Christopher Ruser, MD
he/him/his
Associate Professor of Medicine (General Medicine)Cards
Appointments
General Internal Medicine
Primary
Titles
Chief of Primary Care, Primary Care; Co-Chair, National PACT Directive Revision Committee; Co-Chair, National PACT Optimization Sub-Council; Founder and Director, West Haven VA's Multi-disciplinary Weight Management Program; Associate Chief of Medicine , VACT Healthcare System
Contact Info
General Internal Medicine
11-ACSL 950 Campbell Avenue
West Haven , CT 06516
United States
Appointments
General Internal Medicine
Primary
Titles
Chief of Primary Care, Primary Care; Co-Chair, National PACT Directive Revision Committee; Co-Chair, National PACT Optimization Sub-Council; Founder and Director, West Haven VA's Multi-disciplinary Weight Management Program; Associate Chief of Medicine , VACT Healthcare System
Contact Info
General Internal Medicine
11-ACSL 950 Campbell Avenue
West Haven , CT 06516
United States
Appointments
General Internal Medicine
Primary
Titles
Chief of Primary Care, Primary Care; Co-Chair, National PACT Directive Revision Committee; Co-Chair, National PACT Optimization Sub-Council; Founder and Director, West Haven VA's Multi-disciplinary Weight Management Program; Associate Chief of Medicine , VACT Healthcare System
Contact Info
General Internal Medicine
11-ACSL 950 Campbell Avenue
West Haven , CT 06516
United States
About
Titles
Associate Professor of Medicine (General Medicine)
Chief of Primary Care, Primary Care; Co-Chair, National PACT Directive Revision Committee; Co-Chair, National PACT Optimization Sub-Council; Founder and Director, West Haven VA's Multi-disciplinary Weight Management Program; Associate Chief of Medicine , VACT Healthcare SystemBiography
Dr. Ruser received his MD from Cornell University Medical School and then completed internal medicine residency at Yale. He served as a front-line clinician educator based at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System's West Haven campus where he developed an academic interest in clinical obesity management and leadership. From 2010 to 2020, Dr. Ruser served as the Chief of Primary Care for VACT where he sought to evolve the primary care system towards the medical home model with a focus on robust access to care, team-based care, and excellence in quality outcomes. Dr. Ruser now serves as the Associate Chief of Medicine for VACT.
Appointments
General Internal Medicine
Associate Professor on TermPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- General Internal Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- Resident
- Yale University (2001)
- Intern
- Yale University (2000)
- MD
- Cornell University Medical College (1998)
- BA
- Cornell University (1994)
Research
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Christopher Ruser's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Christopher Ruser's research output by year.
Joseph Lucien Goulet, PhD, MS
Lori Bastian, MD, MPH
Robert Kerns, PhD
Juliette Fromm Spelman, MD, BS
Kathleen Akgün, MD, MS
Rebecca Brienza, MD, MPH
72Publications
762Citations
Publications
2023
Development and Psychometric Assessment of the Weight and Eating Quality of Life (WE-QOL) Scale in US Military Veterans
Masheb R, Snow J, Fenn L, Antoniadis N, Raffa S, Ruser C, Buta E. Development and Psychometric Assessment of the Weight and Eating Quality of Life (WE-QOL) Scale in US Military Veterans. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2023, 38: 2076-2081. PMID: 36973571, PMCID: PMC10361921, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08132-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsVeterans Health AdministrationPopulation health metricsQOL measuresGeneric health-related QOL measuresHealth-related QOL measuresHealth metricsWeight management programPopulation health approachObesity-related diseasesQuality of careUS military veteransClinical remindersUS veteransPhysical activityHealth AdministrationPatient careEuropean QualityHealth approachWeight gainPhysical discomfortWeight stigmaMilitary veteransPsychometric assessmentEmotional distressLife ScaleRacial, Ethnic, and Rural Disparities in U.S. Veteran COVID-19 Vaccine Rates
Bernstein E, DeRycke E, Han L, Farmer M, Bastian L, Bean-Mayberry B, Bade B, Brandt C, Crothers K, Skanderson M, Ruser C, Spelman J, Bazan I, Justice A, Rentsch C, Akgün K. Racial, Ethnic, and Rural Disparities in U.S. Veteran COVID-19 Vaccine Rates. AJPM Focus 2023, 2: 100094. PMID: 37362395, PMCID: PMC10038675, DOI: 10.1016/j.focus.2023.100094.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsRace/ethnicity groupsFirst vaccinationFirst COVID-19 vaccinationVeterans AffairsWhite veteransCharlson Comorbidity IndexRetrospective cohort studyPrimary care visitsEthnicity groupsCOVID-19 vaccinationLarge healthcare systemEquitable vaccine distributionAsian Americans/Pacific IslandersRace/ethnicityUnvaccinated patientsComorbidity indexInfluenza vaccinationSelf-reported categoriesBlack groupCare visitsCohort studyHazard ratioPrimary outcomeWhite patientsBlack patients
