Children's Health Services Research Fellowship
The IU School of Medicine Children’s Health Services Research Fellowship is designed to support the professional development of health professionals who are committed to a career in children’s health services research. Through a structured mentoring program linked to an explicit timeline and benchmarks, led by a primary research mentor and advisory committee, trainees become proficient in grant writing, research methodology, scientific interpretation, and reporting and presenting research results. Mentors guide trainees through the preparation, submission and successful attainment of post-doctoral fellowships and/or research grants. Up to three fellows are accepted to this program each year.
Curriculum
The core curriculum for the Children's Health Services Research Fellowship includes coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics, research methods, ethics, communication and grant writing. Fellows supplement these courses with electives that may include health policy, information technology, decision support, medical economics, organizational behavior and management, quality improvement, and qualitative and quantitative research methods. Based on the electives chosen, the trainee is eligible at the completion of the fellowship to receive a master’s degree in public health, clinical research, informatics or health administration.
Fellows attend two professional conferences per year: Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting and another chosen by the fellow and his/her mentor.
| Year 1 | |||
| Course Title | Course Number | Credits | |
| Fall | |||
| Clinical Research Methods | GRAD G660 | 3 | |
| Introduction to Biostatistics 1 | GRAD G651 | 3 | |
| Spring | |||
| Clinical Trials | GRAD G661 | 3 | |
| Research Communication Seminar OR Elective | GRAD G655 IUPUI | 2-3 | |
| Summer | |||
| Mentored Clinical Research | GRAD G654 | 3 | |
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | |||
| Introduction to Research Ethics OR Ethical & Policy Issues in International Research (Spring) | GRAD G504
PHIL P5555 |
2-3 | |
| Techniques of Effective Grant Writing OR Elective | GRAD N802 IUPUI | 3 | |
| Mentored Clinical Research | GRAD G664 | 3 | |
| Spring | |||
| Mentored Clinical Research | GRAD G664 | 3 | |
| Elective | IUPUI | 3 | |
| Elective | IUPUI | 3 | |
Research
Fellows complete a number of research projects designed to explore problems and propose solutions to issues of quality, safety and equity in pediatric or adolescent health care. Project development mirrors coursework and should progress in complexity from literature review to secondary analysis to primary data collection. Fellows have the opportunity to learn a variety of research methodologies on the basis of the range of faculty research projects. Some of the primary areas of research include integration of technology into medical practices, health policy and advocacy, vulnerable populations, behavioral health, patient engagement and implementation science.
Each fellow identifies a primary research mentor with whom they meet weekly to discuss progress and issues associated with their work. The fellow’s mentorship panel meets with each fellow quarterly to help them develop a research portfolio and review career trajectory. Research funding up to $10,000 per year is available, and additional funding may be available from the Morris Green Physician Scientist Training Program or Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI).
Application Requirements
The fellowship program is not currently accepting applications for the July 2021 start date. Please check back at a later date for updates on the application process.
Fellowship applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who plan to complete the clinical requirements of their residency training by the date of entry into the Children's Health Services Research Fellowship. Candidates should be committed to an academic career that emphasizes health services research and becoming a clinician-scientist.
The program application includes a cover letter that notes one or more faculty with whom there is an interest for mentorship as well as a curriculum vitae and personal statement (no more than three double-spaced pages with at least size 11 font and one-inch margins) that explains career goals, how the fellowship would further these goals, and a research question of interest. Applicants must also submit a copy of medical school dean’s letter and/or medical/graduate school transcript. Three letters of recommendation addressed to the fellowship program director Erika Cheng, PhD, must be emailed directly from the letter writer to fellowship@ichsr.org. The application process, including on-site interviews, must be completed between January 1 and April 1 of the year before fellowship begins.
Apply for Fellowship
Physicians, post-doctoral scientists or other health professionals interested in applying for the Children’s Health Services Research Fellowship at IU School of Medicine should submit an application by March 1 of the year prior to fellowship. The application and supporting materials should be emailed to fellowship@ichsr.org with the word “Fellowship” in the subject line. Children’s Health Services Research encourages applicants from groups traditionally underrepresented in medicine.