Accomplishments

Interdisciplinary Program
• Established interdisciplinary Leadership Committee to ensure collaboration and develop implementation strategies; team met monthly.
• Developed and implemented interdisciplinary interviewing and candidate review process. Created on-line application forms and updated websites.

Comprehensive Research Trainingrodu
• Mentoring: Fellows supported by tripod of mentors.
1) Fellowship Mentors (FM) met with fellows at least every other week to guide all aspects of training.
2) Research Mentor (RM), selected from across University, met with fellow at least every other week.
3) Mentoring Committee, includes FM, RM and anyone else fellow identified as important to personal career development, met at least twice each year.
• Interdisciplinary Fellows’ Seminar: Implemented biweekly seminar with following purposes: establish camaraderie among fellows, present research-in- progress in supportive and non-threatening environment, and share in learning of key fellowship ideals: research, leadership and cultural competence.
• Advanced Degree Training: Fellows attend Intensive Summer Research Curriculum and pursue advanced degree training.
• Public Policy Priorities in Context of Underserved Communities: Fellows and faculty attended seminars at Univ. of Pitt Health Policy Institute’s Seminar Series and health services research.
• Fellowship Experience Checklist created to track fellow’s progress and guide planning.
• Preceptor Observation Tool developed to use while observing fellows’ in precepting role.
• Research in Progress Evaluation Tool developed to give feedback to fellows.

A. Enroll 2-3 highly qualified fellows per year. (Performance 100%)
• From start of funding period, enrolled 7 ped, 2 med-peds, and 3 med fellows
• Recruited from wide variety of training programs across country.

B. All fellows complete intensive summer course work in Clinical Research. (Performance 88%)
• 7 of 8 fellows who began under this grant cycle completed summer research training program
• 4 of 6 program completers obtained masters degrees.

C. Graduate 1-2 fellows/ year entering careers thatserve MUCs or vulnerable populations. (Performance 100%)
• 5 of 6 completers serving MUC or vulnerable populations in clinical, teaching or research roles.

D. Graduate 1-2 fellows/year pursuing career in clinical research. (Performance 100%)
• 3 of 6 HRSA funded fellows pursing research careers at this time

Products For Dissemination
• Table 3: Summary of fellows’ research areas (relevant to underserved).
• Table 4: Summary of fellows’ peer reviewed publications and abstracts
• Checklist concept already being used in other Univ. programs
• Preceptor Observation Tool
• Research-in-Progress Eval. Tool

• A 2-year cultural competency training curriculum was developed; Center for Minority Health (CMH) played key role in development. Curriculum focused on 5 domains: concepts of culture, health care in a social context, health care disparities, culturally competent research, and culturally competent health care practices.
• Self assessments of cultural competence administered at beginning and end of fellowship.
• Fellows tailored selection of offerings to best fit current and future career interests; plans documented on Experience Checklist.
• For fellowship program, CMH established “Cultural Competence Events” page on their website; notice of events e-mailed directly to fellows and faculty.
• Fellows and faculty attended Dr. South-Paul’s course, Cultural Competence in Medical Education.
• Fellows and faculty attended: National Minority Health Leadership Summit each year, Gateway Medical Society, local branch of National Medical Assoc. scholarship banquet (Dr. Jocelyn Elders, spoke on need for minorities in health care.)

Dissemination
• 3 faculty facilitated cultural competency training with matriculating med students 9/04
• Fellows and faculty participated in community activities (Bring a doctor to the community, literacy programs, smoking cessation programs, others)

A. All fellows complete cultural competency training. (Performance 100%): Elements of curriculum initiated Jan ’03 and full curriculum implemented Sept ’03. All fellows engaged in training.

B. 20 GIM and GAP faculty complete cultural competency training (Performance 50%): 10 faculty attended training session at fellows’ seminar, local events and national meetings.

C. All fellows and faculty who complete training demonstrate improvement in personal cultural competency. (Performance 100%): Assessments by ‘04 program completers indicated improved knowledge, especially related to trust in research by African Americans. Asked for skills in educating med students and residents in this arena.

D. One clinical site/year evaluated in terms of cultural competency on organizational level (Performance 50%): In year 2, Mt Oliver clinic assessed, fellows reviewed with clinic leadership and suggestions made for improvement.
• Y3: will evaluate Turtle Creek 3/05

• 2-3 sessions each year of Interdisciplinary Fellows’ Seminar devoted to leadership training, led by Charlene Trovato, PhD from School of Education, Administration and Policy Studies.
• Fellows participated in University approved leadership course through our partnership with UCLID; completed Leadership Style Inventory.
• Fellows received individual mentorship; mentoring committees helped negotiate contracts and career planning.
• Fellows presented in multiple setting and to variety of audiences; received feedback on presentations, clinical teaching and research.
• All fellows exercised leadership skills in training of residents and medical students.
• Fellows participated in key positions appropriate for personal career goals. Ex: Dr. Sangvai took leadership role writing evidence based medicine review with other fellows that was published. She served on Continuity Clinic Committee. Dr. Voigt served on state level committee to address pediatric obesity.
• Fellows served on Committee to evaluate and revise the interdisciplinary fellowship seminar.
• Fellows and faculty used Nominal Group Technique to develop Preceptor Observation Tool.

A. All fellows complete leadership training curriculum (Performance 75%)
• All fellows attended leadership sessions in Fellows’ seminar but only half attended UCLID Leadership course.

B. Twenty faculty complete leadership training. (Performance 50%)
• 10 faculty participated in leadership seminars with fellows.
• Key faculty received additional leadership training (1 attended 2-week course at Harvard; 1 attended 2-day program at PA-AAP; 1 participated in Minicourse on Disability Policy)

C. Fellows assume leadership positions upon graduation.(Goal was 50% by FY3) (Performance 100% of FY3 goal)
• 3 of 6 Program completers assumed leadership positions in academic medical centers; all are involved in leadership positions in their communities.

