Research

It is our belief that both clinical and basic research activities are extremely important in developing critical thinking. Therefore, the second year program will be devoted entirely to research training. Most fellows initially have insufficient background to know precisely what type of investigation they wish to do. During the first year, it is anticipated that fellows will have interacted with their advisor and identified a research preceptor. Depending upon the project, the research preceptor may include any member or members of the training staff (pathology, radiology, cardiology, molecular biology, etc.), although one member of the full-time pulmonary staff (advisor) will always serve as team member. The goals will be to have the trainee select, design, perform evaluate, and report the investigation with guidance from the advisor and preceptor(s).

The investigative activities of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division are quite diverse, including both clinical and basic science areas. In addition, other departments within the School of Medicine and outside institutions (e.g., Scripps Institution) have proven fertile grounds for pulmonary fellows developing research careers.

• Basic Science
• Clinical Pathway
• Clinical Investigator Pathway

Second year fellows have the opportunity to participate in a clinical pathway which consists of opportunities to enhance their clinical knowledge base/practice in addition to working with clinical trials in specialized areas of the Pulmonary Division. In addition, for fellows interested in pursuing clinical-scientist training, there is the opportunity to take course work toward an MPH degree at San Diego State University, including epidemiology and advanced biostatistics. Most of our fellows present their original work at national meetings and publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals. We encourage interdisciplinary research that takes advantage of the extensive research resources available in other clinical departments as well as basic science departments.