Research

Educational Purpose: The educational purpose of the research rotation is to discover new knowledge and to translate this knowledge into the practice of Cardiovascular Medicine. Additional, fellows will be educated on the process and procedures needed to bring a research project from idea to publication. Cardiology fellows are encouraged to develop or take part in research activities that meet these purposes including investigator initiated studies, NIH funded studies, and clinical trials of all kinds that allow for data analysis and manuscript construction. Fellows, in collaboration with a faculty mentor, should develop a research plan in advance of their formal research rotations. This is a written document that outlines the aims, approach and expected outcomes of the research project, along with a timeline and expected mileposts to accomplishing the work. If IRB approval is necessary, attempts are made to obtain this in advance of the scheduled research rotation. Fellows are encouraged to become CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative) certified as a component of their research educational experience.

The organization of this experience, either within the defined rotation or concurrent with other clinical rotations, will be inpidualized, depending on the type of research and scholarly activities that the fellow is doing. The fellow will get experience in research presentations by presenting their projects at the Cardiovascular Research Conference. Generally, they will present their projects early on, as the project is being developed, and then after the project’s completion. Such presentations present an opportunity for constructive criticism and improvement. After the project has been completed, it is expected that the fellow will ultimately demonstrate productivity in their research by publishing an abstract or manuscript in a peer-reviewed journal and submitting it for presentation at a national specialty meeting. The mentoring faculty member and the Program Director will assist the fellow in this regard.

The Program Director will review all research proposals for educational suitability and academic rigor. For a project that occurs over several months (or years) of fellowship, the fellow will provide written progress reports during the semi-annual fellowship reviews.

Overall Goals & Competency-Based Learning Objectives:

• To develop academic research to further knowledge in the field of Cardiovascular Medicine that can be translated to progress and new developments in patient care (COMPETENCIES: patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement)
• To develop a research question and understand the research methodologies to obtain answers to those questions. Fellows must demonstrate knowledge of the scientific method of problem solving and evidenced based decision making (COMPETANCIES: patient care, medical knowledge)
• To develop investigatory and analytic approaches to medical problems (COMPETENCIES: medical knowledge)
• To develop proficiency in the critical analysis of the scientific literature and in research by attendance and participation in Journal Club and the Research Conference (COMPETENCIES: medical knowledge, professionalism, practice-based learning and improvement)
• To develop skills to interact with patients involved in clinical research (COMPETENCIES: patient care, interpersonal skills and communication)
• To understand and develop an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care that is influenced by research activities (COMPETENCIES: systems based practice)
• To demonstrate professionalism from interaction with peers while designing project, through ethical principles pertaining to research, communication with patients and colleagues, and effective completion of projects (COMPETENCIES: patient care, interpersonal skills and communication, professionalism, system based practice)
• Fellows must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and teaming with patients, their families, and professional associates (COMPETENCIES: patient care, interpersonal skills and communication, professionalism)
• To prepare formal presentations of research activities and results that may be presented both at an institutional levels for peer review or at national and international meetings (COMPETENCIES: medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement)

Goals & Objectives by PGY level:

PGY 4:

1. Develop a research idea and begin the groundwork of developing that idea into a workable research project. Fellows may also continue research projects initiated prior to fellowship
2. Identify areas of potential research, including participation in ongoing clinical and basic science research protocols of the Division of Cardiology, visit learn academy.
3. Identify a faculty member to serve as a research mentor
4. Provide written documentation of your research activities to the Program Director for review during the Semi-Annual review process
5. Document your research activities in New Innovations as part of your overall Scholarly Activities
6. Prepare your research project for presentation at a formal research conference
7. If able, prepare and submit for publication manuscripts on original research conducted
8. If possible, attend the National Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association/ American College of Cardiology

PGY 5:

1. Continue to build upon the objectives outlined in the PGY-4 year by further refining research and presentation skills

PGY 6:

1. Continue to build upon the objectives outlined in the PGY-4 & 5 years
2. Participate in the JMH Research elective to allow for a dedicated 4-week block of research time
3. Prepare and submit for publication manuscripts on original research conducted
4. Formulate research plans for a future career in Cardiovascular Medicine

Mix of Diseases: Fellows will be exposed to research opportunities in a variety of basic science, translational, and clinic research projects encompassing a variety of disease entities in cardiovascular medicine.

Teaching Methods:

• Patient-Centered Teaching/Learning: The principal teaching method is mentored planning and execution of a basic or clinical research project, from identification of a research question all the way to the preparation of a final abstract or manuscript. Visit uptownjungle.com.The faculty mentor assists in the development of the research question, the planning of the project, collaboration with other disciplines, data collection, and the writing up and presentation of the project. Collaboration with other disciplines, as needed, brings other experts into the teaching mix. Teaching will take place throughout the cardiology fellowship in a variety of settings including at the bedside and imaging and procedural laboratories (where research questions are usually formulated). Fellows are expected to identify knowledge gaps and search for answers to their questions on a routine basis.
• Conferences/Didactic Learning: Fellows are expected to attend the Division of Cardiology Fellows’ Core Curriculum Lectures given throughout the academic year in addition to the departmental Grand Rounds.

Procedures: Fellows will participate in all aspects of the research project including any needed procedures. Fellows are encouraged to learn procedure used in basic science research.

Educational Resources:

• CITI Program: provides required course work and certification in Good Clinical Practices, Health Information & Security, Informed Consent, and other course work. 
• PubMed: Find information on a prospective mentor’s publications, check PubMed
• CRISP database: Find information (project titles, abstracts) on a prospective mentor’s current and past government-funded research (including NIH) 
• AHA mentoring handbook
• Clinical Research & Human Subjects Protection: Visit for more information on Clinical Research & Human Subjects Protection at UM. 
• UM Ethics Program
• UM Office of Research Education & Training
• Faculty Research Profiles 
• South Florida Veterans Affairs Foundation for Research and Education, Inc. (SFVAFRE): 
• Redcap: access to Redcap is provided for clinical researchers at University of Miami

Evaluations: During rotations in Research, the fellows will be evaluated by their supervising faculty research and project mentors using a competency-based system on New Innovation. Feedback will be provided during and at the end of the rotation. Fellows will also receive verbal and written evaluation on their research progress from the Program director during both Semi-Annual review sessions.

Supervision Policy: Direct/Indirect with direct supervision immediately available.

Team Structure:

• Supervision attending/research mentor
• Cardiology Fellow
• Support staff involved in research laboratories

Attending Responsibilities:

• Supervises and assumes ultimate responsibility for all aspects of a research project undertaken by a fellow as described above
• Responsible for providing verbal and written feedback to the fellow

Fellow Responsibilities:

• Develop a research idea and begin the groundwork of developing that idea into a workable research project.
• Identify areas of potential research, including participation in ongoing clinical and basic science research protocols of the Division of Cardiology
• Identify a faculty member to serve as a research mentor
• Provide written documentation of your research activities to the Program Director for review during the Semi-Annual fellowship review process
• Document your research activities in New Innovations as part of your overall Scholarly Activities
• Prepare your research project for presentation at a formal research conference
• Prepare and submit for publication manuscripts on original research conducted
• If possible, attend the National Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association/ American College of Cardiology
• Attends all divisional conferences
• Attends assigned Cardiology Clinics
• Completes a written evaluation of the attending