Clinical Research Training Program
Program Components
This training program provides fellows with the necessary background in biostatistics, epidemiology and clinical study design, and an opportunity to apply these clinical research skills in a mentored setting.
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Year One
The trainee will participate in all coursework and fulfill all requirements to obtain a M.P.H. in General Epidemiology from the School of Public Health. The trainee is expected to maintain at least a B average for coursework. The M.P.H. program requires completion of 42 credit hours of coursework and involves courses in:
1. Clinical Study Design
2. Data Collection
3. Biostatistics
4. Development of Surveillance Systems
5. Microcomputers
6. Public Health Policy
The concepts and methodology behind epidemiology will be taught in detail, and trainees will learn how to solve problems relating to the incidents and outcomes of human disease using specific examples. Emphasis will be placed on understanding various aspects of clinical study designs and epidemiologic parameters. Electives are available and can be selected from the vast offerings within the Department of Epidemiology, as well as other SPH departments.
Trainees will identify a research mentor and begin to plan their main clinical research projects. With guidance from the mentor, the trainee will design a study protocol for a major clinical research project that will be completed in the second year of this program and that follows NIH format. Emphasis is placed on training in preparation for submitting NIH-level grants. -
Year Two
By the beginning of year two the fellow will have acquired many of the skills necessary to carry out a high quality clinical research endeavor, and will be expected to put these skills into practice. He or she will be required to initiate and complete an independent clinical research project and report it in a peer-reviewed journal. The project should be “clinical research” as defined by the NIH and be relevant to urology. Existing databases in the Department of Urology include radical prostatectomy, bladder cancer, impotence, female and reconstructive urology, and a population-based cohort study of prostate diseases in African American men. These databases exemplify the breadth of clinical research topics from which trainees may choose.
Editorial Assistance
A professional editor will be available to the trainee for feedback on manuscripts prepared for submission to professional journals.
Clinical Responsibilities
No more than 20 percent of the trainee’s time can be allotted towards clinical activity each year, and such activity must be related to his/her research. This ensures the trainee has sufficient time to attend classes while remaining involved in clinical medicine.
Required Conferences
Trainees are expected to participate in U-M conferences/seminars designed to provide exposure to clinical urology, research ethics, basic science research and health services research. The Department of Urology offers weekly conferences in Urologic Oncology, Pediatric Uroradiology, Uropathology and Grand Rounds. In addition, a variety of seminars related to clinical research, research ethics and health services research are offered by the School of Public Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program at the University of Michigan.
Program Expectations
Trainees are expected to complete all required coursework and fulfill requirements to obtain a M.P.H. from the School of Public Health. In addition, he/she is required to carry out a well-designed clinical research project using primary data collection or secondary datasets, to present this research at regional and national meetings, and to have at least one scientific manuscript based on this project submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.
Combined Training
Applicants for the clinical specialty fellowships in urology at the University of Michigan are eligible to apply to this program and are expected to fulfill requirements for both programs.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
1. Be committed to an academic research career in urology
2. Be highly regarded as physicians by those responsible for their clinical training
3. Plan to complete the clinical requirements for Urologic ACGME-approved training program by the date of entry into the program, with the exception of University of Michigan applicants who may substitute their laboratory research year for the first year of this training program
4. Be a United States citizen or a permanent resident
Application Process
All applicants are required to submit an application package which includes their curriculum vitae, three letters of support and the completed application (PDF version / MSWord version). Recruitment begins 18 months prior to admission. Materials should be received no later than August 30. Applicants that receive a favorable review will be invited for an interview at which time official copies of undergraduate and medical school transcripts should be submitted. Requests for more information and an application should be directed to:
John T. Wei, M.D., M.S.
Associate Director, Clinical Research Training Program in Urology
1500 E. Medical Center Dr.
Taubman Center 3875
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0330
Phone 734-615-3040
Fax 734-936-9536
E-mail:jtwei@umich.edu
Program Directors
James E. Montie, M.D.
Professor and Chairman of Urology
John T. Wei, M.D., M.S.
Associate Professor of Urology
Director of Clinical Research and Quality Assurance
Program Faculty
Urology and Gynecology
David Bloom, M.D., Professor
John Delancey, M.D., Professor and Chief of Gynecology
Gary J. Faerber, M.D., Associate Professor
Khaled Hafez, M.D., Assistant Professor
Brent Hollenbeck, M.D., M.S., Assistant Professor
Jerilyn Latini, M.D., Assistant Professor
Cheryl Lee, M.D., Assistant Professor
Edward J. McGuire, M.D., Professor
Dana A. Ohl, M.D., Associate Professor
John Park, M.D., Assistant Professor
Will Roberts, M.D., Assistant Professor
Julian Wan, M.D., Associate Professor
J. Stuart Wolf, M.D., Associate Professor
David Wood, M.D., Professor
Internal Medicine/Oncology
Kathleen A. Cooney, M.D., Associate Professor
Maha Hussain, M.D., Associate Professor
David C. Smith, M.D., Assistant Professor
Kenneth J. Pienta, M.D., Professor
School of Public Health (Epidemiology and Biostatistics)
Hal Morgenstern, Ph.D., Professor and Chairman, Department of Epidemiology
Aruna Sarma, Ph.D., Assistant Research Scientist
Jeremy Taylor, Ph.D., Professor and Director of the Biostatistics Unit of the Comprehensive Cancer Center
