Research Training

The Fellowship Research Program is designed to develop fellows as researchers with skills in developing research projects, applying basic statistical concepts, utilizing statistical data analysis software, and understanding and interpretation of research including an evidenced-base medicine approach. During the first year, all fellows participate in a year-long research didactic series. This didactic course is designed to provide the fellows with basic skills in research essential to conducting individual research projects and critically evaluating the literature. The interdisciplinary course incorporates research and statistics theory with experience critiquing literature, analyzing data and interpreting findings. The research series is delivered through a 2-week intensive workshop series during the program orientation and bi-weekly sessions throughout the year. Fellows have an opportunity to apply their learned research skills through three primary activities: Individual Research Project, Journal Club during both years, and a Collaborative Community Service Research Project during the second year.

Individual Research Project

With the guidance of the Director of Research, research faculty, and a clinical mentor, fellows conceptualize an individual research project and develop a research proposal. The proposal is presented and approved by Program Directors and faculty who represent medical, dental, and mental health fields. Fellows prepare the Institutional Review Board application, conduct their research, analyze the data, and prepare a final paper of publishable quality. In their second year, fellows present their research findings at the South Eastern Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society. Annual Fellow Research Night. They are also urged to submit research results in poster form at the UMDNJ-SOM's Annual Research Day. During the second year, fellows continue to collect data on their first year project, with a goal of submitting their findings for publication or presentation at a national meeting.

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Journal Club

All fellows are required to participate in monthly interdisciplinary journal club and to present 2 research articles per year themselves. Fellows critique an article from the medical/dental/mental health literature, utilizing both clinical and research perspectives. Application of evidenced-based skills is required in journal club sessions.

Collaborative Community Service Research Project

During the second year, medical, dental, and mental health fellows work on a collaborative research project with faculty and students from the School of Public Health and NJISA faculty who are enrolled in the MPH program that is funded through the DHHS-HRSA Faculty Development Grant. The collaborative project will explore minority health, health literacy, and cultural issues, thereby reinforcing the concepts of the Community Service components of the fellowship. Fellows and their collaborators will work with Camden Healthy Futures and related organizations to conduct the research in inner-city Camden.

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