Date: 09/01/2016

Training in clinical research is not typically included in three-year pediatric residency programs. Those who want formal training in research methods, ethics and applications usually must pursue a fellowship after residency.

Yet residency is an ideal time to gain the knowledge and skills needed “to begin designing and implementing research aimed at answering key clinical questions and improving patient outcomes,” says Neil Goldenberg, director of research  at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital  and associate professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Thus in 2015 the hospital expanded its Designing Clinical Research (DCR) program to give residents a unique, focused opportunity to develop clinical research skills. Recently renamed the Clinical and Translational Research Training track, the yearlong program has residents conduct original research with the goal of drafting an original manuscript based on it. This is one of the hallmarks of the residency program: the high-quality research helps patients, and residents in the program are well positioned to continue to contribute to the pediatrics field when they enter top fellowship programs.

Raquel Hernandez, director of the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Office of Medical Education and assistant professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, says that residents apply at the end of their first year. Those accepted to the competitive program spend their second year of residency developing and conducting their research study. To be considered for acceptance, applicants “have to be passionate about pursuing research, with a vision for their line of investigation and their career path,” she says.

John Morrison, a resident studying adaptive antibiotic resistance as a clinical phenomenon in pediatric patients hospitalized with infections, says, “My participation has allowed me to establish a foundation in translational research I intend to build upon going forward. The mentorship offered by the program helped me to secure a research grant through the All Children's Hospital Foundation.” He says that he and his colleagues have already started to collect data using the grant money.

Resident Racha Khalaf says, “Working with and receiving direct mentorship from such well-established researchers as Dr. Goldenberg at my current level of training is priceless.”