Researcher - Primary Care Data & Policy

American Academy of Family Physicians

We are an equal opportunity employer. Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color or any other protected class. Minorities are encouraged to apply. EEO Employer / Vets / Disabled.

Washington, DC

Hours:

Monday-Friday (hybrid)

Travel:
Approximately 5 days per year

When you join the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), you are at the center of transforming health care. You are at the leading edge of ensuring family doctors have what they need to adapt, and you are part of a legacy that has been instrumental in improving and advocating for family medicine since 1947. Make an impact that matters. Be Team AAFP.

The Robert Graham Center seeks a Researcher to lead and support innovative, policy‑relevant research focused on primary care. This role requires expertise in analyzing electronic health record (EHR) and claims data (across Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers) for primary care health services research. The ideal candidate will also have experience in grant writing and a strong interest in advancing primary care through data‑driven insights.

Familiarity with Microsimulations, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), and Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a plus.

• Design and execute research projects using EHR and claims data to answer primary care‑relevant questions.
• Develop and apply simulation models to forecast policy outcomes and workforce trends.
• Lead and contribute to grant proposals, including conceptualization, writing, budgeting, and submission.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to shape research agendas and dissemination strategies.
• Mentor junior analysts and contribute to the professional development of non‑PhD staff.
• Translate complex data findings into actionable insights for policymakers, clinicians, and stakeholders.
• Author peer‑reviewed publications, policy briefs, and presentations.
• Represent the Center in national forums, expert panels, and stakeholder meetings.

• PhD, or Master’s degree with at least 5 years of relevant experience in Health Services Research, Public Health, Economics, Epidemiology, or related field.
• Experience working with EHR and claims data (Medicare, Medicaid, commercial).
• Proven track record of peer‑reviewed publication.
• Strong programming skills in SAS, R, Python, Stata, or similar tools.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a small, mission‑driven team.

• Experience with NLP techniques applied to clinical or administrative data.
• Familiarity with national survey datasets (e.g., MEPS, NHIS) and statistical methods for surveys.
• Prior work in primary care or family medicine research.
• Prior success in securing research funding.
• Experience with data use agreements (DUAs) and privacy compliance.

$84,212.00 - $

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and encourage all qualified applicants to apply. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, marital status, religion, physical or mental disability, military/veteran status, or any other protected status.

Interested in this position? Apply online and create a personal candidate account!