An innovative strategy for conducting clinical research: the academic associate program.
Performance of high-quality clinical research usually requires procurement of substantial funding to support and sustain the research infrastructure. The authors have developed a program to support a research infrastructure that minimizes financial start-up costs and maximizes productivity of clinical-educator faculty with limited protected time. The program integrates clinical research with undergraduate education. The authors report the experience with the academic associate program at two academic institutions. They describe the program, provide measures of program success, and discuss potential methods for other institutions to initiate similar programs. Similar programs can be developed in a variety of outpatient and inpatient settings allowing the performance of high-quality clinical research in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner.
Hollander
Judd E
JE
Department of Emergency Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283, USA. jholland@mail.med.upenn.edu
Singer
Adam J
AJ
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012109:Research Support as Topic