The Physicians Foundation announces the 2025 recipient of the Drivers of Health (DOH) Fellowship Program, urges physicians to screen patients for DOH

BOSTON, May 21, 2025 – Today, The Physicians Foundation reinforces its efforts to help physicians address drivers of health (DOH) to improve a person’s overall health. At a time when chronic diseases remain the number one cause of illness, disability and death nationwide, it is critical for physicians to have the tools needed to support the collective health of individuals across the United States. As part of these efforts, the Foundation announces its 2025 recipient of the DOH Fellowship Program to develop and implement a project that supports physicians in their understanding of DOH and how it can be integrated into medical practices. 

Unfortunately, the prevalence of chronic disease among Americans has been increasing steadily by nearly eight million people every five years, with no sign of slowing. In fact, compared to 10 peer countries, people in the United States have been reported as having the worst health outcomes overall. The Physicians Foundation’s DOH Survey of America’s Physicians underscored the importance of focusing on DOH to repair the health care system. Most physicians reported that their patients’ health outcomes were influenced by at least one DOH—including food security, housing stability, transportation access, utilities access, and interpersonal safety—while eight in ten believed that the United States cannot improve health outcomes or reduce health care costs without addressing these critical factors. However, the survey also revealed that while most physicians want to address DOH, many struggle to do so because of time constraints.

“Focusing on preventative care, like addressing drivers of health, is a critical step in helping to improve the health of our country. For more than a decade, The Physicians Foundation has been on the vanguard of recognizing and acting on the challenges of DOH on patients and physicians,” said Gary Price, MD, president of The Physicians Foundation. “Through our continued investment in grants, our valued Fellowships—including our newest Fellow, Dr. Anum A. Niazi—and the development of vital resources for physicians, we are committed to supporting innovative solutions that tackle root causes impacting health. Our work empowers physicians to lead change and ensures that patients across the nation have access to the care and support they need to thrive.”

Introducing Dr. Niazi, The Physicians Foundation’s 2025 Fellow

The Physicians Foundation’s Fellowship Program offers a unique opportunity for new and early-career physicians to advance leadership skills and focus on addressing DOH. The Physicians Foundation is pleased to announce Anum A. Niazi, MD, a practicing physician based in Chicago, IL, as the newest Fellow in the program.

“I am particularly drawn to the program’s solution-focused, innovation-driven structure designed to address drivers of health, foster physician leadership, and promote wellness,” Dr. Niazi states. “The Physicians Foundation’s recognition of the critical role DOH play in shaping health outcomes resonates deeply with my professional experiences and observations. I look forward to contributing to this transformative work and learning from the esteemed Physicians Foundation community.”

Previous Foundation Fellows have made profound contributions to the lives of underserved communities through innovative, hands-on projects, such as:

• Dr. Deborah Rose, a dedicated neurologist, spearheaded an initiative at Baltimore’s Community Psychiatry Clinic to identify and address the underlying DOH affecting her patients. By working to implement comprehensive screenings and forging connections with local support services, Dr. Rose empowered individuals to overcome barriers to better health—helping families access resources that truly matter.

• Similarly, Dr. Ryan Lowery, a compassionate pediatrician at a federally qualified health center in Austin, Texas, recognized that factors like food insecurity and lack of transportation can stand between children and their well-being. He developed a streamlined workflow to screen for these critical DOHs and ensure that families received timely support.

Let’s Take 5 Resources for Addressing DOH

Additionally, The Physicians Foundation offers resources to help physicians enhance DOH screenings with patients through its Let’s Take 5 campaign. Resources can be found here:

• Let’s Take 5 Conversation Starter: Includes guidance and tips for having empathetic and empowering conversations with your patients about their DOH.

• Let’s Take 5 Steps Implementation Guide: Outlines an actionable plan for integrating clinically validated workflow approaches for DOH patient screenings in your organization.

• DOH Grantee Success Stories: Hear from the Foundation’s grantee organizations that implemented DOH screening into their practices.

About The Physicians Foundation 

The Physicians Foundation is a nonprofit seeking to advance the work of practicing physicians and help them facilitate the delivery of high-quality health care to patients. As the U.S. health care system continues to evolve, The Physicians Foundation is steadfast in strengthening the physician-patient relationship, supporting medical practices’ sustainability, and helping physicians navigate the changing health care system. The Physicians Foundation pursues its mission through research, education, and innovative grant making that improves physician well-being, strengthens physician leadership, addresses patients’ drivers of health, and lifts physician perspectives. For more information, visit www.physiciansfoundation.org.