The Qualitative Research Core in the University of Colorado School of Medicine (CU-SOM)’s Division of General Internal Medicine (GIM) supports rigorous qualitative research conducted by GIM investigators.  Designed to optimize GIM’s capacity for qualitative research, the Core’s activities include scientific and operational direction of qualitative research at GIM, including pre- and post-award design and methods consultation, qualitative methods training and education, and facilitation of knowledge translation into actionable implementation strategies.

The Core is directed by Dr. Karen Albright and also includes Dr. Jennifer Portz, Dr. Brad Morse, Dr. Brittney Fraumeni, Ms. Hannah Bauguess, and Ms. Lily King. The Core encompasses a wide variety of skillsets relevant to qualitative research, including expertise in user-centered design, community engagement, data visualization, journey mapping, mixed-methods design, focus groups, interviews, ethnographic observation, survey and questionnaire development, and analytic techniques including thematic analysis and rapid qualitative analysis. The Core is also skilled with tools such as REDCap, Mural, ATLAS.ti, NVivo, and Dedoose.

To request an initial 30 minute consultation, please complete the Qualitative Research Support Request Form. This form is designed to manage requests efficiently and capture information that the Core will need to prioritize requests, estimate effort, and support the Division most effectively.

Dr. Karen Albright, PhD, MSW, MA
Director of GIM Qualitative Core
Associate Professor

Dr. Karen Albright is Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of Qualitative Research in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She is also Senior Investigator and Director of Community Engaged Research at OCHIN, a nonprofit health care innovation center focused on health equity (ochin.org). A health services researcher and sociologist, her substantive research agenda focuses on health disparities and the social determinants of mental and physical health among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. She is particularly interested in understanding the structural and psychosocial factors influencing the health behaviors and outcomes of these populations, identifying barriers to the care they receive, and testing potential solutions for improving care.

Dr. Albright has significant experience mentoring junior investigators, obtaining external funding, working collaboratively in teams, and in research leadership. In addition to her leadership roles at GIM and OCHIN, she previously served for three years as the Associate Director of the Denver-Seattle Center of Innovation (COIN); for five years as the Founding Director of the Qualitative Research Core at the Adult and Child Center for Health Outcomes Research and Delivery Science (ACCORDS); and for three years as the Director of the Qualitative Research Core in the Center for Research in Implementation Science and Prevention (CRISP), an AHRQ-funded Center of Excellence.

Lily King, MPH
Qualitative Core Program Specialist

Lily King earned her undergraduate degrees in public health and sociology from Tulane University and completed her MPH in Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences with a concentration in maternal and child health at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She is passionate about the application of innovative qualitative methods in health sciences research. As the Qualitative Core Program Specialist, she supports qualitative research led by investigators within the Department of General Internal Medicine. 

Jennifer Portz, PhD

Brad Morse, PhD, MA

Brittney Fraumeni, PhD

Hannah Bauguess