Clinical Research Rotation for 2nd Year Medical Residents

Eight years ago, with the assistance of the Department of Medicine, the GCRC developed a two-week research rotation for second year residents. During their second year, all medical residents take this rotation; it is presently 18 days in length and includes introductions to several of our clinical investigators and experience at an IRB meeting. The major goal of the rotation, however, is the development of research protocols. Al thought some of the protocols could actually be conducted by the residents during their elective time in the third year of residency, the focus is on the process of asking and answering a clinically relevant question.

In its present format, four residents will take the rotation together. They are introduced to the program by Dr. Dan Donovan (a graduate of our K30 program). As described above, the major focus during the rotation is on the development of a clinical research project, and the residents develop an IRB protocol for a study of their choice. During the rotation, the residents are scheduled to meet several times with Dr. Rajasekhar Ramakrishan, a members of the GCRC biostatistical team, and Dr. Beverly Diamond, head of our Informatics Core. Each of these individuals devotes 2-3 three-hour sessions to the residents during each rotation. Further, the residents have two sessions with the Director of the GCRC Nutrition unit, Ms. Karmally, as well as one session with the Core Laboratory Director, Dr. O'Connor and one session with the Director for the Research Pharmacy, Dr. R.B. MacArthur. The latter is not formally a part of the GCRC, but serves an important function in facilitating clinical research at Columbia.

At the end of each rotation, the residents present their IRB protocols at a meeting attended by the Program Director, Dr Ginsberg, Drs. Donovan, Diamond, and Ramakrishnan, and Ms Karmally. Additionally, one of the chief residents and one of the faculty members involved in the Housestaff Training Program, also attend. Virtually all presentations, which last about 45 minutes, are characterized by a lively debate about key issues such as recruitment, feasibility, confounders and biostatistics. The program has been received enthusiastically by both the residents and the house staff program coordinating staff. The GCRC elective now stands out as one of the factors that attracts prospective residents to the Columbia program. We have compiled a collection of these presentations and provided the Department of Medicine with copies.

Click here to view resident schedules and online power calculation module or here is view a list of the PGY2 Medical Residents and their research protocols

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