Surgical Research Fellowship 2020
Program Summary
The Surgery Research Fellowship at Saint Francis Hospital & Medical Center—a part of Trinity Health Of New England—features a two-year experience in applied, outcomes, and other clinical research. The program will usually accommodate two fellows, in succession, including first-year and second-year fellows (designated F1 and F2).
The Research Fellowship targets interested and available surgical residents in any specialty, and is intended to be a two-year experience. This duration will include multiple research projects endeavored with any of several possible experienced principal investigators. Research Fellows will work on local, regional, and even national and multi-center projects. Topics include:
Surgical Outcomes & Quality
Trauma & Critical Illness Interventions
Trauma Outcomes & Quality
Neurological Injury and Neurocritical Care
Colorectal Surgery
Surgical Oncology
Vascular Surgery Outcomes & Quality
Peri-procedural assessments & outcomes
Critical Care Sedation, Analgesia, Restraints, Ventilatory Care, Post-Intensive Care Syndrome
Opportunities in surgical subspecialties
Additionally, Enhanced Recovery programs; Sedation/Analgesia in the ICU; Falls; Interpersonal Violence; Coagulopathies and brain injury trauma; outcomes after TBI; others.
Resources
Dedicated Surgery Department Research Coordinator
CITI Program Biostatistics Courses
Our Surgical faculty are involved in regional- and national-level work with:
American College of Surgeons (ACS)
ACS Committee on Trauma
ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program
ACS Trauma Quality Improvement Program
Connecticut Surgical Quality Collaborative
Society of Critical Care Medicine
Chest Wall Injury Society
Capitol Area Shooting Task Force
Smilow Cancer Center at Saint Francis
New England Vascular Collaborative
The Hospital has a robust system-based research administration with dedicated Institutional Review Board and Research Integrity and Scientific Review Committees.
In addition, Trinity Health is an integrated system of more than 90 hospitals, offering the possibility of system-wide funding for research in addition to multicenter trials.
We have an engaged physician & surgeon faculty with appointments at University of Connecticut School of Medicine and the Frank L. Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University.
The hospital has more than 1500 square feet of simulation studio, state of the art monitoring software and high fidelity trainer.
We have extramural and intramural funding sources with >$1.3 million in support over the last five years, and opportunities exist for internal funding for projects. Of importance, eligible candidates do not need to come with funding--this is a paid position, funded internally for the role. Research projects are supported by both intra-department funds, a dedicated research endowment, and funding available by application. .
Eligibility
Candidates for the fellowship will have:
1. Completed a doctorate in medicine at an ACGME accredited university; considerations may be available for successful graduates of foreign medical schools.
2. Successfully completion and passage of USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 exams; Step 3 scores highly considered.
3. Current categorical residency in an accredited general surgery or surgical specialty program. For residents in preliminary positions, consideration will be made under special circumstances.
4. Maintain excellent standing in their residency program during the period of participation.
5. A commitment to two years in the research fellowship.
Ideal candidates will have an aptitude for research, experience in clinical research, chart review, electronic health records, and the scientific process. Candidates with experience in manuscript preparation, grant writing, and advanced degrees in basic science or clinical applied science will be given special attention. Exceptional interpersonal skills will also be expected. Candidates will work alongside attending surgeons, research coordinators, institutional review board members, and staff from the hospital research administration.
Of important note, the Greater Hartford area is an underrated hotbed of industry (United Technologies Corporation, a multitude of insurance firms (Aetna, Travelers, the Hartford), scientific companies (Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Jackson Laboratories, etc), and other agencies (ESPN, Legrand, Springworks), and a fantastic place to live according to Reuters, Money Magazine, and livability.com. Hartford has been ranked in the top 10 places to raise a family, and is #1 for college and professional school graduates. West Hartford, just 4 miles down the road, features Top-Chef owned restaurants, fantastic museums, cultural calendars, recreation, and all in a beautiful New England community.