CHAPEL HILL, NC The Department of Health Policy and Administration is seeking top pre- and post-doctoral researchers in anticipation of launching a new cancer care quality training program.

The training program, which is expected to receive funding in early 2008, offers researchers a specialized curriculum, training experiences with multidisciplinary teams that focus on cancer care quality, and career development opportunities, including a mentored research experience. Four (two pre-doctoral and two post-doctoral) candidates are expected to be recruited each year. The training will typically last two years.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for researchers interested in quality and specifically cancer care,” said Peggy Leatt, PhD, chair of the department and one of three co-leaders of the program.

The other leaders include Richard M. Goldberg, PhD, professor and chief of the division of Medical Oncology and associate director for Clinical Research of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Bryan Weiner, PhD, associate professor in the Health Policy and Administration department.

Evidence shows that the quality of cancer care in the U.S. – from early detection, screening, and diagnosis to treatment and care of survivors – can and should be improved. However, finding solutions requires a different approach.

“Improving cancer care quality requires clinician and non-clinician scientists to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary research teams,” said Weiner. “For example, those teams need to span the fields of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, information science, public health and social work. We think this training program will offer scientists a rare and exciting opportunity to learn from all of those disciplines as they tackle quality issues.”

Although the program will be administered by the department, 30 faculty members from 11 departments will participate as teachers and mentors.

“We encourage students from medicine, nursing, public health, social work, pharmacy, information science, and selected Arts and Sciences departments to apply,” said Weiner. “We want to train a multidisciplinary cadre of clinician and non-clinician scientists to do cancer care quality research.”

Pre-doctoral trainees will be eligible for salaries of up to $22,000 per year for full-time effort plus fringe benefits commensurate with the institution’s full-time salary scale for persons of equivalent qualifications, experience and rank. They will also be eligible for up to $20,000 for expenses, such as such as supplies, equipment, technical personnel, travel, tuition and fees related to career development, and statistical services. Post-doctoral trainees will be eligible for salaries of up to $75,000 per year for full-time effort plus fringe benefits and $30,000 in expenses.

“This grant provides an unusual opportunity for trainees to immerse themselves in both public health perspectives and in cancer care delivery,” said Goldberg. “Through interaction with our committed faculty in a custom tailored program like this one we hope to develop a new breed of professionals who will bridge the relevent disciplines. We expect to graduate researchers with the broad perspectives and necessary skills to make meaningful improvements in the quality of cancer care delivered to the people of our state and nation.”

To qualify for the pre-doctoral training program, researchers must have an MS, MPH, MSPH, or an equivalent level of training, be currently enrolled in a doctoral program at UNC-Chapel Hill, and have finished at least three semesters of doctoral coursework.

To be eligible for the post-doctoral program, researchers must be a recent graduate of a doctoral program without any prior post-doctoral fellowship experience or a senior researcher holding doctoral degrees who wish to change the focus of their research to cancer care quality. He or she must also be a physician, nurse, or other clinician who has completed clinical training and who now wishes to specialize in cancer care quality. Individuals in the final stages of a doctoral degree may apply for the post-doctoral training program, as long as the dissertation will be defended or completed prior to starting the program.

Candidates for both the pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training program must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the U.S., or must have been lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence (i.e., in possession of a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or other legal verification of such status). Non-citizen nationals are generally persons born in outlying possessions of the U.S. (i.e., American Samoa and Swains Island). Individuals on temporary visas normally are not eligible.

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2008-2009 academic year. Applications will be considered up until February 1, 2008.

For more details and application information, see the Cancer Care Quality Training Program web pages.

DISCLAIMER: NCI has not yet approved funding for this program. We anticipate a funding decision in January or February 2008. Please keep your options open.

Contact information: Bryan Weiner, PhD at (919) 966-7375 or weiner@email.unc.edu.

 

 

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