Research The Hospital Medicine Division is primarily a clinical teaching service. However, several HMD faculty conduct research. Dr. Alec O'Connor has completed and is working on projects designed to improve the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of pain management. He is also working on projects intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of resident and student education on the inpatient medical service. Dr. Valerie Lang has developed virtual patient modules to improve medical student education and assess their clinical reasoning. She is currently conducting a study of a teaching script faculty development program in collaboration with Drs. Amy Blatt, Kellin King, and Alec O'Connor.