2022
Racial and Rural Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake in a National Sample of Veterans
Bernstein E, DeRycke E, Han L, Bastian L, Bean-Mayberry B, Bade B, Brandt C, Farmer M, Crothers K, Skanderson M, Ruser C, Spelman J, Bazan I, Justice A, Rentsch C, Akgun K. Racial and Rural Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake in a National Sample of Veterans. 2022, a3695-a3695. DOI: 10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2022.205.1_meetingabstracts.a3695.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsThe Effect of Primary Care Visits on Total Patient Care Cost: Evidence From the Veterans Health Administration
Gao J, Moran E, Grimm R, Toporek A, Ruser C. The Effect of Primary Care Visits on Total Patient Care Cost: Evidence From the Veterans Health Administration. Journal Of Primary Care & Community Health 2022, 13: 21501319221141792. PMID: 36564889, PMCID: PMC9793026, DOI: 10.1177/21501319221141792.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsTotal patient care costsPatient care costsVeterans Health AdministrationPrimary care visitsPC visitsCare costsPrimary careCare visitsHealth AdministrationOverall health care costsHigh-risk patientsSeverity of illnessHealth care costsPatient care outcomesClinical outcomesPC providersRetrospective studyComplex patientsPerson visitsPreventive servicesPatient riskComprehensive careMAIN OUTCOMECare outcomesPatients
2021
ICD-10 Coding of Musculoskeletal Conditions in the Veterans Health Administration
Coleman BC, Goulet JL, Higgins DM, Bathulapalli H, Kawecki T, Ruser CB, Bastian LA, Martino S, Piette JD, Edmond SN, Heapy AA. ICD-10 Coding of Musculoskeletal Conditions in the Veterans Health Administration. Pain Medicine 2021, 22: 2597-2603. PMID: 33944953, PMCID: PMC8783617, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnab161.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSpecialty care settingsVeterans Health AdministrationCare settingsDiagnosis codesMusculoskeletal diagnosesMusculoskeletal conditionsHealth AdministrationVeterans Health Administration (VHA) careLow back painLongitudinal cohort studyICD-10 codingVisit diagnosesCohort studyDiagnosis cohortBack painCommon diagnosisUnique patientsNumber of visitsInternational ClassificationMusculoskeletal carePotential diagnosisSecondary analysisPatientsDiagnosisMusculoskeletal system
2020
Associations between adverse childhood experiences and weight, weight control behaviors and quality of life in Veterans seeking weight management services
Masheb RM, Sala M, Marsh AG, Snow JL, Kutz AM, Ruser CB. Associations between adverse childhood experiences and weight, weight control behaviors and quality of life in Veterans seeking weight management services. Eating Behaviors 2020, 40: 101461. PMID: 33352386, DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2020.101461.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBehavioral weight management programAdverse childhood experiencesQuality of lifeVA Connecticut Healthcare SystemPrevalence of ACEsWeight lossTypes of ACEsLow physical activityMore adverse childhood experiencesWeight management servicesWeight management programWeight-related qualityWeight control strategiesWeight control behaviorsMeasures of weightChildhood experiencesWeight outcomesPhysical activityFemale veteransAlcohol useLife outcomesHealthcare systemVeteransMeasures of ACEsHigh rateThe Kidney Score Platform for Patient and Clinician Awareness, Communication, and Management of Kidney Disease: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study
Tuot DS, Crowley ST, Katz LA, Leung J, Alcantara-Cadillo DK, Ruser C, Talbot-Montgomery E, Vassalotti JA. The Kidney Score Platform for Patient and Clinician Awareness, Communication, and Management of Kidney Disease: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Research Protocols 2020, 9: e22024. PMID: 33074162, PMCID: PMC7605977, DOI: 10.2196/22024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsChronic kidney diseaseChronic kidney disease riskINTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIERKidney diseaseRisk calculatorCare settingsBehaviour Change WheelChronic kidney disease awarenessChronic kidney disease guidelinesChronic kidney disease managementPrimary health care settingsKidney disease awarenessPre-post study designKidney disease managementKidney disease riskPrimary care settingClinical practice guidelinesOnline risk calculatorHealth care settingsBehavior changeDisease guidelinesImplementation science frameworkPatient populationClinician awarenessPatient awarenessSARS-CoV-2 detection in setting of viral swabs scarcity: Are MRSA swabs and viral swabs equivalent?
