General Pediatrics Research

Program Details

Fellows will learn the essential tools and skills of research methodology that are necessary to develop an independent research career. The training program includes coursework, seminars and two mentored research projects.

Opportunities for additional training are also supported. Trainees who enter the program without a master’s degree will complete the requirements for a master’s of science in epidemiology or master’s of science in clinical and translational research. Other training experiences include quality improvement research and improvement science, medical education and biostatistics. General Pediatrics Fellows also experience weekly training sessions on relevant topics and curriculum in a small group environment that allows for peer interaction, feedback and mentoring.

Research Requirements

Each fellow in the General Pediatrics Research Fellowship is expected to complete two research projects during their training. Typically, these projects include an original research project and a secondary analysis of existing data based around the fellow's original research question. To further develop skills in written presentation all fellows will prepare and submit one grant to the group each year for peer review and in turn critically review their peers’ submissions. In addition, fellows are expected to present at two national research conferences and to complete two manuscripts of sufficient quality to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, with the first paper submitted for publication at the end of the first year of fellowship. At the close of the training period, fellows should be competitively positioned to obtain grant funding.

Fellowship Curriculum

Fellows participate in a weekly, small-group, seminar series that includes topics essential for academic success not otherwise covered in standard coursework. Examples of topics include time management and presentation of scientific data. Review the Fellowship Selected Seminar Sessions .pdf for a detailed list of the Core Curriculum.

Master's of Science Degree

The General Pediatrics Research Fellowship offers fellows the opportunity to obtain a master’s of science degree through the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Fellows may pursue study in epidemiology or a master’s of science in clinical and translational research. A master’s in education (medical education) is also available but, for those pursuing this degree, the primary interest must be in rigorous education-related research rather than in clinical education. The College of Medicine recently established a master’s in public health degree program, which may become an additional option for fellows.

Degrees offered through the Department of Environmental Health:

Biostatistics
Epidemiology
Children’s Environmental Health
Clinical and Translational Research

Certificate programs are also available to all trainees, and are offered through the Center for Clinical & Translational Science and Training:

Quality Improvement Training

There are a number of opportunities for trainees to learn quality improvement methods: online self-paced modules, an eight-week hands-on course using team-based projects and one-on-one coaching (Lean Collaborative), a fast-paced interactive four-month coached team project (the Rapid Cycle Improvement Collaborative), to I2S2 and ImpactU, which are six-month programs that meet monthly and require about six hours per week of work, with the goal of developing leaders in improvement science and quality improvement. Several of our trainees have taken advantage of these courses.

Clinical

The General Pediatrics Research Fellowship is primarily a research training fellowship; however, fellows may spend up to 20 percent of their effort on clinical experience that supports their research. Historically, our program allows the flexibility to include opportunities for outpatient clinical experiences in general pediatrics, adolescent medicine, behavioral problems, chronic illness, environmental health, hospital medicine, lead, weight management, and other subspecialties and conditions.

Participating Faculty Members

The General Pediatrics Research Fellowship has a large group of 33 senior and experienced mentors in 10 Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Divisions from which trainees can assemble a robust team of mentors. Senior mentors currently affiliated with the program come from the following disciplines and centers: the Center for Adherence and Self-Management, the Division of Adolescent and Transition Medicine, the Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence, the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, the Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, the Division of Critical Care Medicine, the Division of Emergency Medicine, the Division of Hospital Medicine, the Reading and Literacy Discovery Center, the CHECK Foster Care Center, and the Division of Rehabilitation Medicine, all based at Cincinnati Children’s, in the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. These faculty members each have a strong track record of publishing and obtaining external grant support.

Organizational Chart

The Organizational Chart for our General Pediatrics Research Fellowship places the research trainee in the center. Trainees receive direct guidance and feedback from the Program Office, senior mentors, a dedicated biostatistician, and a personalized scholarship oversight. Trainees also receive support from the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office and Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Community Relations. Additionally, our trainees can work with key community partners through Community Health’s All Children Thrive Network and Community Action Agency with which we have collaborative partnerships. The Program Office (Dr. Sarah Beal, Dr. Kim Yolton, and Ms. Tataw) receive guidance from the Institutional Administration, the Fellowship Advisory Committee, Senior Mentors, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the GME office, and the NRSA fellows themselves regarding the direction and execution of the Fellowship.

Related Areas

Give Today

General Pediatrics Research

Program Details

Related Areas

Connect With Us