Cross-Center Virtual Education Fellowship Program for Early-Career Researchers in Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Background - It is estimated that over 46 million individuals have atrial fibrillation (AF) worldwide, and the incidence and prevalence of AF are increasing globally. There is an urgent need to accelerate the academic development of scientists possessing the skills to conduct innovative, collaborative AF research. Methods - We designed and implemented a virtual AF Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN) Cross-Center Fellowship program to enhance the competencies of early-stage AF basic, clinical, and population health researchers through experiential education and mentorship. The pedagogical model involves significant cross-Center collaboration to produce a curriculum focused on enhancing AF scientific competencies, fostering career/professional development, and cultivating grant writing skills. Outcomes for success involve clear expectations for fellows to produce manuscripts, presentations, and—for those at the appropriate career stage-grant applications. We evaluated the effectiveness of the fellowship model via mixed methods formative and summative surveys. Results - In two years of the fellowship, fellows generally achieved the productivity metrics sought by our pedagogical model, with outcomes for the twelve fellows including 50 AF-related manuscripts, 7 publications, 28 presentations, and 3 grant awards applications. Participant evaluations reported that the fellowship effectively met its educational objectives. All fellows reported medium to high satisfaction with the overall fellowship, webinar content and facilitation, staff communication and support, and program organization. Conclusions - The fellowship model represents an innovative educational strategy by providing a virtual AF training and mentoring curriculum for early-career basic, clinical, and population health scientists working across multiple institutions, which is particularly valuable in the pandemic era.

Fostering Tobacco Regulatory Team Science through a multisite, virtual fellowship program for early-career researchers

“…The A-TRAC model has served as a foundation for several other multisite and multi-institutional training programs within the AHA Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN). The training program has been adapted by AHA SFRN Center grants including research training areas in Atrial Fibrillation [32], Cardiometabolic Health and Type 2 Diabetes, Health Technology, and Innovations and Disparities in Cardio-Oncology. Many adaptable concepts originally featured in A-TRACincluding the use of virtual multi-institutional mentored research and multilevel mentoring networkhave been replicated in these individual training programs.…”

Thinking Ahead to the Next Generation of Cardiometabolic Investigators: What It Takes to Successfully Engage Underrepresented Minorities in Biomedical and Public Health Careers

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