Overview

The Department of Emergency at the Keck School of Medicine of USC is committed to conducting and disseminating clinical and community-based research of the highest methodologic standards. The USC DEM research fellowship is a two-year program designed to prepare future emergency medicine career researchers. Upon completion, the graduate will achieve the following goals:

Develop expertise and independence in clinical research methods and statistical analyses
Acquire advanced knowledge in protocol development, and procedures involved in conduct of clinical trials
Provision of informed consent for studies involving human subjects
Design, conduct, and manage an independent research project
Data collection and analysis
Prepare and present research results at a national research meeting
Submit research papers for publication
Understand research grant writing and application procedures
Secure independent funding for research
Integrate knowledge of clinical emergency medicine with health services and epidemiologic research methods
Serve as a clinician-educator in an academic emergency department.
Develop teaching and leadership skills for a career in academic general internal medicine or family medicine
Research fellows will have dedicated office space with administrative support and our expected to work 8 clinical hours in the LAG+USC DEM weekly. Fellows will receive a salary commensurate with their level of training as well as full health benefits. Fellows will be appointed as a Clinical Instructor pending approval of the promotions committee and Dean.

Fellowship Specifications

General Fellowship Requirements:

Earn advanced degree (MPH or equivalent)- in public health, biostatistics, epidemiology or health service. The Masters tuition, books and all needed supplies including software are to be provided by the fellow.
Develop and serve as principal investigator of a clinical or health service research study.
Present scientific findings at least one regional and one national meeting.
Attend all research division weekly meetings, participate in bi-monthly departmental journal clubs; help in departmental review of scientific proposals; become a journal reviewer.
Join and participate in institutional research-related committee (e.g. IRB).
Join and participate in a national task force or committee.
Preparation and submission of a training AND project grant to NIH or similarly competitive agency or foundation.
Author at least two scientific manuscripts.
Work as an attending physician in the LAG+USC Medical Center ED 1 clinical shift weekly.
Fellows will help mentor medical students and residents participating in departmental research.
Fellowship Eligibility: Fellows must have an active California medical license and be board certified or board eligible (ABEM or ABOEM) at the time of fellowship matriculation.

Fellowship Duration: 24 months

Fellowship Director(s): Drs. Michael Menchine, Sanjay Arora

Research Division Faculty Advisers: Dr. Deirdre Anglin, Dr. Sanjay Arora, Dr. Cynthia Bir, Dr. Ilene Claudius, Dr. Mark Eckstein, Dr. Michael Menchine, Dr. Seth Seabury.

Areas of Current Clinical Research: Clinical Decision Rules, Methodology, Interpersonal Violence, Diabetes, Transition from ED to chronic care, Pediatric/Adolescent Mental Health, ALTE, EMS, Disaster Medicine, Asthma, Genetic Determinants of Health, HIV, Medical Decision Making, Prescription Opioid Abuse, Health Economics, Biomechanics.

Fellowship Educational Plan

Mentorship – Research fellows will identify a primary intra-departmental mentor as well as 1) a local non-EM advisor and 2) an extramural advisor. Fellows will help mentor medical students and residents participating in departmental research. Faculty members who are matched with mentors commit to meeting with their assigned fellow at least monthly, and, in most cases, more frequently to discuss details of designing and implementing research projects, presentations, manuscripts, and grants. Our goal is to match each fellow with a primary mentor within the first 3 months of fellowship, if not before. In some cases, candidates will select mentors prior to starting the fellowship and may even begin initial discussions with their mentors about planned research activities.

Coursework – Epidemiology and biostatistics (including multiple regression); critical evaluation of the medical literature; basic research design and methods; data acquisition, management and security; scientific writing; human subjects and ethical research participation

Sample first year coursework for Master’s Degree:
Biostatistics; Environmental Health; Epidemiology; Health Services Organization; Community Health Sciences; Program Planning, Research, and Evaluation in Community Health Sciences I and II; Field studies in Public Health; Overview of Emergency Public Health

Sample second year coursework for Master’s Degree:
Health-Related Behavior; Communication in Health Promotion and Education; Post-Disaster Community Health; Influence of Social & Physical Environment on Racial Health Disparities; Qualitative Research Methodology; Latin America: Traditional Medicine, Shamanism & Folk Illness; Advanced Social Research Methods in Health.

Research Project Experience – Develop project with help of research mentor and fellowship director; develop and adhere to project timeline; obtain IRB and regulatory approvals; oversee research personnel; manage and analyze data.

Ongoing commitments to research and research department:

Weekly logistical meeting
Semi-monthly conceptual meeting
Monthly CTSI research training meetings
Bi-monthly department journal club

Clinical– 8 hour clinical shift per week

Detailed Curriculum: Year One
Detailed Curriculum: Year Two

Recruitment & Selection of Fellows

Interested candidates for the USC DEM Research Fellowship are encouraged to send their CV and cover letter to Dr. Michael Menchine ([email protected]). Candidates are screened by the fellowship directors (Menchine and Arora) and individuals judged to meet eligibility are interviewed by a selection committee that includes but is not limited to the fellowship directors, the Residency Program Director and Chair. The selection process adheres to all University hiring policies.

Funding

The USC DEM Research Fellowship is funded through departmental funds. Fellows are expected to compete for outside funding to help support the fellowship. However, receiving a grant to support the fellowship is not a condition of participation.

Contact

Gabbie Gomez
Research Division Administrative Assistant
Office phone: 323-226-7028
[email protected]