| | Postdoctoral Research Training - Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Prevention |
 | | | Mission StatementOur mission is to provide infrastructure for rigorous mentored research experiences and for carefully selected, well-planned didactic courses -- to help meet the critical need to prepare a continuing cadre of well-trained scientists for successful investigative careers in cardiovascular epidemiology and prevention. BackgroundThe Department of Preventive Medicine of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine offers a postdoctoral fellowship training program in cardiovascular (CVD) epidemiology and prevention. Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Research Service Award mechanism, this postdoctoral fellowship provides two to three years of mentored training to prepare fellows with the knowledge and skills needed for successful investigative careers. | HistoryThe Department of Preventive Medicine was founded in 1971 by Dr. Jeremiah Stamler, a leader in the field of CVD epidemiology and prevention. The Department has had long-standing success in conducting high-quality epidemiologic cardiovascular research, and activities in this area continue to expand. From 1975 to 1996, the Department housed a successful postdoctoral training program through this same mechanism. Former fellows of this program can be found in prominent positions in academia, government, and industry. With ongoing funding of the Department’s multidisciplinary research in CVD, the Department is in a unique position to train a new cohort of fellows. Research InterestsThe Department is home to several NIH-funded studies that are available to trainees for research experiences (e.g., Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults, Women’s Health Initiative, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, Chicago Heart Association Detection Project in Industry, Hispanic Community Health Study/SOL, Chicago Healthy Aging Study, INTERMAP, CHARISMA). Areas of research expertise of the faculty include CVD epidemiology, preventive cardiology, vascular medicine, genetic epidemiology, cardiovascular nutrition, health services research, and vascular biology. Faculty in the Department maintain collaborations with a number of Departments in Feinberg School of Medicine including Cardiology, General Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Pediatrics, Radiology, and Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine. Additionally, collaborations are also established with faculty in the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at the Loyola University School of Medicine and UIC. Several research areas of emphasis exist at present: Observational study of the development of cardiovascular risk factors in young adults and long-term (20 + years) predictors of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality Non-invasive imaging (magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography scanning) of atherosclerosis and its risk factors (collaborations with Cardiology, and Radiology) Health care costs and health-related quality of life associated with various cardiovascular risk profiles (collaborations with the Institute for Healthcare Studies) Ethnic and gender disparities in health (collaboration with Loyola University Department of Epidemiology) Peripheral arterial disease: functional consequences, causes, under-detection and treatment (collaboration with General Internal Medicine) Association of hormones and cardiovascular risk (collaboration with Endocrinology) Genetic determinants of obesity (collaboration with Endocrinology, Loyola University School of Medicine)
The program encourages and promotes multi-disciplinary, inter-departmental, and inter-institutional research. Training ProgramThe centerpiece of the fellowship program is mentored research. Distinguished physician/scientists and scientists who have successfully mentored junior colleagues in the past have been identified throughout the School of Medicine to serve as mentors for this training program. Clinicians in this program have available as mentors many successful physician/scientists. Under the supervision of one or more research mentors, trainees are expected to gain hands-on experience in the design, conduct, and analysis of CVD epidemiologic or prevention research. Fellows are expected to generate research leading to presentations and publications in peer-reviewed journals. Regular review and feedback will be provided to trainees about progress towards goals outlined at the beginning of the training program. Formal training will typically involve the equivalent of one year of didactic coursework in the theoretical and methodologic aspects of research. The availability of a wide range of courses and seminars in epidemiology, biostatistics, cardiovascular medicine, research ethics, scientific writing and peer review permits individual tailoring of the formal training element of the program. All trainees have the opportunity to complete a Master’s degree program in Public Health or Clinical Investigation. Clinical health professionals are in a unique position to gain skills from this intensive research training that will place them in a better position to apply for and receive future research grant support, an essential component of a career in academic medicine. For this reason, all MD fellows are expected to complete a Master’s degree in Public Health or Clinical Investigation. All PhD postdoctoral fellows must show evidence of competence in biostatistics; if such competence cannot be demonstrated, they will be required to undertake further training in this area as it relates to their research. In addition to didactic training, fellows are encouraged to participate in an extramural training experience such as the two-week long American Heart Association / National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Summer Training Course in Cardiovascular Epidemiology. Attendance and participation at national meetings is supported by the training grant. The American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention sponsors a half-day session at its annual meeting devoted to the presentation of work from current NRSA trainees. Where funds permit, trainees are encouraged