|
Clinical Research Training Program
Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
Fellowship Program in Clinical Research
Introduction
The goals of the Clinical Research Training Program are to provide fellows with the skills
needed to become well-trained, productive and independent clinical investigators. These
goals are optimally met in a three-year program (optional third year available).
Overview of Clinical Research Opportunities
The first year focuses on clinical training in the diagnosis and management of patients with
rheumatic diseases. In years two and three, fellows are encouraged to participate in the
graduate training program in Epidemiology at the Graduate School of Public Health, University
of Pittsburgh. Course work includes introduction to study design, methodology and biostatistics
and an opportunity to obtain a Masters in Public Health Degree (MPH). The Epidemiology of
Women's Health Program at the Graduate School of Public Health focuses on promoting the health
and well-being of women through teaching and research in Epidemiology. Faculty members from
the Division of Rheumatology actively participate in the Women's Health Program curriculum.
The particular course work of study is developed collaboratively by the fellow and major advisor
based on academic and professional background, area of concentration and degree program.
Additional educational and research opportunities for second and third year fellows are
available through the Center for Research on Health Care at the University of Pittsburgh
Medical Center. This nationally recognized program provides expertise in conducting health
services and outcomes research. Activities of the Center include research seminar and lecture
series and collaborative endeavors on outcomes research.
The Clinical Research Program provides opportunities to interact with not only faculty from the
Division of Rheumatology, but also nationally recognized clinical researchers in both the
University of Pittsburgh's Department of Epidemiology at the Graduate School of Public Health
and the Department of General Medicine including:
- Lewis Kuller, M.D., Dr.P.H., Professor and Department Chairman,
Department of Epidemiology
- Roberta Ness, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Professor, Department of
Epidemiology, Director of Epidemiology of Women's Health Program
- Jane A. Cauley, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., Associate Professor, Department
of Epidemiology
- Wishwa Kapoor, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Professor, Department of
Medicine, Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine
All clinical research fellows are required to formulate and conduct a research project during
the fellowship under the supervision of one or more full-time faculty members with faculty
collaborators. Fellows will initiate a literature review, design a protocol, conduct their
research, analysis and summarize their results, prepare them for presentation at regional
and/or national meetings and submit a manuscript for publication. In addition, fellows are
encouraged to write up interesting or unusual cases as brief reports.
At the completion of this three-year program, fellows will be well trained in designing and
conducting clinical epidemiologic research in the area of rheumatic diseases.
Clinical Research
The following descriptions of current clinical research activities at the University of
Pittsburgh has been organized into Research Programs which define groups of investigators with
common research interests. All faculty within these Programs are Principal Investigators of
independently funded clinical scientific projects with specific aims that focus
directly upon arthritis, autoimmune, and musculoskeletal diseases. It should be noted that there is extensive
collaboration among members of many program areas and that these collaborations extend across
the boundaries of basic science and clinical medicine. In fact, one of the strengths of the
research base at the University of Pittsburgh is the close working relationships among basic
science and clinical faculty.
|
