Program Requirements

All fellows participate in the following and must report which they have attended on a quarterly basis:

  • Monthly seminar series on epidemiology and prevention
  • Monthly journal club and grand rounds presentations on cardiovascular epidemiology and prevention
  • Clinical Epidemiology and Prevention Seminar, FPM 247, 8 sessions, 2 hr. each, given in the Spring Quarter. 
  • Selected other Grand Rounds (Cardiology, Endocrine, Medical)
  • Selected other scholarly activities

All fellows complete the following:

  • Independent research project
  • CITI online training:
    https://www.citiprogram.org/
    Complete "Basic Courses in the Protection of Human Research Subjects" module
  • Scientific Ethics or Ethics in Scientific Research class
             SOMI226 (includes faculty involvement), BMS219, PHAR219
             All Classes are offered in the Spring quarter only
             To register: http://ethics.ucsd.edu/courses/index.html
            
    In addition, there are specific skills that all fellows are expected to achieve by the completion of their training.

All post-doctoral fellows are expected to achieve the following:

  1. Pursue didactic training in epidemiology and earn either a Master’s degree or certificate for didactic training in epidemiology. This requirement is waived for those with prior degrees in epidemiology or comparable training.
  2. Collaborate with a mentor on ongoing research project.
  3. Develop and conduct an independent research project .
  4. Manage their own dataset or data from an existing project.
  5. Conduct a statistical analysis of original data or a secondary analysis of existing data.
  6. Develop, write and submit two abstracts for presentation at national scientific meetings.
  7. Develop, write and submit three manuscripts for publication in the peer-reviewed literature on their research.
  8. Critique 4 published peer reviewed articles.
  9. Present the results of their research annually to the Executive Committee and Advisory Committee.
  10. Develop, write and submit a grant proposal for extramural support .

All pre-doctoral fellows are expected to achieve the following:
A. Knowledge

  1. To appreciate the scope of disease burden encumbered by CVD.
  2. To understand the multifactorial risks associated with the development of CVD.
  3. To learn the different modalities for measuring the degree of risk for CVD.
  4. To appreciate the different population and individual approaches to the prevention of CVD.
  5. To know the fundamental techniques in epidemiology, biostatistics, and prevention for investigation of public health problems related to CVD. This typically requires obtaining a masters degree in epidemiology or equivalent.

B. Skills

  1. To be able to conduct systematic literature reviews using electronic media.
  2. To become competent in critiquing the published peer reviewed literature.
  3. To be well versed at constructing hypotheses and then identifying, developing and formulating the appropriate research study design.
  4. To be capable of assembling and organizing research data.
  5. To be skilled at conducting statistical analyses within the context of specific research aims.
  6. To cultivate a research project that is independent of the mentor’s.
  7. To develop and prepare scientific manuscripts.
  8. To prepare a grant application.
  9. To learn the behavioral and management skills requisite for collaboration and conducting multidisciplinary research.

C. Attitudes and Behavior

  1. To become dedicated to epidemiologic research focused on the prevention of CVD.
  2. To consider and pursue collaborations that foster multidisciplinary research.
  3. To recognize the importance of evidence-based research for preventing CVD.
  4. To strive for incremental levels of career independence .
To participate in academic and social events that provide exposure to the roles, values and ethical standards of investigators.