Federman DG, Gupta S, Stack G, Campbell SM, Peaper DR, Dembry LM, Fisher A, Tarabar AF, Kozal M, Ruser CB. SARS-CoV-2 detection in setting of viral swabs scarcity: Are MRSA swabs and viral swabs equivalent? PLOS ONE 2020, 15: e0237127. PMID: 32756602, PMCID: PMC7406068, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237127.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMRSA swabsViral swabSARS-CoV-2 PCR testingCopan ESwabSevere acute respiratory syndromeMRSA nasal swabSARS-CoV-2 assayAcute respiratory syndromeCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2SARS-CoV-2 detectionNasopharyngeal swabsCoronavirus 2Nasal swabsRespiratory syndromePCR testingSwab collectionSwabsSwab samplesCepheid Xpert XpressXpert XpressWidespread testingCollection kitHealthcare systemViral mediaA Model for Rapid Transition to Virtual Care, VA Connecticut Primary Care Response to COVID-19
Spelman JF, Brienza R, Walsh RF, Drost P, Schwartz AR, Kravetz JD, Pitkin P, Ruser C. A Model for Rapid Transition to Virtual Care, VA Connecticut Primary Care Response to COVID-19. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2020, 35: 3073-3076. PMID: 32705471, PMCID: PMC7377306, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-020-06041-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsUrgent care clinicVirtual careVA Connecticut Health Care SystemCare clinicsPerson visitsValuable health care resourcesPrimary care responseStandardized note templatesFuture pandemic responsesVirtual care modelsHealth care resourcesCOVID-19 pandemicHealth care deliveryHealth care systemVideo visitsTelephone encountersCare modelCare responseCare resourcesPatient exposureCare deliveryNote templateVirtual visitsMedical staffCare systemCase-mix for assessing primary care value (CPCV)
Gao J, Moran E, Schwartz A, Ruser C. Case-mix for assessing primary care value (CPCV). Health Services Management Research 2020, 33: 200-206. PMID: 32552065, DOI: 10.1177/0951484820931063.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPrimary careU.S. Veterans Affairs healthcare systemVeterans Affairs Healthcare SystemPrescription drug classesPrimary care performanceHigh-cost patientsPatient classification systemPC visitsPatient comorbiditiesDrug classesRisk scoreProvider workloadRisk algorithmHealth systemCare performanceHealthcare systemCare valuePatientsStaffing levelsPayment ratesCareHigh needClassification systemComorbidities
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
activity Member
CommitteesVACT Healthcare SystemDetails2023 - PresentDescriptionMember of VACT Healthcare System's Search Committee for Chief of Qualityactivity Member
CommitteesVACT Healthcare SystemDetails2023 - PresentDescriptionMember of VACT Healthcare System's Search Committee for Chief of Radiologyactivity Member
CommitteesVACT Healthcare SystemDetails2023 - PresentDescriptionMember VACT Healthcare System's Search Committee for Chief Wellness Officeractivity Co-Chair
CommitteesVACT Healthcare SystemDetails2024 - PresentDescriptionCo-Chair/Member (varies by year) of VACT's Suicide Prevention and Quality Committeeactivity Reviewer
Journal ServiceNational VA Obesity GuidelinesDetails2009 - Present
Links & Media
News
- March 15, 2024
Announcing the New Residents in the Yale-Waterbury Internal Medicine Residency Program!
- April 18, 2023Source: Yale Daily News
Yale Researchers Develop Holistic Metric for Measuring Weight Loss
- March 27, 2023
Yale, VA Researchers Develop New Health Metric for Veterans
- March 17, 2023
New Residents in Internal Medicine's Traditional Residency Program
Get In Touch
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Mobile Phone Number
Mailing Address
General Internal Medicine
11-ACSL 950 Campbell Avenue
West Haven , CT 06516
United States