Research Program
State-of-the-art basic science and clinical research facilities are available to the pediatric orthopaedic fellow. The division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery has a long-term cooperative research relationship with Ethicon Endo-Industries.
Under the direction of Eric J. Wall, MD, and Donita Bylski-Austrow, PhD, support facilities for biomechanical and animal model research are available.
The department has a full-time research coordinator available to assist the fellow with research projects. Susan Foad, MPH, is available to orthopaedic fellows to help with obtaining medical records and x-rays, Institutional Review Board preparations, patient phone surveys, as well as research design and statistical support for research projects.
In January of 2002, the department expanded both its basic science and clinical research programs through an "Invest in Excellence" grant from the Surgical Services Division at Cincinnati Children's.
Additions include an on-campus basic science research facility as well as dedicated research assistants and a research secretary to help support basic science research initiatives by the fellow.
Clinical research projects are preceptored by all full-time pediatric orthopaedic faculty members. Specific support for the fellow concerning Outcomes Research and Health Services Research projects is provided by Charles T. Mehlman, DO, director, Musculoskeletal Outcomes Research, as well as, the medical center's Department of Health Policy and Clinical Effectiveness.
Patient populations for research projects conducted by the fellow may be identified via ICD-9 and CPT code-based computer searching services provided by Cincinnati Children's Department of Medical Records.
Studies requiring structured patient follow-up visits with concomitant data gathering may involve the Medical Center's National-Institutes-of-Health-supported Clinical Research Facility (CRC), a dedicated patient research unit located within Cincinnati Children's.
Issues concerning study design, power calculation, and statistical analysis may be addressed by the full-time faculty in general, and Dr. Mehlman and Donita Bylski-Austrow, PhD, in particular.
Further statistical support (including mainframe computer and SAS access) are available through the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. All clinical research projects involving patient contact require Institutional Review Board approval.
