department (ED). In this multicenter study, we sought to determine vaccination status and acceptability of the shingles vaccine among eligible ED patients.

Gottlieb M, Slocum G, Sekar S, Chinnock B, Eucker SA, Kumar VA, Molina MF, Rising KL, Torres JR, Rodriguez RM.

Ann Emerg Med. 2026;87(2):267-269. Epub 20251002. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2025.09.001. PubMed PMID: 41037039.

Variability in Long COVID Definitions and Validation of Published Prevalence Rates

What is the prevalence of long COVID in the Innovative Support for Patients With SARS-CoV-2 Infections Registry (INSPIRE) cohort based on definitions in published literature? The findings suggest that long COVID prevalence estimates vary as a function of disparate definitions used.

Wisk LE, L'Hommedieu M, Diaz Roldan K, Ebna Mannan I, Spatz ES, Weinstein RA, Venkatesh AK, Gottlieb M, Huebinger R, Rising KL, Montoy JCC, Stephens KA, Rodriguez RM, Hill MJ, O'Laughlin KN, Gentile NL, Idris AH, Li SX, Santangelo M, Kean ER, McDonald SA, Gatling K, Elmore JG, Group I.

JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(8):e2526506. Epub 20250801. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.26506. PubMed PMID: 40794409; PMCID: PMC12344537.

Bridging the Gap: Chronic Disease and Research Awareness Study

This study explores how adults living with chronic conditions—and parents of children with chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, or autism—view medical research, treatments like stem cell therapy, and access to innovative care. Participants share their experiences in a one-time focus group to help improve how future research meets community needs in the Inland Empire. 

PI: Elizabeth Jacobs, MD

Understanding Parents’ Healthcare Journeys Study 

This study focuses on mothers of elementary-aged children who have received care at UCR Health La Quinta within the past year. Through a one-time interview, researchers aim to learn more about families’ experiences navigating the healthcare system to identify ways to make pediatric care more responsive, accessible, and family-centered. 

PI: Elizabeth Jacobs, MD