Surgical Outcomes & Quality Improvement Center (SOQIC) Research Fellowships

The IU SOQIC Research Fellowship program is a long-standing program that was recently brought to IU with the relocation of SOQIC to the Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Surgery. These research fellowships offer a funded, two-year, onsite fellowship in surgical outcomes, health services, quality improvement, implementation science, health policy, and surgical education research for surgical residents. Applications are rolling and reviewed as they are submitted. We are currently seeking applicants for research fellows to start in July 2023 in Indianapolis.

The overall goal of the research fellowships is to help prepare surgical residents for successful careers as surgeon-scientists. This pathway will allow for residents to gain firsthand experience in research methodology across a variety of different research disciplines. Research fellows will spend a minimum of two years with the IU SOQIC research team conducting research, taking advanced degree courses, and working on developing a robust, meaningful research agenda. Several tracks for applicants with specific interests are available, including surgical education, oncology, heath policy, quality improvement, and implementation science. All IU SOQIC research fellows will be able to undertake surgical education research, including working on The SECOND Trial and the future THIRD Trial.*

Residents participating in the IU SOQIC Research Fellowship will also earn a master's degree in clinical science from Indiana University School of Medicine. Applicants are not required to enroll in degree programs if a similar-level degree has already been achieved.

Prior fellows have had very successful research experiences, including numerous presentations (e.g., American Surgical Association, American College of Surgeons), first-author publications (e.g., JAMA, NEJM, Annals of Surgery), and successful grant acquisitions (e.g., NIH, AHRQ. American Cancer Society).

The work done during the fellowship has launched successful research careers and has helped residents secure coveted clinical fellowships, faculty positions, and research funding. The program prepares the research fellow for a career in academic surgery with a focus on national surgical healthcare issues. There is also a formal program to support the fellow’s professional development, especially in establishing a national network of relationships. Strong preference will be given to candidates with prior research experience. One-year fellowships will not be considered. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or residents.

^{*The SECOND Trial is made possible
by partnerships with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
(ACGME), American College of Surgeons (ACS), American Board of Surgery (ABS),
Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS), Association of American
Medical Colleges (AAMC), and the Society of Surgical Chairs (SSC). The study is
funded by the ACS and the ACGME.}

We are currently accepting applications for the following opportunities:

Interested in applying?

Strong preference for all three research fellowships will be given to candidates with prior research experience and from diverse backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in medicine (URiM). One-year fellowships will not be considered. Applicants must be U.S. permanent residents or visa holders.

More information about SENT Research Fellowship

More information about Joint ACS-IU SOQIC or IU SOQIC-Regenstrief Research Fellowship

Surgical Education Numbered Trials (SENT)

The Indiana University Surgical Outcomes and Quality Improvement Center (IU SOQIC) is announcing a dedicated fellowship program, seeking diverse candidates, to support the research conducted in the Surgical Education Numbered Trials Group (e.g., FIRST, SECOND, THIRD Trials). This research fellowship offers a unique, funded, two-year, on-site program specializing in surgical education and policy research. IU SOQIC is seeking candidates for the July 2023 academic year and highly encourages surgical residents and post-doctoral trainees from underrepresented and minoritized communities to apply. The program is located in Indianapolis.

Research fellows will spend time with the Surgical Education Numbered Trials team collaborating in national and international studies (SECOND Trial, THIRD Trial, and more) concentrated on enhancing the culture and learning environment of surgical residency programs and surgical departments. Fellows will work extensively, alongside surgical education wellness, and diversity leaders to design and implement future research studies, having a unique opportunity to develop a meaningful research portfolio in surgical education. Research fellows will earn a master’s degree in clinical science from Indiana University School of Medicine. Applicants are not required to enroll in degree programs if a similar-level degree has already been achieved.

The FIRST and SECOND Trial have contributed extensively to the literature in the surgical education space, successfully publishing >50 manuscripts and conducting over >50 presentations nationwide by prior fellows. Moreover, prior fellows have published their surgical education research in NEJM, JAMA, surgical journals, and surgical education journals. The research conducted by the Surgical Education Numbered Trials team is made possible by partnerships with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), American College of Surgeons (ACS), American Board of Surgery (ABS), Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS), Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), and the Society of Surgical Chairs (SSC). The National Numbered Surgical Education Trials Group is funded by the ACGME and ACS. Fellows will be primarily mentored by Drs. Yue-Yung Hu, Karl Bilimoria, and Demetrios Stefanidis, along with several other Indiana University clinical and methodological experts in surgical education and health service/outcomes research.

