Researcher Spotlight: Jason Brown

Jason Brown
Assistant Professor – Digestive Diseases
2022 FAME Grant Awardee

What is your professional background?
I have a BS in Biology and a BA in Political Science from the University of Georgia. I received my MD from Emory in 2010. I also completed Internal Medicine Residency and Gastroenterology Fellowship here at Emory. Although I have enjoyed every step of my education, I particularly value my Political Science degree for the enduring cultural and civic perspective it affords me in the micro and macroscale practice of medicine.

In what division do you work, and who is your mentor?
I work in the Division of Digestive Diseases. My mentor is Bhavin Adhyaru, an Associate Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine.

Tell us about your FAME grant project, why it is important, and what it means to you to receive funding?
We have been redesigning how GI patients are referred and flow through the entire Grady Health System, and the primary mechanism for this is a new GI referral Smart Order Set in Epic. This project is designed to accompany the roll out of this new Smart Order set, with two main aims. The first is to study the impact of this smart order set on referral volumes, triage of acuity, and scheduling efficiency; the second is to educate Grady providers and trainees about colon cancer screening options and increase the number of Grady patients who undergo colon cancer screening. This is critical, as our Grady patient population disproportionately suffers the ill effects of healthcare disparities, resulting in lower-than-average colorectal cancer screening rates as well as higher-than-average colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. Lives are being lost, and we have a real chance to help fix this.

What do you like most about Emory?
From day one of medical school, I have done all of my training here, so Emory feels like home and feels like family. I am incredibly proud to hold a degree from here, and I’m honored to now be teaching and contributing to our educational and research missions.

What is your favorite movie or TV show?
Anything that keeps my 4-year-old happy! But with limited screen time, I like to sneak in Throttle House and Straight Pipes car reviews.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Taking my daughter for bike rides, visiting with my family, trying out new restaurants with friends, gardening, and cooking–especially Cajun and Creole food.

What is a fun fact about you?
I have an 80qt pot, a propane burner, and I can throw a crawfish boil like a pro!