Michael J. Aronica MD, MSc
Michael J. Aronica
MD, MSc
Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Children and Adults; Internal Medicine - Pediatrics
Contact Information
Patient Care
Patient Care
This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.
View this physician on UBMDProfessional Summary:
Born and raised in Western New York, I graduated from UB medical school and trained in the Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program at University at Buffalo. I have now been a faculty member for two decades, working in primary care of both adults and children at the Elmwood Health Center. I became the Program Director for the Med-Peds Residency in 2006 and the Division Chief for Med-Peds in 2008.
At my primary care clinical practice at the Elmwood Health Center, I care for patients in an underserved community of Buffalo with a variety of backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses. The center specializes in caring for individuals with developmental disabilities and I see many patients with complex social and medical issues. I have an interest in transitional health care for pediatric patients with chronic diseases, whom this practice allows me to continue caring for into adulthood.
My research focus recently has been on Med-Peds medical education. I worked with other Med-Peds program directors across the country to research the support provided to Med-Peds programs since being recognized as separate categorical residencies by the ACGME in 2006. I also supervise and mentor Med-Peds residents on their individual research projects. In addition, I earned my Masters of Epidemiology in 2005 with a thesis on the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about influenza vaccine administration.
Much of my role as a faculty member and program director is focused on teaching and medical education is of particular interest to me. I supervise Med-Peds residents at both the Elmwood Health Center and the Linwood Med-Peds site. I teach Medicine and Pediatric residents and medical students on the inpatient wards at Buffalo General Medical Center and Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo while on service several weeks throughout the year. I lecture several times a year at the monthly Med-Peds conferences and have given evidence-based medicine lectures to pediatric residents in the past.
In the larger Department of the Medicine, I lead the Internal Medicine Teaching Interest Group which focuses on faculty development of teaching skills. I also recently formed the Transitional Care Interest Group in cooperation with both adult and pediatric physicians throughout Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Together, we work to improve transitional care for patients in Western New York through development of clinical protocols, research, education, and administrative support.
Education and Training:
- MS, Epidemiology, University at Buffalo (2005)
- Residency, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, University at Buffalo (1997)
- MD, Medicine, University at Buffalo, Cum Laude (1993)
- AB, Biology, University of Rochester, Magna Cum Laude (1989)
Employment:
- Associate Residency Program Director, Pediatrics, University at Buffalo (2019-present)
- Division Chief of Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, Medicine, University at Buffalo (2008-present)
- Associate Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program Director, Oishei Children's Hospital (2006-present)
- Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Medicine, University at Buffalo (2006-present)
- Residency Program Director of Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, Medicine, University at Buffalo (2006-present)
- Residency Program Director, Medicine, University at Buffalo (2020–2022)
- Associate Residency Program Director of Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, Medicine, University at Buffalo (2004–2006)
Awards and Honors:
- Louis A. and Ruth Siegel Teaching Award (Runner-Up in Clinical Sciences) (2002)
- George & Harriet Rosenfeld Junior Research Investigator (1998)
- Dean‘s Award (1993)
- Leadership Fellow (2006-2008)
Research Expertise:
- Adult Cystic Fibrosis
- Medical Education: Best practices in student and resident education
- Primary Care: Academic Physician in the Division of Internal Medicine-Pediatrics
- Primary Care of Asthma: Run an outpatient asthma group/clinic at primary care office. Adviser to insurance and research organizations.
- Primary Care of Developmental Disabilities: Developmental Disability Primary Care Provider since 1997
UB 2020 Strategic Strengths:
- Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- September 2011–September 2016
Role: Co-Investigator - September 2011–September 2016
Academic Administrative Units in Primary Care
Health Resources and Services Admin
Role: Co-Investigator
$765,239 - September 2011–September 2016
Pre-Doctoral Training in Primary Care
Health Resources and Services Administration
Role: Co-Investigator
$940,252
Journal Articles:
- Aronica M, Williams R, Dennar PE, Hopkins RH. (2015) Benchmarks for Support and Outcomes for Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Programs: A 5-Year Review. J Grad Med Educ (Dec), 7(4): 574-9. doi:10.4300/JGME-D-14-00606.1
- Robbins BW, Aronica M, Melgar T, Friedland AR. (2007) Benchmarks for Support of Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Programs. Am J Med (May), 120(5): 462-5. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2007.01.027
- Aronica MJ, Duffy LC, Ballow M. (1999) Survey of quality of care for asthmatic children seen in a pediatric emergency room. Pediatr Asthma Allergy Immunol (Jan), 13(2)
Abstracts:
- Baier R, Meyer AE, Aronica MJ, Merrick JM, Borowitz DS, Murphy TM. (2013) Induced Biofilm-Matrix Collapse Fluidizes Cystic Fibrosis Sputum. University at Buffalo: 50th Anniversary Oral Biology Graduate Program Symposium, (Jun)
