Written by: Souha Farhat, MD
Meet Dr. Paula Shireman
Dr. Paula Shireman, MD, MS, MBA, is a Professor in the Departments of Medical Physiology and Primary Care & Rural Medicine at the College of Medicine at Texas A&M University. As a vascular surgeon, wound care specialist, and clinical informatician, she balances clinical responsibilities, teaching, and groundbreaking research.
In her clinical practice, Dr. Shireman runs a Wound Care Clinic, where she precepts medical students and Family Medicine residents. Her teaching responsibilities extend to medical and graduate student courses, fostering the next generation of healthcare professionals.
However, the majority of her time is dedicated to research. She leads a pilot project in collaboration with the College of Engineering, developing artificial intelligence algorithms to monitor activities of daily living (ADLs) in older adults. This project holds promising applications in aging in place, healthcare and assisted living facilities, and remote patient monitoring. Additionally, her research interests include predictive modeling, machine learning, the impact of social risk factors on health outcomes, and Health Digital Twins for clinical decision support and collaboration. She also collaborates with translational scientists to develop tissue-engineered vascular grafts and wound healing materials for diabetic foot ulcers and burn wounds.
More about her work and publications can be found on her Scholars@TAMU profile and her NCBI bibliography.
A Connection with the PE Lab
Dr. Shireman’s involvement with the Patient Engagement, Diversity, and Education Research Laboratory (PE Lab) began during her time as a visiting professor for the Department of Surgery at Houston Methodist. She collaborates with Dr. Amy Waterman on the AIM-AHEAD project, “Establishment of a Texas Cardiometabolic and Kidney Disparities (Tx-CKD) Consortium to Improve Medication Compliance and Access to Transplant for African Americans and Hispanics.” This partnership was a natural fit, given her dedication to addressing disparities in healthcare access and outcomes.
Research Synergies with the PE Lab
Dr. Shireman’s work closely aligns with the PE Lab’s mission, particularly her research on social determinants of health and their impact on surgical outcomes and costs. Her studies have demonstrated that patients from highly deprived neighborhoods often present for surgery at a higher acuity level, even when they have private insurance or Medicare. This increases their likelihood of undergoing urgent or emergency surgeries, which are associated with worse outcomes compared to elective procedures. Additionally, these patients frequently present with acute conditions such as kidney failure or pneumonia, further complicating their treatment and recovery.
Contributions and Future Role with the PE Lab
Recognizing the importance of patient and caregiver engagement in improving health outcomes, Dr. Shireman is committed to studying how social risk factors influence access to care and treatment adherence. She envisions an expanded role within the PE Lab as it transitions into a Center, serving as a co-investigator on grants and leveraging Houston Methodist’s data resources to drive impactful healthcare improvements.
What She Values Most About the PE Lab
One of Dr. Shireman’s greatest takeaways from her involvement with the PE Lab is the interdisciplinary collaboration among experts from diverse fields. She has been particularly impressed by the team’s dedication and access to valuable data. Her work with the lab includes contributing to a manuscript that applies artificial intelligence algorithms to predict the risk of patient dropout from transplant listings, further showcasing her commitment to data-driven healthcare solutions.
Beyond Research: Personal Interests and Background
Outside of her professional endeavors, Dr. Shireman is a dedicated fan of Aggie sports and cherishes spending time with her friends and family. Having grown up on a farm in Indiana, she has a deep-rooted passion for improving rural healthcare. Now based in Texas, she takes pride in raising her three Texas-born children and remains committed to addressing healthcare disparities in underserved communities.
Hopes for the PE Lab’s Impact
Dr. Shireman envisions the PE Lab making a significant difference in patient care, particularly for underserved populations. By identifying and addressing systemic barriers to healthcare access, she believes the lab can help bridge disparities and improve outcomes for vulnerable patient groups.
Advice for Those Considering the PE Lab
For those thinking about getting involved with the PE Lab, Dr. Shireman shares practical yet inspiring advice: Just do it! The lab provides a dynamic and collaborative environment filled with dedicated professionals working toward meaningful healthcare solutions.
Through her research, mentorship, and advocacy, Dr. Paula Shireman continues to push the boundaries of healthcare innovation, ensuring that patients from all backgrounds receive equitable and high-quality care.