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RWJF
Site for Clinical Scholars
The
School of Medicine has been selected
to serve as a training site for the
Clinical Scholars Program of The Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), beginning
in 2005. For each of the two years
of the Penn-based program, eight Scholars
will be trained in all aspects of
health services research. In addition,
up to four Scholars will be selected
each year for a third year of training.
Begun
31 years ago as the first competitive
national program of the Foundation,
the Clinical Scholars Program helps
young physicians acquire new skills
and training in the quantitative and
qualitative sciences underlying health
services research--including epidemiology,
biostatistics, economics, anthropology,
sociology, communications, policy
analysis, and health systems. To date,
more than 900 physicians have participated
in the program, which offers two years
of graduate-level study and research
as part of a university-based, post-residency
training program. Many of the program's
graduates have attained leadership
positions in academic medicine, the
government, and private industry.
"What's
especially exciting about the RWJ
Clinical Scholars Program moving forward
is its focus on leadership training--including
faculty training for participating
sites--and the opportunities for community-based
participatory research and primary
data collection," said Dr. Jeane
Ann Grisso, senior program officer
at RWJF. "We believe that these
new areas of development will be especially
attractive to the new scholars."
"Our
curriculum is innovative, comprehensive
and challenging," said Dr. Harold
I. Feldman, co-director of
the Penn Clinical Scholars Program,
and associate professor of medicine
and clinical epidemiology. "The
elements that will characterize the
Penn Clinical Scholars Program include
a strong, multi-disciplinary mentorship;
individualized training within a common,
structured curriculum in health services
research and health policy; and scholar-initiated
research experiences developed and
conducted in partnership with community
organizations."
"Penn
scholars will acquire significant
research competencies and be encouraged
to think creatively about research
problems and future career paths that
offer the potential to improve the
health of the public," added
Dr. J. Sanford Schwartz, also
CO-director, and professor of medicine
and health management & economics. "Scholar
training will be centered around community-based
and policy-relevant research designed
to inform community-based interventions
and health policy. In addition, Scholars
will be trained in leadership, communication
and advocacy skills, and will interact
with public and private-sector health
policy and healthcare delivery leaders
to better understand their needs and
perspectives."
"Our
location in a rich multi-cultural
urban environment will contribute
to providing ideal training for the
new Scholars beyond traditional academic
boundaries," said Dr. Arthur
H. Rubenstein, EVP of the University
of Pennsylvania for the Health System
and Dean of the School of Medicine. "By
partnering with important community
groups and strong clinical affiliates,
our Scholars will gain a rigorous
training foundation that should lead,
in turn, to the development of policy-relevant
research designed to improve community
health."
In
addition to collaborative activities with
the other schools within Penn, the Clinical
Scholars Program at Penn will include CHOP
and the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical
Center as its neighboring clinical partners.
Almanac, Vol. 49, No. 22, February 18, 2003
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