Teaching Clinical Research to the Next Generation of Physicians

From the most advanced immune modulating cancer therapies to the first patients treated with penicillin, medical research remains at the core of advancing modern medicine. Bringing the edges of science and technology to the bedside, however, often involves physicians themselves as clinical researchers. With this understanding, the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medical Education has made a commitment to educating physician residents and fellows alike as leaders within the space of research and academia. At the physician fellow level, Dr. Robert E. Heidel, PhD in addition to several members of his team, conduct a weeklong course for fellows of all disciplines aimed at navigating the research process at the University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC). During this course, participants review the topic of biostatistics and its application to clinical research, IRB submission and revision, as well as approaches to study design which may be appropriate for a given clinical question. After this foundation is established, these processes are mapped out as participants build a proposed research project that is ultimately presented to other members of the course.

Dr. Heidi Worth, M.D., a current Hematology and Oncology fellow, when asked about the course, states “Having completed research projects within multiple departments, I feel it provides an insightful experience centered around approaching research at our institution. There is certainly something meaningful to be gained by individuals at

Points of View

multiple stages of training.” In parallel to the physician fellow course, the Evidence Based Medicine rotation (EBM), which is currently part of the internal medicine residency curriculum, provides a very similar experience to physician residents. Conducted by Dr. Daphne Norwood, M.D., and Dr. Robert E. Heidel, PhD, this experience also covers many of the same high-yield research topics and serves as a launch point for residents to begin engaging with research at UTMC. Medicine residents during EBM similarly participate in formulating a study proposal and work towards presenting their idea to their peers at its conclusion. Placed roughly at the midpoint of the PGY-1 year, EBM aims to inform residents on current processes and resources, cultivate enthusiasm for clinical research, and facilitate the process of turning a clinical question into a tangible project which may serve to answer that question and contribute to medical literature as a whole.

As the list of publications within all disciplines continues to flourish, the department of medicine continues to strive towards UTMC becoming a top-tier academic and research institution. With the understanding that providing excellent patient care remains of paramount importance, emphasis on the goal to materialize this realworld experience into larger contributions to the medical community is further recognized. In light of this, UTGSM would like to thank physicians, educators, and researchers at all levels for their invaluable time and effort in making additions to an already impressive body of research conducted at UTMC.

all over the country, indeed all over the world, to seek the help of these renowned physicians. Recruitment of such physicians requires availability of a wide variety of training programs that allows them to thrive in a rich academic environment. Such a milieu allows generation of new ideas for generating research grants and impactful publications. The ability to achieve scientific breakthroughs and innovations is the hallmark of prestigious medical centers and members of such institutions are actively sought as speakers and researchers by other centers nationally and internationally.

Rajiv Dhand, MD, Chair

The University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) recently revised its vision statement. The stated vision of the organization is now to “Transform the health of individuals as a top-tier Academic Health System.” What are the distinguishing characteristics of prestigious health systems? Obviously, the most distinctive feature is that these centers provide very high-quality patient care and state-of-the-art specialized services that are not available at most other centers. Perhaps, the greatest distinguishing feature of prestigious medical centers lies in the quality of physicians recruited and the support services provided to them. These physicians are absolutely dedicated to their profession and are nationally and internationally known for their skills and expertise. Patients gravitate to these centers from

One of our astute administrators recently noted that all prestigious medical centers have renowned departments of medicine. To be recognized as a top-tier academic health system, we in the Department of Medicine will need to be models of excellence and lead this journey while promoting diversity, equity and inclusiveness at all levels of the organization. Our goal is not only to provide high quality patient care but also create new knowledge that facilitates our understanding of diseases as well as provides newer technologies, the application of which improves the health of our patients. Achieving these lofty goals requires