to participate in at least one other national meeting of their choosing. Through participation in national meetings, trainees are exposed to work in progress by other scientists in the field and are able to make professional contacts. Professional development activities (led in large part by the primary and secondary mentors) are an integral component of the training program. Again, participation in career development activities is highly specialized. In general, fellows will be encouraged to attend University sponsored seminars on such topics as academic job search strategies, pathways to successful careers in academic medicine (targeted to clinicians), promotion and tenure, and concerns of women in academic medicine. This combination of mentoring, formal coursework, seminars, and participation in ongoing research will be structured to provide the most useful training experience for each individual fellow. EligibilityAt the time of appointment, applicants must have a doctoral degree. MD candidates should have an interest in pursuing a research career in cardiovascular medicine or a related clinical field. PhD applicants should have degrees in the fields of epidemiology, biostatistics, nutrition, or other relevant areas. The applicant must be eligible to work in the United States (e.g., citizen or permanent resident) at the time of application. Women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply. DurationFellows are typically appointed for two or three years. Stipend and BenefitsEffective with all Kirschstein-NRSA awards made on or after October 1, 2008, the following annual stipend levels apply to all individuals receiving support through institutional research training grants or individual fellowships, including the Minority Access to Research Career (MARC) and Career Opportunities in Research (COR) programs. These awards are made under the authority of Section 487 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. The stipend levels are as follows: | |
Career Level | | Stipend for FY 2009 | | | | Undergraduates in the MARC and COR Programs: | Freshmen/Sophomores | $7,896 | Juniors/Seniors | $11,064 | | | | Predoctoral | | $20,976 | | | | Postdoctoral | Years of Experience: | | 0 | $37,368 | | 1 | $39,360 | | 2 | $42,204 | | 3 | $43,860 | | 4 | $45,504 | | 5 | $47,460 | | 6 | $49,344 | | 7 or more | $51,552 |
Tuition, books, fees, a professional travel allowance, and certain other research related expenses are covered by the Program. All postdoctoral fellows receive health insurance benefits through Northwestern University. ApplicationInterested candidates should contact Brenna Michael at (312) 503-2208. The application deadline for this year has been extended to January 31. However, interested candidates are encouraged to inquire about possible unexpected open positions at any time. Upon submitting your CV and letter of interest, please also fill out an application.
Primary Mentors (listed alphabetically after Dr. Daviglus)Daviglus, Martha, MD, PhD | Professor of Preventive Medicine and Medicine at FSM | Carnethon, Mercedes, PhD | Assistant Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine | Cooper, Richard, MD | Professor and Chair of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology at Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine | Dyer, Alan, PhD | Professor of Preventive Medicine at FSM | Greenland, Philip, MD | Harry W. Dingman Professor and Executive Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Research | Kadish, Alan, MD | Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology at FSM | Liu, Kiang, PhD | Professor and Associate Chair for Research | Lloyd-Jones, Donald, MD | Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine and Medicine (Cardiology) at FSM | Losordo, Douglas, MD | Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) at FSM and Director of Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute | McDermott, Mary, MD | Associate Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine at FSM | Spring, Bonnie, PhD | Professor of Preventive Medicine, Psychology and Psychiatry at Northwestern | Stamler, Jeremiah, MD | Professor Emeritus of Preventive Medicine at FSM, former Department Chair, and previous T32 Program Director | Van Horn, Linda, PhD | Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine |
Secondary Mentors (listed alphabetically):Baker, David, MD, MPH | Professor of Medicine, Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine, and Associate Director of the Institute for Healthcare Studies at FSM, Northwestern University | Carr, James, MD | Associate Professor of Radiology and Medicine at FSM and Director of Cardiovascular Imaging | Cella, David, PhD | Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and the Institute for Healthcare Studies, FSM | Chang, Rowland, MD, MPH | Professor of Preventive Medicine, Medicine (Rheumatology), and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at FSM | Fitzgibbon, Marian, PhD | Professor of Medicine and Health Policy and Administration at UIC | Goldberger, Jeffrey, MD | Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) at FSM | | Kang, Joseph, PhD | Assistant Professor of Biostatistics at FSM | Li, Debiao, PhD | Professor of Radiology and the Director of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research in the Department of Radiology at NU | Lowe, William L., MD | Professor of Medicine, Dean for Faculty Affairs | Manheim, Larry, PhD | Professor of Healthcare Studies at FSM | McDade, Thomas, PhD | Associate Professor of Anthropology at NU, a Faculty Fellow of the Institute for Policy Research, Associate Director of Cells to Society | Metzger, Boyd E., MD | Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Molecular Medicine), at FSM | Schnaper, H. William, MD | Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University, and Director of the Pediatric Nephrology Lab | Wang, Xiaobin, MD, MPH, ScD | Professor and Director, Mary Ann and J. Milburn Smith Child Health Research Program, at CMH | Zee, Phyllis, MD, PhD | Professor of Neurology at FSM and Director of the Sleep Disorders Program | | | | |
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| | | last updated:Tue Jul 07, 2009
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