Story by Ryan Gauthier, rjgauthier@health.missouri.edu

Kate Trout, an assistant professor with the Department of Health Sciences, has earned the 2024 New Investigator Research Award from the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG).

The NAPCRG Marjorie Bowman and Robert Choplin New Investigator Research Award honors outstanding contributions by a new primary care investigator. This international recognition highlights Trout’s independent scholarship and the cumulative impact of her work.

“I’m incredibly honored to receive the Marjorie Bowman and Robert Choplin New Investigator Research Award,” Trout said. “It’s a milestone I never imagined reaching so early in my career, and it truly means a great deal to me. This award acknowledges not just a single project but the collective efforts of my work, which feels genuinely affirming as a new investigator in primary care.”

Trout’s research focuses on creating equitable health systems in the U.S. and internationally through the use of health information technologies, workforce development, and health policy. She’s currently the co-principal investigator on a $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Convergence Accelerator program. The project aims to develop innovative technology to rapidly detect and mitigate salmonella and other foodborne pathogens in the poultry supply chain.

“Primary care is the cornerstone of a healthy society, and I want to work toward making innovations that matter,” Trout added. “This recognition fuels my passion to explore questions that matter to patients and healthcare providers, while incorporating the social determinants of health to decrease the burden on health care systems. Moving forward, I’m committed to building solutions that are accessible, equitable, sustainable and effective.”

Trout said collaboration has been integral to her success so far, noting she works alongside inspiring colleagues within the UM System, at other institutions, internationally, and through NAPCRG.

“Their support has been invaluable, and we cannot do this work alone,” she said. “I hope this honor allows me to expand the reach and impact of my work, connecting with others equally dedicated to improving primary care.”

Trout was recognized during the 2024 NAPCRG Annual Meeting, which was held Nov. 20-24 in Québec City, Canada.