Overview
In addition to outstanding clinical training, the Critical Care Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic is designed to expose fellows to the scientific underpinnings of clinical practice and to familiarize them with research methodology and biostatistics. While all fellows are expected to engage in a research or quality improvement project, several options exist for fellows who wish to pursue research as a key part of their career. Our institute offers multiple fellowship positions each year for trainees to pursue research supported by T32 and other grant funding. In addition, the Respiratory Institute employs full time, embedded biostatisticians as a free resource for fellows doing research as well as direct coaching from experts in quality and process improvement. Research opportunities are broad and include both clinical and laboratory-based topics including ARDS, ECMO, mechanical ventilation, point of care ultrasound, sepsis, medical education & simulation, and informatics/big data. Our institute enjoys access to several national and international databases that fellows may leverage as part of their research. Fellows are expected to present their research at one of the annual professional society meetings and to prepare manuscripts for submission to a scientific or clinical journal.
A structured mentoring process is essential to ensuring the success of research training during fellowship and to foster our commitment to developing leaders in critical care medicine. All fellows meet throughout the year with the program directors to discuss their clinical, research, and career interests. These meetings serve to direct the fellow towards research and career mentors and to ensure progress. Together, the fellow and mentor will outline career objectives, a research trajectory, and necessary education or clinical experiences to meet those goals.
In addition, all first year fellows participate in the Quality in Leadership (QuIL) program. This program is an in-depth, mentored program that provides structured training in leadership, quality and process improvement research. Fellows work as a team with faculty mentors and quality improvement experts to solve real problems in medicine.
To ensure comprehensive scholarship training, all fellows are also expected to participate in a faculty mentored writing workshop. Fellows learn the art of written scientific communication to improve their writing and peer review skills. Fellows are expected to submit at least one manuscript for publication as a part of this curriculum.
Resources
Biostatistics Course
The Cleveland Clinic offers a variety of courses in statistics from the practical to the theoretical. Fellows are free to enroll in any of these courses. In addition, we offer a self-guided, 18-month statistics in medicine course which focuses on the theory and application of statistical techniques commonly used in clinical research. This course offers fellows a thorough, yet practical approach to medical statistics as it pertains to practicing evidence based medicine and improving the quality of patient care.
Embedded Biostatistician
We have two biostatisticians within the Respiratory Institute who play a crucial role in ongoing research studies conducted by our fellows and faculty. Biostaticians can help fellows formulate sound research methodology for a project, assist with data analysis and contribute to manuscript preparation. Fellows are also encouraged to contact the biostatisticians to discuss and critique articles presented for Critical Care journal clubs.
Department of Quantitative Health Sciences Courses
In addition to the Quality in Leadership (QuIL) program, the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences of the Lerner Research Institute offers a series of courses available to fellows seeking more in-depth learning in the areas of medical biostatistics, clinical epidemiology, clinical trials design and operation. Further details are provided on the QHS website.
Case Western Reserve Masters of Science in Clinical Research
Case Western Reserve offers a Masters of Science in Clinical Research. This two year program is designed to provide physicians with rigorous didactic education in clinical research methods coupled with an in-depth mentored investigative experience.
Acceptance to this program is competitive and a demonstrated commitment to research and a career in academics is essential. Within our fellowship program, full tuition support can be offered to a maximum of one fellow per year who has selected the specialized research pathway as his/her advanced training pathway.
Involvement in this program would require extension of fellowship training and enrollment in the T32 Research Program.
T32 Research Program
The Respiratory Institute T32 Research Program provides funding and protected research time for Critical Care physicians with interest in pursuing a clinician scientist career pathway. The T32 program requires a 2-year commitment and is designed as a gateway to additional NIH funding mechanisms. Fellows interested in pursuing this pathway can apply to pursue the T32 pathway as a 3- or 4-year fellowship option. If interested in this pathway, please contact the program when applying. Further details are provided on the T32 website
Simulation Fellowship
This fellowship is designed to develop leaders with vision, knowledge and a commitment to furthering research and development of simulation-based medical education. The fellowship is a one-year, project-based, longitudinal experience that enables the fellow to conduct research regarding simulation. Ancillary benefits include exposure to developing, operating and managing a simulation program. The program will use experts in the Cleveland Clinic Education Institute to provide core learning. In addition, fellows identify a content mentor who will provide clinical guidance throughout the project and will be paired with a mentor in the Simulation and Advanced Skills Center. Involvement in this program would require extension of fellowship training.
Cleveland Clinic/Cleveland State University Masters in Education in Health Professions Education
Through a collaborative effort between the Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland State University, fellows can enroll in a unique opportunity designed to enhance skills in curriculum design and instruction, learner and program assessment and adult learning theory. Designed for individuals who are seeking an academic career in medical education, the masters program can be included in a larger critical care education pathway. Involvement in this program would require extension of fellowship training.