Strong preference will be given to candidates with prior research experience and coming from diverse backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in medicine (URiM). One-year fellowships will not be considered. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or visa holders. Please send your CV to damorteg@iu.edu for pre-screening and to request an application, or if you have any questions about the program.
Joint American College of Surgeons (ACS) Cancer Program with IU SOQIC - Surgical Oncology Research Fellowship

The Indiana University’s Surgical Outcomes and Quality Improvement Center (SOQIC) in conjunction with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Cancer Programs, is excited to offer a funded, two-year, scholars opportunity in oncologic surgical quality and outcomes, health services, and health policy research for surgical residents and post-doctoral trainees.
The SOQIC - ACS Cancer Programs Clinical Scholars conduct research, integrate into ACS Cancer Programs committees and initiatives, and lead aspects of various initiatives of the ACS Cancer Programs, thus providing a comprehensive, unparalleled exposure to the ACS Cancer Program’s work in research, quality, policy, advocacy, and accreditation. This position will have a particular focus on national surgical oncology quality improvement initiatives led by the ACS Cancer Programs. There may also be opportunities to participate in other programs, committees, projects, and initiatives within the ACS and the ACS Cancer Programs, including the accreditation programs (Commission on Cancer, National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers [NAPBC], and National Accredited Programs for Rectal Cancer [NAPRC]). Residents can have an interest in any area of oncology, including general surgical oncology, colorectal, thoracic, breast, endocrine, transplant, etc.
The joint SOQIC/ACS research fellowship has been highly successful, training more than 20 surgical residents over the past 15 years. Prior Clinical Scholars have presented frequently at prestigious national conferences, published in high-impact journals (including numerous Scholars with first-author publications in JAMA or NEJM), led key initiatives for the ACS Cancer Programs, and have gone on to careers as surgeon-scientists.
The ACS Cancer Programs Clinical Scholars will work with mentors at the ACS and IU’s SOQIC, as well as experts from around the country. The scholars will be mentored by Dr. Heidi Nelson (Medical Director of the ACS Cancer Programs), Dr. Anthony Yang (Associate Director, IU SOQIC), and Dr. Karl Bilimoria (Director, IU SOQIC; Chair, Department of Surgery) and other program leaders. Research fellows will earn a Master’s degree that best suits their needs through one of the programs offered at Indiana University, most often a Master’s in Clinical Research that is tailored for surgical resident research fellows interested in health services, outcomes, quality improvement, and implementation science. The advanced degree tuition will be fully funded by the program. Applicants are not required to enroll in degree programs if a similar-level degree has already been achieved.
Preference will be given to candidates with prior research experience and from diverse backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in medicine (URiM). One-year fellowships will not be considered. The scholar will be primarily located in Indianapolis at IU SOQIC but also be expected to spend regularly scheduled time on-site at the ACS Cancer Programs in Chicago. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or visa holders. Please send your CV to bdorazio@iu.edu for pre-screening and to request an application, or if you have any questions about the program.
IU SOQIC - Regenstrief Institute General Surgery Research Fellowship

Indiana University’s Surgical Outcomes and Quality Improvement Center (IU SOQIC), in partnership with the IU School of Medicine Department of Surgery and the Regenstrief Institute Center for Health Services Research, is excited to offer a two-year research fellowship in surgical outcomes, health services, quality improvement, implementation science, health policy, and surgical education research for IU School of Medicine surgical residents.

IU SOQIC research fellows will work with a team of faculty mentors of their choosing to conduct research in their specialty interests, and will receive training in informatics, technical skills, and relevant clinical disciplines. Research fellows will participate in Regenstrief early career investigator activities, including the writing group, Faculty Development Lecture Series, HSR and Institute-wide works-in-progress meetings.

Prior fellows have had very successful research experiences, including numerous presentations (e.g., American Surgical Association, American College of Surgeons), first-author publications (e.g., JAMA, NEJM, Annals of Surgery), and successful grant acquisitions (e.g., NIH, AHRQ. American Cancer Society).

Research fellows will earn a master’s degree that best suits their needs through one of the programs offered at Indiana University, most often a master’s in clinical research that is tailored for surgical resident research fellows interested in health services, outcomes, quality improvement, and implementation science. The advanced degree tuition will be fully funded by the program. Applicants are not required to enroll in degree programs if a similar-level degree has already been achieved.

Preference will be given to candidates with prior research experience and coming from diverse backgrounds. Those underrepresented in medicine (URiM) are encouraged to apply. One-year fellowships will not be considered. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or visa holders. Interested residents should bdorazio@iu.edu to request an application, or if you have any questions about the program.