Professional Memberships:
- American College of Physicians; Fellow (2022–present)
- American Academy of Pediatrics; Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Section (2008–present)
- Medicine-Pediatrics Program Directors Association (2005–present)
- Upstate New York Practice-based Research Network (UNYNET) (2005–present)
- North American Primary Care Research Group (2003–present)
Presentations:
- "Development and Implementation of a Climate Change and Environmental Health Curriculum into Pediatric Residency Training." Medicine-Pediatrics Program Directors Association: Annual Meeting (2023)
- "Creating a Personal Wellness Plan." University at Buffalo Department of Medicine: Hospitalist Faculty Development Meeting (2022)
- "Milestones 2.0." Medicine-Pediatrics Program Directors Association: Northeast Region Annual Meeting (2021)
- "Setting Expectations." University at Buffalo Department of Medicine: Hospitalist Faculty Development Meeting (2021)
- "Developmental Disabilities." University at Buffalo: Family Medicine Grand Rounds (2019)
- "Transitions of Care." University at Buffalo Department of Medicine: City Wide Grand Rounds (2018)
- "Transitional Health Care for the Developmentally Disabled." Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine: Med-Peds Symposium (2017)
- "Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Senior Resident Career Choices (2014-2015)." Medicine-Pediatrics Program Directors Association: Annual Meeting (2016)
- "Approach to Sepsis for the Primary Care Provider." NYS Department of Health: Commissioner's Medical Grand Rounds - Sepsis Syndrome 2015 (2015)
- "Ondansetron-Induced Encephalopathy in a Patient with Metastatic Breast Cancer to Liver and Bone." American College of Gastroenterology: Annual Meeting (2015)
- "Internal Medicine-Pediatrics 2013 Graduate Survey." Medicine-Pediatrics Program Directors Association: Annual Meeting (2014)
- "Transitioning from Childhood to Adulthood: Supporting Individuals with Developmental Disabilities." Daemen College: Partners in Health Education for People with Disabilities (2013)
- "Transitional Care." Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo: Pediatric Grand Rounds (2013)
- "Transitional Health Care." Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo: Pediatric Grand Rounds (2013)
- "Perceptions of the ACGME Board Requirements in Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatric Program Directors and Residents." Medicine-Pediatrics Program Directors Association: Annual Meeting (2011)
- "Medicine-Pediatrics Clinical Outcomes Study." Medicine-Pediatrics Program Directors Association: Annual Meeting (2009)
- "The One-Minute Preceptor." University at Buffalo Department of Medicine: City Wide Grand Rounds - Graduate Medical Education Local Initiatives and National Trends (2008)
- "Health Literacy and an Ask Me 3 Intervention." P2 Collaborative of Western New York: Fall Conference (2008)
- "Benchmarks for support of internal medicine-pediatrics programs." Association of Pediatric Program Directors: Spring Meeting (2007)
- "Cross-Sectional Survey of Quality of Primary Care Physician Attitudes, Knowledge and Beliefs Regarding Influenza Vaccine." North American Primary Care Research Group: Annual Meeting - Research in Progress Section (2003)
- "Primary Care of Developmental Disabled Adults." Buffalo General Hospital: Department of Medicine Grand Rounds (2000)
- "Cross-Sectional Survey of Quality of Care for Asthmatic Children Seen in an Inner-City Emergency Room." Focus on WNY Respiratory Health: Asthma Conference (1997)
Service Activities:
- UBMD Primary Care: Executive Committee; Chair (2023–present)
- University at Buffalo: Search Committee for Department Chair of Pediatrics; Member (2023–present)
- University at Buffalo: Search Committee for Division Chief of General Internal Medicine; Member (2020–present)
- GIM Search Committee; Member (2019–present)
- Optimum Physician Alliance: Patient Experience Committee; Member (2019–2020)
- UBMD Internal Medicine: Board of Directors; Member (2018–present)
- University at Buffalo: Department of Medicine Strategic Planning Committee & Goal Champion - Wellness Committee; Chair (2016–present)
- Millennium Group: DSRIP Physician Steering Committee; Member (2016–present)
- University at Buffalo: Department of Medicine Strategic Planning Committee; Member (2016–present)
- Medicine-Pediatrics Program Directors Association: Research Committee; Member (2015–present)
- UBMD Primary Care Committee; Member (2015–present)
- University at Buffalo: Department of Medicine Primary Care Taskforce; Member (2014)
- University at Buffalo: Department of Medicine Teaching Interest Group; Chair (2013–present)
- University at Buffalo: Department of Pediatrics Teaching Interest Group; Member (2013–present)
- IM Program CCC; Member (2012–present)
- Pediatrics CCC; Member (2012–present)
- University at Buffalo: Department of Medicine Strategic Planning Committee & Goal Champion; Member (2011–2016)
- Medicine-Pediatrics Program Directors Association: Research Committee; Chair (2008–2015)
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Section; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2008–present)
- University at Buffalo: Problem-Based Learning and Improvement Committee; Member (2006–2011)
- University at Buffalo: Choosing a Residency, Student Seminar; Member (2006–2008)
- University at Buffalo: Division of Internal Med-Peds Resident Research Project Committee; Chair (2004–present)
- Upstate New York Practice-based Research Network (UNYNET): Steering Committee; Member (2003–present)
- Speak Up!: Steering Committee; Member (2001–2003)
- WNY Asthma Coalition; Member (2000–2003)
- Independent Health: Asthma Advisory Group; Member (1998–2016)
- SUNY Buffalo Medical Alumni Association; Member (1997–2002)
- SUNY Buffalo Medical Alumni Association; Member (1997–2002)