Brian E. Dixon, PhD, MPA, FACMI, FHIMSS, FAMIA, MACE

Contact : bedixon@regenstrief.org

Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health can rebuild itself for the future. Our research aims to strengthen the public health infrastructure for future epidemics while supporting everyday practice.

Initiatives

Interim Director, Clem McDonald Center for Biomedical Informatics, Regenstrief Institute
Director of Public Health Informatics, Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health
Research Scientist, Clem McDonald Center for Biomedical Informatics, Regenstrief Institute
Research Scientist, William M. Tierney Center for Health Services Research, Regenstrief Institute
Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Fairbanks School of Public Health
Affiliated Scientist, VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication

Dr. Brian Dixon’s research focuses on applying informatics methods and tools to improve population and public health. His work leverages clinical and administrative data in electronic health records to measure population health, better understand the determinants of health, examine information flow in the health system, and improve outcomes in individuals and populations. Dr. Dixon also teaches informatics courses to future clinical and public health leaders.

Dr. Dixon is a Fellow within the prestigious American College of Medical Informatics (ACMI). He is also a Fellow of the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) and the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS). In 2021, Dr. Dixon was part of a team of researchers whose work to support public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic was recognized by the Governor of Indiana as well as AcademyHealth with the Health Services Research (HSR) Impact Award. Previously, Dr. Dixon was named a Research Frontiers Trailblazer by IU Indianapolis and recognized as a Forty Under 40 recipient by the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Dr. Dixon currently serves as Director of Public Health Informatics for Regenstrief Institute and IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health. He is co- principal investigator for a multi-year T15 grant funded by the US National Library of Medicine to mentor research scientists in public and population health informatics.

Dr. Dixon earned his Bachelor of Arts in computer science from DePauw University; his Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University; and his Doctor of Philosophy in Health Informatics from Indiana University.

Featured Projects

Virtual Network to Investigate the Trajectory of COVID-19-Related Severe Outcomes

(CDC; PI: Grannis) (Jan 2021 – Aug 2022)

Role: Co-Investigator

This study is a collaborative network of organizations led by the CDC and Westat that will leverage EHR and HIE data from 11 sites across the country to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness. Regenstrief provides data on a bi-weekly basis to Westat, who will utilize these data and data from other sites to conduct a set of common analyses primarily focusing on vaccine effectiveness. In partnership with CDC and Westat, we will conduct additional analyses on subpopulations of interest as well as emerging trends related to COVID-19 vaccines.

Leveraging Electronic Health Data to Assess the Burden of Diabetes among Young Adults, part of Assessing the Burden of Diabetes By Type in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults (DiCAYA)

(CDC) (Sep 2020 – Sep 2025)

Role: Co-Principal Investigator

We will leverage an electronic health data network, representative of its underlying population, to better estimate incidence and prevalence of diabetes. The long-term objective of this project is to enhance access to information that can stimulate improving the surveillance, prevention, and management of diabetes across Indiana and the nation.

Improving Chronic Disease Surveillance and Management through the Use of EHRs and Health Information Systems (MENDS)

(National Association of Chronic Disease Directors/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) (Aug 2020 – Jul 2023)

Role: Site PI

We will leverage an electronic health data network, representative of its underlying population, to estimate incidence and prevalence of hypertension and other chronic diseases. Surveillance data will be shared with clinical and public health partners to inform disease management as well as primary and secondary prevention strategies at the community level.

Estimating Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Treatment Rates in US Private Settings

(CDC) (Oct 2021 – Sep 2022)

Role: Principal Investigator

Using evidence from real-world administrative and clinical information systems, we will assess the percentage of patients with diagnosed gonorrhea (GC) or chlamydia (CT) who are treated with the recommended treatments in private settings.

Highlighted Publications

2022

Clinical Informatics Study Guide: Text and Review. 2 ed.

