NHLBI CVD EPIDEMIOLOGY & BIOSTATISTICS TRAINING PROGRAM

Abstract

The University of Minnesota Training Program in Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention has been in existence since 1977. The program includes both pre- and post doctoral trainees and provides skills in epidemiology and biostatistics, medicine, biology and nutrition, behavioral science and public health. Pre-doctoral trainees obtain a PhD in epidemiology. Post-doctoral trainees with no prior degree in epidemiology are encouraged to obtain an MPH degree. Fellows are assigned a preceptor and initiate individual research in ongoing studies, including data collection and analysis. Trainees complete one or more projects for which they bear primary responsibility. Current or recent observational epidemiologic projects include the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults, Development of Adverse CVD Risk Factors in Mexican American and Non-Hispanic White Preschool Children, Epidemiology of Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism, Epidemiology: Oxidative Stress and Early Atherosclerosis, Inflammatory Precursors of Type 2 Diabetes, Influence of Insulin on Blood Pressure Change During Adolescence, Iowa Women's Health Study, Minnesota Heart Survey, Minnesota Stroke Survey, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, Raloxifene Use for the Heart Study, Cardiovascular Disease and Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter and Other Air Pollutants, Etiology of Adolescent Obesity, Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls, MESA Family Study, The Family Blood Pressure Program, Strength Training for Obesity Prevention, Effect of Dietary Composition on Exercise Tolerance in Obese Adults, Bright Start: Obesity Prevention in American Indian Children, and the Study of Health Outcomes of Weight Loss. The Division of Epidemiology & Community Health also houses the Minnesota ECG Coding Center, the Nutrition Coordinating Center, and a fully operational data center.

Areas of Special Emphasis

Observational epidemiology, nutritional epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, community surveillance, community programs. Faculty expertise is available in virtually all areas of cardiovascular epidemiology, including behavioral aspects.

Type of Training: Pre-doctoral and Post-doctoral

Key Faculty Available as Preceptors

Program Director
Aaron R. Folsom, MD, MPH, Professor

Epidemiology
Henry Blackburn, MD, Professor Emeritus
David R. Jacobs, Jr, PhD, Professor
Russell V. Luepker, MD, Professor and Division Director
Pamela J. Schreiner, PhD, Associate Professor
Alan R. Sinaiko, MD, Professor

Electrocardiography
Richard S. Crow, MD, Professor

Preventive Cardiology
Alan K. Berger, MD, Adjunct Assistant Professor
Kristine E. Ensrud, MD, Adjunct Associate Professor
Alan T. Hirsch, MD, Adjunct Professor

Biology/Physiology
Myron D. Gross, PhD, Associate Professor
Arthur S. Leon, MD, Henry L. Taylor Professor

Biostatistics
Susan J. Duval, PhD, Assistant Professor

Genetic Epidemiology
James S. Pankow, PhD, Assistant Professor

Nutrition
Lyn M. Steffen, PhD, Assistant Professor
Mary T. Story, PhD, Professor
Mark A. Pereira, PhD, Associate Professor

Behavior
Robert W. Jeffery, PhD, Professor
Leslie Lytle, PhD, Professor

Last updated: January, 2007

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