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VA Associated Health Postdoctoral Fellowship Training Program
Purpose, Program Emphasis and Description
The Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research (CCDOR) at the Minneapolis VA
Medical Center offers a fellowship for Ph.D.-level researchers who are interested
in specialized advanced training in health services research. The fellowship is
for one year, but twelve-month renewals are possible and strongly encouraged.
Each year a broad content area (e.g., substance use) and possible mentors are
named and posted on the CCDOR website. Researchers with interest in the
identified content area are encouraged to contact the fellowship director and apply.
Fellows can expect to have an intensive, well-supported experience while working
with VA and University of Minnesota affiliated faculty. The fellowship is designed
to help researchers who have a diverse set of skills to integrate their background
with health services research content and methods in order to meet their career
goals and program objectives. Under the guidance of mentors and the fellowship
program director, each fellow will develop a tailored, individualized program
intended to advance their skills and special strengths. Fellows also receive an
annual $7,000 stipend to develop their research program. Programs are organized
around six major activities:
Formal training in health services research methods.
A mentored research experience through ongoing research projects in the
research area.
Participation in CCDOR-sponsored seminars.
Development of independent research proposals.
Preparation of articles for submission to peer-reviewed journals.
Training in effective grant writing.
Participation in national conferences is strongly encouraged and funding is
available.
Description of CCDOR
CCDOR is an interdisciplinary community of professionals conducting
methodologically rigorous research intended primarily to improve the health
care of veterans. The Center was founded in 1998 and currently employs 25 MD
and PhD investigators, with over 45 externally funded projects and an annual
budget of over $9 million.
PhD investigators include social scientists, health economists, and
biostatisticians. CCDOR and its investigators are affiliated with the
University of Minnesota Medical School, School of Public Health, the
Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Clinical Outcomes Research Center.
CCDOR's research covers a broad range of content areas and employs a variety
of research methodologies.
Primary focus areas include post-deployment health, intervention and implementation
research, research to assess and reduce disparities in care, and research to
improve methods for reducing bias in observational studies. Content areas include:
post-traumatic stress disorder
polytrauma and blast related injuries
substance use, including smoking cessation
cancer detection and prevention (lung, prostate and colon cancer)
patient self management
chronic pain treatment
health literacy
quality of care
race/ethnicity disparities in care
provider behavior
provider-patient interaction
preventive cardiology
vaccine preventable disease
abdominal aortic aneurysm
urological disease
osteoporosis
Methodologies include clinical trials, observational epidemiology, systematic
reviews and meta-analyses, surveys, qualitative and quantitative interviews,
intervention research including evaluation of translation interventions, and
database and economic analyses.
Eligibility and Benefits
Qualified candidates must hold a doctoral degree, preferably in public health,
allied health, the social sciences, or a closely-related field. Candidates must
be U.S. citizens. Fellowships ideally begin in October each year. The application
deadline is May 1. After applications are reviewed, the top candidates will
interviewed by telephone, and when possible, in person. Offers for fellowship
positions are typically made in early-summer. The fellowship includes a
competitive stipend ($42,818 as of June, 2006) with most federal benefits.
To Apply
Send a cover letter stating interests and goals for the fellowship, curriculum
vita, two letters of recommendation, and a writing sample to:
Associated Health Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Minneapolis VA Medical Center (152/2E)
One Veterans Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55417
For more information, contact:
Joan M. Griffin, PhD
Director, Associated Health Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Minneapolis VA Medical Center (152/2E)
One Veterans Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55417
Phone: 612/725-1979
Fax: 612/725-5699
Email:
Joan Griffin
CCDOR Physician Fellowship Program in Health Services Research
Purpose
The Minneapolis VA Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research (CCDOR) and the
University of Minnesota offer a Physician Research Fellowship designed to prepare
board eligible physicians for successful careers in academic medicine. Physicians
in the fields of internal medicine, psychiatry, rehabilitation medicine and other
specialties are encouraged to apply. The Fellowship program provides individualized
training and progressive experience in three major areas: Clinical Research;
Medical Education and Ambulatory Medicine Health Care Delivery.
Program Description
The Fellowship is a 2 year (with a 3rd year option) program funded by the Department
of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Service. The program
includes formal training in research methodology leading to a masters degree, an
intensive mentored research experience, and training in all aspects of professional
academic life, including grant and manuscript writing, clinical teaching, research
and educational presentations, and critical review of the literature.
About CCDOR
The fellowship is housed primarily at the Minneapolis VA Center for Chronic Disease
Outcomes Research. CCDOR, founded in 1998, is comprised of an interdisciplinary
community of professionals conducting methodologically rigorous, clinically relevant
research intended primarily to improve the health care of veterans. The Center supports
over 80 funded projects and an annual budget of over $10.5 million. There are
currently 22 PhD and MD core investigators, 22 affiliate investigators, and 36
research and administrative support staff, including 10 in the biostatical and
data core. In addition there is an active post-doctoral training program for PhD
investigators.
Mentoring
Each fellow is paired with a primary mentor who is responsible for the overall success of
the fellow's career and professional development. Additional content or methodology
mentors may be added to the team, as necessary. CCDOR supports a formal mentoring program
that includes written materials, close oversight of the mentoring process by the fellowship
director, ongoing training of mentors, and protected time for senior investigators to
engage in formal mentoring.
Training/Experience in Clinical Research and Scholarship:
Course Work
Fellows complete coursework that leads to either an MPH in epidemiology or health
services research or an MS in clinical research through the University of Minnesota
School of Public Health and Graduate School. Tuition is covered.
Conferences and Seminars
Each month, fellows participate in journal clubs as well as research, teaching, and
clinical conferences and workshops. Formal training in systematic reviews is offered.
Independent Research Projects
Fellows develop, pursue and complete 2-3 independent research projects with the guidance
of mentors of their choosing.
Training in Medical Education
Fellows gain expertise in medical education including program development
and evaluation. Fellows participate in workshops and seminars, directed
independent reading and clinical experience with feedback from faculty.
Training in Ambulatory Clinical Care
Fellows further their expertise in ambulatory clinical care depending on their specialty. The
fellowship offers a wide range of clinical experiences including a Primary Care Continuity
Clinic, a Women's Comprehensive Health Care Center and a Geriatric Rehabilitation and Education
Clinical Center (GRECC). Fellows would also be able to advance their Patient Communication
Skills through specialized workshops.
Eligibility and Benefits
Eligible physicians must have graduated from an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical
education (ACGME) accredited residency; be board certified or board eligible; be a U.S. citizen;
and have an active unrestricted U.S. medical license. International medical graduates must also
have an Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate that is valid
indefinitely.
The fellowship includes a competitive stipend, health care benefits, vacation, tuition and travel
stipends. Personal work space with office support and access to CCDOR resources are provided.
Start dates for fellowships are flexible but July 1st is preferred. The application deadline is
April 1st.
To Apply
Send or email a cover letter and personal statement stating interests and goals for the fellowship,
curriculum vitae, and two letters of recommendation to:
Steven S. Fu, MD, MSCE
Director, Physician Fellowship Program in Health Services Research
Minneapolis VA Medical Center (152/2E)
One Veterans Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55417
