Research Training in Geriatric Clinical Epidemiology

（申请人摘要）该培训计划的目标是培养具有老年临床流行病学专业知识的骨干内科科学家，能够解决老年人复杂和多方面的健康问题。我们将通过提供在老年病学和/或与年龄相关的亚专科受过良好训练的医生，并进行2 - 3年的研究培训，来实现这一目标。老年临床流行病学培训学员将在七个基本领域培养技能：1)制定重要和集中的研究问题；2)观察和实验研究的设计；3)成功执行特定研究设计的技术；4)科学文献的批判性分析；5)结果解释；6)科学方法和发现的口头和书面交流；7)研究支持战略的制定和实施。这些技能将通过包括教学和经验组成部分的培训经验来发展。核心教学课程是为期一年的定量临床流行病学课程，包括流行病学和研究方法、生物统计学、数据处理和卫生政策。通过新的调查医学计划和公共卫生学院提供的高级课程包括临床调查、纵向数据分析和研究伦理。学员可以选择获得公共卫生硕士学位或博士学位。研究培训计划的核心组成部分是在老年教师导师的指导下进行监督研究经验。有一系列广泛的跨学科和正在进行的研究项目，受训者可以利用这些项目作为其研究培训的经验组成部分。拟议培训计划的独特优势包括：杰出的老年临床流行病学研究历史；现有导师和研究专业知识的广度和深度；优秀的教学研究型课程；提供广泛的研究经验机会和优良的研究基础设施；优秀的实习候选人；以及一位因培养成功的老年临床研究者而广受认可的项目主管。

DESCRIPTION: (Applicants abstract) The objective of this training program is to develop a cadre of physician-scientists with expertise in geriatric clinical epidemiology, capable of addressing the complex and multidimensional health problems of older persons. We will accomplish this objective by providing physicians already well trained in geriatrics and/or subspecialties with age-related relevance with 2 - 3 years of research training. The geriatric clinical epidemiology trainees will develop skills in each of seven essential areas: 1) formulation of significant and focused research questions; 2) design of observational and experimental studies; 3) techniques for successful execution of specific study designs; 4) critical analysis of the scientific literature; 5) interpretation of findings; 6) verbal and written communication of scientific methods and findings; and 7) development and implementation of strategies for research support. These skills will be developed through a training experience that includes both didactic and experiential components. The core didactic curriculum is a 1-year long course, Quantitative Clinical Epidemiology, which includes epidemiologic and research methods, biostatistics, data processing, and health policy. Advanced courses, provided through the new Investigative Medicine Program and the School of Public Health, include clinical investigation, longitudinal data analysis, and ethics in research. Trainees will have the option of obtaining an MPH or a PhD. The central component of the research training program is a supervised research experience under the guidance of a geriatric faculty mentor. There is a broad array of interdisciplinary and ongoing research projects upon which trainees can draw for the experiential component of their research training. The unique strengths of the proposed training program include a distinguished history of geriatric clinical epidemiology research; the breadth and depth of available mentors and research expertise; an outstanding didactic research curriculum; availability of a broad spectrum of research experience opportunities and an excellent research infrastructure; an outstanding pool of trainee candidates; and a program director widely recognized for developing successful geriatric clinical investigators.