Project description:Less than 2% of physicians complete a research training (PhD) after the residency with a declining trend in those pursuing a clinical scientist pathway in pediatrics. The exposure to research methodology during the clinical training may play a role in engaging the next generations of pediatric physician scientist. Herein, we describe the experience of the Padova Physician Scientist Research Training (PPSRT) of the pediatric residency program at the University of Padova. The PPSRT was addressed to residents attending PGY2 to PGY4 of the pediatric program and consisted of two cores: a general one including in person or virtual lectures about research methodology in pediatrics including design of a clinical trial, writing of a scientific paper and statistical methods, and a subspecialties core for the discussion of research challenges in each area and the scientific writing activities. The perceived barriers to a research training and an evaluation of the program were assessed by an anonymized questionnaire. Sixty-four out 150 residents registered for the research training with 62/64 completing the two cores. The major perceived barrier to research during clinical training was the absence of protected time (89%) followed by the lack of specific funds (37%). The group activities lead to the publication of 24 papers. Conclusion: This is the first experience in the Italian pediatric training of a dedicated research program within the frame of postgraduate medical education. Our report highlights the need for protected time to promote research interest and nurture a new generation of physician scientists. What is Known: • Training to medical research is not part of residency program. • The declining trend of physician scientists might be reverted by early exposure to research methodology and challenges during residency. What is New: • An early exposure to research training during pediatric residency increases the research engagement of pediatric residents. • The lack of protected time for research is perceived as the major barrier to research training during residency.
Project description:Since the acceptance of the Healthy DC - Go Local proposal in November 2007, members of the District of Columbia Area Health Sciences Libraries group supported the project by offering their time to select health care services, perform data entry, review records, and promote the database to their organizations. Although the amount of work required to sustain the database became more than the Go Local team was able to handle, the collaboration, dedication, and persistence of project managers, volunteers, and part-time staff members was what made the project a truly collaborative one and an ultimately successful resource for Washington, DC health care consumers.
Project description:BackgroundAlthough physician-scientists generally contribute to the scientific enterprise by providing a breadth of knowledge complementary to that of other scientists, it is a challenge to recruit, train, and retain physicians in a research career pathway.ObjectiveTo assess the outcomes of a novel program that combines graduate coursework and research training with subspecialty fellowship.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted of career outcomes for 123 physicians who graduated from the program during its first 20 years (1993-2013). Using curricula vitae, direct contact, and online confirmation, data were compiled on physicians' subsequent activities and careers as of 2013. Study outcomes included employment in academic and nonacademic research, academic clinical or private practice positions, and research grant funding.ResultsMore than 80% of graduates were actively conducting research in academic, institutional, or industrial careers. The majority of graduates (71%) had academic appointments; a few (20%) were in private practice. Fifty percent had received career development awards, and 19% had received investigator-initiated National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 or equivalent grants. Individuals who obtained a PhD during subspecialty training were significantly more likely to have major grant funding (NIH R series or equivalent) than those who obtained a Master of Science in Clinical Research. Trainees who obtained a PhD in a health services or health policy field were significantly more likely to have research appointments than those in basic science.ConclusionsIncorporation of graduate degree research, at the level of specialty or subspecialty clinical training, is a promising approach to training and retaining physician-scientists.
Project description:This paper presents reflections on mentorship from scientists and mentors of the National Institute on Aging (NIA)-funded Carolina Center on Alzheimer's Disease and Minority Research (CCADMR). Using a network approach to mentoring, this program aims to increase the pipeline of underrepresented minority (URM) scientists studying Alzheimer's disease (AD) disparities. Six mentors and five scientists participated in interviews. Thematic analysis identified recurring themes; transcripts of mentors and scientists were compared. Most common thematic categories identified by mentors included experience interacting with scientists, goals as a mentor, recruitment of underrepresented minorities, scientists' challenges, and programmatic qualities. The most mentioned categories by scientists were challenges, seminars, working with mentors, career development, and project experience. The CCADMR will use findings to enhance the experience and training methods for future grant years. Results can benefit other training programs focused on aging and AD.
