MyVoice researchers – including faculty-level members, staff and students — presented numerous program-generated research projects at the NAPCRG family medicine and primary care international conference in late 2025. Pictured above, from left to right, include Ailish Dougherty, Janaye Jones, MyVoice Manager Marika Waselewski, MyVoice Director Tammy Chang, MD, MPH, MS, Carson Downer, Mahesh Gupta, Catherine Frost, Kaitlyn Farrell, Claire Mellott and Alyssa Tisch.
Members of the national text-based survey of young people ages 14-24 presented on many areas of youth well-being, including their perspectives on HIV testing and decision making; the use of oral nicotine pouches; and use of zero-proof alcohol, among other topics.
The 53rd annual conference, which attracts thousands of family medicine and primary care physicians and researchers from North America and around the world, was held in late November 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
“Now more than ever, sharing the findings of research is critical to improving health and healthcare in America,” said MyVoice Director Tammy Chang, MD, MPH, MS, associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan, which supports the initiative. “I am incredibly proud of our teams who presented their high-impact work at NAPCRG this year.”
“They are excellent examples of why the University of Michigan and the Department of Family Medicine are so impactful at the local and international level.
Alyssa Tisch, a U-M undergraduate student and MyVoice team member presented the research, “Assessment of U.S. Youth Perspectives on Zero-Proof Alcohol.”
She also participated in a special session as a nominee for the NACPRG Distinguished Trainee Award, which she shared with fellow MyVoice member Catherine Frost. The session highlighted outstanding primary care research conducted by trainees. Presenters were selected from submissions to NAPCRG’s Student, Residents and Fellows (SRF) Call for Papers.
“I felt so incredibly honored for the opportunity to share my research findings in Atlanta,” said Tisch, who gave the presentation. “The questions asked of me, and the discussions I had were incredibly insightful and will lead to further great advancements. Additionally, seeing everyone else’s research taught me a great deal, and I left this conference feeling very inspired.
Carson Downer, a U-M undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Public Policy with minors in political science as well as law, justice, and social change, conducted an oral presentation titled, “Perspectives of United States Youth on Distracted Driving and Hands-Free Driving Laws.”
“Presenting our research at NAPCRG was an energizing opportunity to engage with colleagues who are shaping the future of public health and primary care,” he said. “The insights and dialogue we received will guide our next steps as we work to advance evidence-driven policy solutions that truly make a difference for young people in communities across the country.
“I’m deeply grateful for the research team whose dedication and collaboration made this progress possible,” he added.
Ailish Dougherty, a fourth-year University of Michigan Medical School student applying into Family Medicine residency, presented research about youth perspectives on oral nicotine pouches.
“NAPCRG was an amazing opportunity to get feedback from practicing physicians and aspiring healthcare professionals on the practical application of my research on Zyn oral nicotine pouches,” she said. “I had a lot of people come up to my poster and say, ‘Wow, I’d never heard of that before! I’m going to keep an eye out for it,’ which was exciting when thinking about how to create a web of support around teens struggling with nicotine addiction.
MyVoice program manager Marika Waselewski marveled at the amount and quality of presentations given by MyVoice’s researchers in training.
“I love the opportunities conferences like NAPCRG give our learners and team members to not only share their work but also grow as professionals,” she said. “Watching them translate their hard work and expertise into thoughtful presentations, communicate with clarity and confidence, and take pride in what they’ve accomplished is incredibly rewarding.”
“We get to see them soar and others get to see just how remarkable their work truly is!”
To see the full list of oral and poster presentations, forums and workshops, please read the NAPCRG pre-event story.
