Rebecca Brienza

Rebecca Brienza, MD, MPH, is an Associate Professor of Medicine (General Medicine) at Yale School of Medicine and Director of the VACHS Center of Excellence in Primary Care Education at VA Connecticut Healthcare System. Her roles include leadership in interprofessional education initiatives, primary care innovation, and healthcare quality improvement. She holds appointments in General Internal Medicine and collaborates across departments and institutions to advance medical education and patient care.

Education:

• MD: Michigan State University (1994)
• BA: University of Michigan, Medical Sociology (1986)
• MPH: University of Michigan, Epidemiology (1986)

Research Focus: Dr. Brienza’s work centers on interprofessional team-based training, primary care education models, and improving healthcare quality through innovative practices. She leads initiatives to integrate physical therapy and other disciplines into primary care, enhance shared decision-making, and optimize virtual care delivery. Her research addresses polypharmacy management in older adults and healthcare workforce preparedness.

Awards:

• Education Research Poster Award (2018)
• Innovations in Education Poster Award (2017)
• First Prize: Trainee-Mentored Oral Presentation (2014)

Advising & Grants: While no explicit student advisees are listed, her collaborative research involves mentoring through interprofessional teams. She has led grants focused on VA primary care education and quality improvement, including a 2011 grant supporting primary care training innovation.

Labs/Teams: Director of the VACHS Center of Excellence in Primary Care Education, which trains clinicians and implements evidence-based practices. Active in the Society of General Internal Medicine’s Interprofessional Education Interest Group and VA Task Force.