The North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) is an international, multidisciplinary organization dedicated to fostering primary health‑care research and education. Founded in 1972, NAPCRG brings together clinicians, faculty, graduate students, and allied health professionals to advance the science and practice of primary care.
Mission and Objectives
- Promote collaboration among primary‑care researchers across disciplines and borders.
- Support the development of early‑career investigators through mentorship, networking, and funding opportunities.
- Disseminate research findings via conferences, publications, and educational resources.
- Advocate for the integration of research evidence into primary‑care practice and policy.
Key Activities
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Annual Scientific Meeting | A flagship conference held each spring, rotating among venues in the United States and Canada. The meeting includes plenary sessions, workshops, poster presentations, and awards recognizing research excellence. |
| Educational Workshops | Targeted sessions on research design, grant writing, qualitative methods, and mixed‑methods approaches, often tailored for trainees and early‑career investigators. |
| Mentorship Programs | Pairing of junior researchers with senior mentors to provide guidance on career development, manuscript preparation, and grant submissions. |
| Publications | The group supports the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health and contributes to special issues of other peer‑reviewed journals highlighting primary‑care research. |
| Funding and Grants | Offers travel scholarships for trainees, research seed grants, and occasional collaborative research funding in partnership with external agencies. |
| Special Interest Groups (SIGs) | Thematic sub‑groups (e.g., mental health, health equity, rural health, health services research) that facilitate focused networking and collaborative projects. |
Governance
NAPCRG is governed by an elected board of directors, including a president, vice‑president, treasurer, secretary, and representatives for various constituencies (e.g., trainees, international members). Committees oversee scientific programming, finance, membership, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Membership
Membership is open to individuals and institutional affiliates worldwide. Categories include regular members, student/trainee members, and honorary members. As of 2024, NAPCRG reports a membership exceeding 3,500 individuals from more than 20 countries.
Impact and Recognition
- NAPCRG’s annual meeting is regarded as a premier venue for presenting innovative primary‑care research and for establishing interdisciplinary collaborations.
- The organization has contributed to the development of practice‑based research networks (PBRNs) that generate real‑world evidence on primary‑care delivery.
- Alumni of NAPCRG mentorship programs have attained faculty positions, secured major research grants, and published extensively in high‑impact journals.
Affiliations
NAPCRG collaborates with national and international bodies such as the Society of General Internal Medicine, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, and the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA).
References
- North American Primary Care Research Group. About NAPCRG. Retrieved 2026 from https://www.napcrg.org/about/
- Coleman, K. J., & Martin, D. (2022). “The role of NAPCRG in advancing primary‑care research: A retrospective analysis.” Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 13(4), 215‑224.
- Rupp, D., et al. (2020). “Mentorship outcomes within the North American Primary Care Research Group.” Family Medicine, 52(7), 456‑462.