Project description:Phagocytosis is an essential step in the innate immune response to invasive fungal infections. This process is carried out by a proverbial "village" of professional phagocytic cells, which have evolved efficient machinery to recognize and ingest pathogens, namely macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells. These innate immune cells drive early cytokine production, fungicidal activity, antigen presentation and activation of the adaptive immune system. Despite the development of antifungal agents with potent activity, the biological activity of professional phagocytic innate immune cells has proven indispensable in protecting a host from invasive fungal infections. Additionally, an emerging body of evidence suggests non-professional phagocytes, such as airway epithelial cells, carry out phagocytosis and may play a critical role in the elimination of fungal pathogens. Here, we review recent advances of phagocytosis by both professional and non-professional phagocytes in response to fungal pathogens, with a focus on invasive aspergillosis as a model disease.
Project description:ObjectiveWe describe the development and pilot test of a physician-focused, web-based training module designed to improve physician communication related to clinical trials in a diverse cancer patient population.MethodsResearchers and stakeholders developed the training module, which included a video explaining patient-centered communication strategies for discussing trials, and re-enactments of actual clinical interactions. For the pilot test, the module was provided to physician participants in the Partnering Around Cancer Clinical Trials (PACCT) trial at two major urban cancer centers. Questionnaires assessed change in beliefs, behavioral attitudes, knowledge and comfort; and perceptions of the module.ResultsNineteen physicians participated in the pilot test. Most were experienced in discussing trials. Assessments of change were mixed regarding beliefs; they showed marginal improvement in attitudes, and significant improvement in knowledge, but no change in comfort. Feedback on the module was favorable.ConclusionsThis stakeholder-developed physician communication training module was acceptable and effective, albeit in this small and highly-experienced physician sample. Future research should determine its effectiveness on communication in clinical settings.InnovationThis is the first physician training module to focus on communicating about clinical trials in a diverse patient population. It offers a web-based format and re-enactments of naturally-occurring clinical interactions.Trial Registration Number: NCT02906241.
Project description:Coaching is proposed as a means of improving the learning culture of medicine. By fostering trusting teacher-learner relationships, learners are encouraged to embrace feedback and make the most of failure. This paper posits that a cultural shift is necessary to fully harness the potential of coaching in graduate medical education. We introduce the deliberately developmental organization framework, a conceptual model focusing on three core dimensions: developmental communities, developmental aspirations, and developmental practices. These dimensions broaden the scope of coaching interactions. Implementing this organizational change within graduate medical education might be challenging, yet we argue that embracing deliberately developmental principles can embed coaching into everyday interactions and foster a culture in which discussing failure to maximize learning becomes acceptable. By applying the dimensions of developmental communities, aspirations, and practices, we present a six-principle roadmap towards transforming graduate medical education training programs into deliberately developmental organizations.
Project description:BackgroundResidential treatment facilities for eating disorders are becoming increasingly common and purport to provide recovery-orientated care in a less restrictive environment than traditional hospital settings. However, minimal attention has focused on individuals' lived experiences of these residential services.AimsThis study explores participants' lived experiences of care at Australia's first residential facility for the treatment of eating disorders.MethodQualitative data were collected as part of a clinical evaluation (June 2021 to August 2023). Fifteen women participated in semi-structured interviews about their experience of treatment following discharge. Data were analysed with inductive reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsThree main themes were generated from the data that included participants' journeys to treatment, experiences of treatment and the transitions associated with and following discharge. Cutting across these main themes were participants' encounters of barriers, setbacks and hope. Participant experiences of residential treatment were complex and multifaceted, marked by inherent ideological dilemmas that arose in balancing standardised treatment protocols with person-centred and recovery-oriented care. Participants also spoke of reclaiming a sense of self and identity beyond their eating disorder, emphasising the importance of relationships and consistent and collaborative care.ConclusionsParticipant accounts of residential treatment emphasised the importance of holistic, person-centred and recovery-oriented care. Despite the complexities of treatment experiences, participant narratives underscored how recovery may be more about the reclamation of a sense of identity outside of the eating disorder than merely symptom improvement. As such, adopting person-centred and recovery-oriented treatment approaches within residential treatment settings may maximise individual autonomy and promote holistic recovery pathways.