Drayer, R

2003

1

1

Fultz, S

2003

7

21

VA Career Develop. Award

Garber, M

2004

3

2

Hess, R

2004

3

12

NIH K23 and BIRCWH

Higginbotham, M

2003

1

2

NIH Minority Suppl.; ONRC

Jasti, H

2004

--

5

Lopez, J

2004

2

2

Sangvai, S

2004

1

1

Sease, K

2004

--

1

APA Special Projects

Kerry Sease, MD, MPH (’03)

Developed and evaluated curriculum to teach residents systems based practice

Debra Bogen, MD (GAP)
Dena Hofkosh, MD (Pediatrics)

Monique Higginbotham, MD (’03)

Treatment of pediatric obesity

Marsha Marcus, PhD (Western Psychiatric Institute)

Laura Voigt, MD, (‘04)

Association between pediatric obesity and school performance

Kathleen McTigue, MD, MS, MPH (GIM)

Shilpa Sangvai, MD, MPH (’04)

Childhood injury prevention

Ellen Wald, MD (Pediatrics)

John Lopez, MD, MSc (’04)

Racial health disparities in surgical procedures for osteoarthritis

Said Ibrahim, MD (GIM)
Robert Arnold, MD (GIM)

Rebecca Drayer, MD, MSc (’03)

Depression in elderly and chronically ill patients

Bruce Rollman, MD (GIM)

Shawn Fultz, MD, MSc (’03)

Interaction of HIV/AIDS and chronic medical conditions

Amy Justice, MD (GIM)
Joseph Conigliaro, MD (GIM)

Mandy Garber, MD, MSc (’04)

Participation in research among HIV-infected African-Americans

Robert Arnold, MD (GIM)

Rachel Hess, MD, MSc (’04)

Peri-menopausal quality of life; diabetes care; computerized health assessment in primary care

Melissa McNeil, MD (GIM)
Wishwa Kapoor, MD (GIM)

Harish Jasti, MD, MSc (’04)

Graduate medical education; residency work hour restriction; patient safety

Michael Elnicki, MD (GIM)
Rosanne Granieri, MD (GIM)

Richard S, Drayer RA, Rollman BL. Depression as a Risk Factor for Non-Suicide Mortality in the Elderly. Biological Psychiatry 2002;52(3): 205-225
Fultz SL, Butt AA, Rabeneck L, Weissman S, Rodriguez-Barradas M, Justice AC for the VACS 3 Project Team. Testing, referral, and treatment patterns for hepatitis C coinfection in a cohort of veterans with HIV infection. Clinical Infectious Disease 2003;36(8):1039-46
Fultz SL, McGinnis KA, Skanderson M, Ragni MV, Justice AC. Association of venous thromboembolism with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and mortality in veterans. American Journal of Medicine 2004;116(6):420-3.
Fultz SL, Good CB, Kelley ME, Fine MJ. Increased diabetes-related pharmaceutical costs are not associated with improved glycemic control at three VA outpatient settings. Pharmacy & Therapeutics 2004;29(8):500-506
Garber M, Arnold RM. Rationing of Intensive Home Dialysis. Virtual Mentor, Ethics Journal of American Medical Association. April 2004, Volume 6, Number 4; www.virtualmentor.org
Hess R, Chang CCJ, Conigliaro J, Elnicki DM, McNeil MA. Experiential Learning Influences Residents Knowledge About Hormone Replacement Therapy. Teaching and Learning in Medicine 2004;6(3):240-6
McTigue, K., Hess, R., Ziouras, J., Diagnosis and Treatment of Obesity in the Elderly, Health Technology Assessment: AHRQ and CMS
Kalarchian M, Marcus M, Arslanian S, Ewing L, Higginbotham M, Weissfeld L, Levine M, Ringham R, Sheets C, & Stokes D. Family-based behavioral weight control in the management of severe pediatric overweight. Obesity Research 2004;12(suppl):A16
Anannab MS, Lopez JPF, Zeiger JM, De La Cruz P, Eskin B. In the setting of non-traumatic illness, do patients contact their primary care physician before arrival in the emergency department? Annals Emergency Med. 2003 October; 42(4): S84
Garber M, Arnold RM. Rationing of Intensive Home Dialysis. Virtual Mentor, Ethics Journal of American Medical Association. April 2004, Volume 6, Number 4; www.virtualmentor.org
Garber M. Increased Representation in Clinical Research: What Benefits for African-Americans? American Society for Bioethics & Humanities newsletter, ASBH Exchange. Manuscript in Press
Garber M, Arnold RM. What do African-Americans Need? Increased Participation in or Increased Protection from Clinical Research. (Manuscript under review)
Kalarchian M, Marcus M, Arslanian S, Ewing L, Higginbotham M, Weissfeld L, Levine M, Ringham R, Sheets C, & Stokes D. Family-based behavioral weight control in the management of severe pediatric overweight. Obesity Research 2004;12(suppl):A16
Sangvai et al. Can an Herbal Preparation of Echinacea, Propolis, and Vitamin C Reduce Respiratory Illnesses in Children? Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2004;158:222-224

DeAntonis K, Sease K. Developmental Disorders. In Kahan K and DeAntonis K. (Eds.) Pediatrics in a page 1st edition Blackwell Publishing 2003. (** DeAntonis was a 2002 program completer)
Hernandez M, Fultz SL “Barriers to Health Care Access” in The Handbook of LGBT Public Health: A Practitioner’s Guide to Service, Hayworth Press, Inc. Benington, NY. (in press)