Publication: Zurich: Springer International Publishing

ISBN 978-3-030-93764-5

Authors: Finnell JT, Dixon BE

2021 Dec

Impact of event notification services on timely follow-up and rehospitalization among primary care patients at two Veterans Affairs Medical Centers

Publication: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association

doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocab189

Authors: Dixon BE, Judon KM, Schwartzkopf AL, Guerrero VM, Koufacos NS, May J, Schubert CC, Boockvar KS

2021 Oct

Combating Systemic Racism through Data-Driven Surveillance: A Local Health Department Response to COVID-19

Publication: American Journal of Public Health

doi: 10.2105/ajph.2021.306421

Authors: Hansotte E, Bowman E, Gibson PJ, Dixon BE, Madden VR, Caine VA

2021 Oct 7

Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines in Ambulatory and Inpatient Care Settings

Publication: New England Journal of Medicine

doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2110362

Authors: Thompson MG, Stenehjem E, Grannis SJ, …, Dixon BE, et al

2021 Jul 23

The synchronicity of COVID-19 disparities: Statewide epidemiologic trends in SARS-CoV-2 morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality among racial minorities and in rural America

Publication: PLOS One

doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255063

Authors: Dixon BE, Grannis SJ, Lembcke LR, Valvi N, Roberts AR, Embi PJ

2021 Jul 14

Leveraging Data Visualization and a Statewide Health Information Exchange to Support COVID-19 Surveillance and Response: Application of Public Health Informatics

Publication: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association

doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocab004

Authors: Dixon BE, Grannis SJ, McAndrews C, Broyles AA, Mikels-Carrasco W, Wiensch A, et al

2021 May

Capturing COVID-like Symptoms At-Scale using Banner Ads: A Novel Survey Methodology Pilot using an Online News Platform

Publication: Journal of Medical Internet Research

doi: 10.2196/24742

Authors: Dixon BE, Mukherjee S, Wiensch A, Gray ML, Ferres JML, Grannis SJ

2020 Oct 17

Trends in user-initiated health information exchange in the inpatient, outpatient, and emergency settings

Publication: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association

doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocaa226

Authors: Rahurkar S, Vest JR, Finnell JT, Dixon BE

2020

Public Health Informatics and Information Systems. 3rd Ed.

Publication: Zurich: Springer International Publishing

ISBN: 978-3-030-41214-2

Authors: Magnuson JA, Dixon BE [Editors]

2020 Apr 6

Improving Notifiable Disease Case Reporting Through Electronic Information Exchange–Facilitated Decision Support: A Controlled Before-and-After Trial

Publication: Public Health Reports

doi: 10.1177/0033354920914318

Authors: Dixon BE, Zhang Z, Arno JN, Revere D, Joseph Gibson P, Grannis SJ

2019 Jan

An educational intervention to improve HPV vaccination: A cluster randomized trial

Publication: Pediatrics

doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-1457

Authors: Dixon BE, Zimet G, Xiao S, Tu W, Lindsay B, Church AK, Downs SM

2016

Health Information Exchange: Navigating and Managing a Network of Health Information Systems. 1 ed.

Publication: Waltham, MA: Academic Press

ISBN: 978-0-12-803135-3

Authors: Dixon BE

Projects

Indiana Addiction Data Commons

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In The News

Influence

Featured Fellowship

People

NewsResearchers to study online therapy’s potential to prevent cognitive decline in ICU survivors

NewsDementia risk prediction: Zero-minute assessment at less than a dollar cost

NewsRegenstrief Institute researcher appointed associate dean for research at IU Indianapolis Fairbanks School of Public Health

InfluenceAlzheimer Disease as a Clinical-Biological Construct-An International Working Group Recommendation

InfluenceAMIA honors Regenstrief researcher with leadership award

Researchers to study online therapy’s potential to...

Brian E. Dixon, PhD, MPA, FACMI, FHIMSS, FAMIA, MACE

Featured Projects

Highlighted Publications

Clinical Informatics Study Guide: Text and Review. 2 ed.

Public Health Informatics and Information Systems. 3rd Ed.

Health Information Exchange: Navigating and Managing a Network of Health Information Systems. 1 ed.

Projects