title: A preliminary report on the initiation of a clinical research program in an orthopaedic surgery department: roadmaps and tool kits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A formal research program enhances resident training experience, productivity and hones critical appraisal skills. This initiative sought to investigate if an academic orthopaedic surgery department could implement a clinical research program, with the goal of increasing resident scholarly activity, a requirement of the Resident Review Committee, and achieve a parallel aim of enhancing the research focus of faculty.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multifaceted intervention including a needs assessment, appropriation of dedicated research staffing, development of tracking tools and policies, and a formalized research curriculum, followed by additional research time for residents was planned and implemented. The impact of all of these efforts is measured with specific outcomes, pre and post implementation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The North Shore-LIJ Orthopaedic Surgery Department is a high volume clinical and education program with 17 fulltime core faculty and 18 residents at 2 tertiary hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Residents were the focus of the intervention. The participation of faculty as principal investigators and sponsors was a key component to ensure success.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following outcomes were observed post intervention: increases in institutionally-required research training for faculty/residents, number of IRB protocols submitted, abstracts submitted to national meetings, percentage of time faculty report they spend on research activities, additional hours allocated to the new Department sponsored research curriculum and an additional research rotation for trainees.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The official inception of a formalized program (2012) with a structured research process, invigorated faculty and trainees to formulate clinical research inquiries, generate hypotheses, create protocols and design and implement protocols. Structured tools, an experienced clinical research "champion" and commitment from departmental leadership were demonstrated as effective in transforming the focus of a clinical department into one with a nascent clinical research program, with demonstrable outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York; Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead, New York. Electronic address: smerwin@nshs.edu.
authors.forename: Sara L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Merwin
authors.affiliation: Office of Academic Affairs, North Shore-LIJ Health System, Great Neck, New York; Science Education and Population Health, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, New Hyde Park, New York.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fornari
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York; Orthopaedic Surgery, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead, New York.
authors.forename: Lewis B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Lane
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000193:education*
keywords: Medical Knowledge; Practice-Based Learning and Improvement; clinical research; graduate medical education; orthopaedic surgery; professional development; research skills curriculum