title: Creating a culture of inquiry in family medicine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Strengthening the contribution of reflective practice and new knowledge generation to the learning relationships forged during graduate and undergraduate medical training offers a possibility to create a climate more conducive to the recruitment and retention of family physicians. The Culture of Inquiry (CI) fellowship, an immersive, experientially based training program, combines didactic instruction, workshops, and mentoring to develop the capacity of family medicine's teachers to imagine, implement, and disseminate clinically relevant research and stimulate collaborations with those whom they train. This article outlines the CI fellowship program, summarizes its outcomes, and offers insights about programmatic features contributing to its success.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Case Western Reserve University selected CI fellows from interested local family physicians who train residents and medical students. Over 10 months, with 10% effort expected from fellows, the CI fellowship exposed each fellow to the entire research process and provided technical and logistical support for the design and completion of two research projects. Quantitative and qualitative program evaluation were used to assess outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scholarly productivity of fellows exceeded expectations. Collaborations with students and residents produced a ripple effect that amplified the fellowship's impact by strengthening those relationships crucial to the creation of a culture of inquiry among family medicine's teachers, learners, and practitioners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CI fellowship represents a highly replicable program to connect committed and interested clinicians to research mentors with the goal of increasing scholarship and creating a growing culture of inquiry in family medicine.
authors: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Case Western Reserve University.
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Lawson
authors: Samantha
authors: S
authors: Smith
authors: Mary Jane
authors: MJ
authors: Mason
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Zyzanski
authors: Kurt C
authors: KC
authors: Stange
authors: James J
authors: JJ
authors: Werner
authors: Susan A
authors: SA
authors: Flocke
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D010560:Personnel Selection; D012106:Research / Q000193:education*