Focused mentored research alone, without specific training in the basic concepts of clinical investigation, may not be optimal for those seeking a career in clinical investigation given the current competitive research environment. Accordingly, the Division of Cardiology now offers trainees with an interest in clinical investigation as a career goal, the opportunity to participate in the Clinical Research Training Program at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
This is a 2-year program consisting of a didactic curriculum and a mentored research experience leading to a Master of Science degree in Clinical Research Methods. Typically, the fellow will spend part of the third year and the entire fourth year of fellowship in activities related to this program.
The didactic core of the training program consists of courses in epidemiology, biostatistics, study design, research ethics, and scientific communication. These didactic courses are followed by a Master’s thesis, based on a mentored research project. Fellows can identify their mentors from among all faculty members with active clinical research programs in cardiovascular diseases.
It is strongly believed that the future clinical investigators will succeed only if empowered with the necessary tools that allow properly designed and conducted research. Every effort is thus made by the division to make this training a success. Both the research mentor and the fellowship Program Director closely monitor the progress made by the fellows during their clinical research training. Fellows may also choose as their research topic one of the ongoing studies in the Montefiore Einstein Clinical Trials Unit.