Research Rotation

Rotation: Research

Updated: November 2012

Approved by Fellowship Program Education Committee

Fellow Levels: F2, F3  

Duration: 2-4 week blocks

Location: Based at the institution where the mentor project are based, VA and UF libraries, as well as the individual fellow’s office. 

Evaluation: Done by supervising faculty in both written and verbal form as above every 6 months.

General Description:

All fellows are expected to provide evidence of scholarly activity per ACGME and Program requirements as part of completion of their fellowship training.  This rotation provides for relative protected time to assist in accomplishing these goals.  The rotation content is negotiable between the fellow and his/her mentor and should be planned prior to the beginning of the rotation to maximize the productivity with the rotation time.  Resources available during the rotation are dependent upon the project requirements and include, but are not limited to the mentorship and laboratories of investigators, institutional library access, online journal subscriptions, APPCI curriculum series, and PubMed.  Fellows are expected to provide self-directed learning and motivation during this rotation with obvious oversight and supervision by their research mentor(s).  Accountability and oversight as contracted by the mentor/fellow approval of the fellow’s career development proposal occurs with reports on progress due on a monthly basis.

During the research rotation, fellows have minimal patient care responsibilities except for their VA and Shands continuity clinics.  Additionally, conference attendance and participation in required fellowship programmatic meetings are expected.  Fellows may be on-call or serve as backup during this rotation.

Outcomes of these rotations will be evaluated and metrics determined as adequate by the Fellowship Program Education Committee, with obvious oversight and input by the individual research mentor.  The latter will also provide written and verbal evaluation each month.  Although research leading to a peer-reviewed publication is the gold-standard measure of excellence on this rotation, attention to the process of developing a project, applying the scientific method, commitment to the project, and communication of the process and results in either written, oral, or published format is the primary objective.

Core Competencies

1. Patient Care – this competency has minimal bearing during this rotation aside from that relevant to the fellow’s ongoing clinical requirements and as stated above in the rotation description.  When research projects include clinical or patient care, it is expected to be compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health.

At the completion of this rotation, F2 fellows should be able understand the following, and F3 fellows should be able to understand and demonstrate the following:

  • Effective care of patients enrolled on clinical trial.
  • The informed consent process.
  • The process of adverse event monitoring and reporting.

2. Medical Knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and cognate (e.g. epidemiological and social-behavioral) sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care particularly as it relates to the scientific method.

At the completion of this rotation, F2 fellows should be able understand the following, and F3 fellows should be able to understand and demonstrate the following:

  • The rationale for observed medical care of the patient while enrolled on clinical trial.
  • The process of adverse event monitoring and reporting.
  • The background pre-clinical, biologic, pathophysiologic, and pharmacologic data relevant to the development and implementation of a clinical research project.
  • General principles of clinical trial and statistical design.
  • Application of the scientific method to relevant questions in pulmonary and critical care medicine.
  • The importance of accurate and thorough charting, which permits robust medical record review in situations of chart-based research

3. Practice-Based Learning and Improvement that involves investigation and evaluation of their own patient care, appraisal and assimilation of scientific evidence, and improvements in patient care.

At the completion of this rotation, F2 fellows should be able understand the following, and F3 fellows should be able to understand and demonstrate the following:

  • Effective utilization of educational and evidence-based resources to seek answers to scientific and clinical questions.
  • Deficiencies in knowledge or experience and opportunities for correction.

4. Interpersonal and Communication Skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, their families, and other health professionals.

At the completion of this rotation, F2 fellows should be able understand the following, and F3 fellows should be able to understand and demonstrate the following:

  • The skills needed to interact with patients and their families in a manner that demonstrates compassion, competence and professionalism.
  • The skills needed to successfully interact with all members of the research team.
  • Effective education of the residents and students working with their patients or on a project.
  • The supervision of research and nursing personnel.
  • Effective dissemination, through both oral and or written forms, the knowledge gained from the research project to other members of the medical team and healthcare community to advance the field of science.

5. Professionalism, as manifested through a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population.

At the completion of this rotation, F2 fellows should be able understand the following, and F3 fellows should be able to understand and demonstrate the following:

  • The skills needed to interact with patients and their families in a manner that demonstrates compassion, competence and professionalism.
  • Effective communication skills with patients and their families with attention not just to the medical aspects of medical care, but also to the psychological, social and spiritual dimensions as well.
  • The role of researcher always keeping the patient’s best interest as the primary goal, and performing these duties in a professional and courteous manner.
  • Ethical practices affiliated with the process of scientific research and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
  • The safeguard of protected health information and other personal data consistent with institutional policies and law.
  • The principles of patient autonomy, beneficence, and justice as it relates to patient involvement in clinical research.

6. Systems-Based Practice, as manifested by actions that demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value.

At the completion of this rotation, F2 fellows should be able understand the following, and F3 fellows should be able to understand and demonstrate the following:

  • The process of clinical trial design and the approval process within the University of Florida, Shands Hospital, and VA health-care systems.
  • The role of the IRB.
  • The role of the DSMB.
  • The role of the CTO.
  • The development of a retrospective or prospective clinical protocol with associated regulatory requirements.
  • The skills necessary for leadership within a healthcare and scientific team.
  • The potential conflicts of interest when participating in industry sponsored clinical trials and research.