FIRsT (Fellows Introduction to Research Training)

Course Description

The FIRsT course provides pediatric fellows with an overview and introduction to successfully conducting clinical, outcomes, translational and basic science research in our academic setting. Didactic sessions, panel discussions, and interactive opportunities provide forums for fellows to gain an appreciation of the fundamentals of topics such as biostatistics, epidemiology, the research enterprise, and practical and applied aspects of conducting research. These concepts are conveyed over a 20-hour period, comprised of 4-hour sessions on five consecutive days scheduled each year.

FIRsT Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of FIRsT, Fellows will be able to:

• Apply the principles of biostatistics including the types of variables, data distribution, hypothesis testing, statistical tests, measures of association, regression, diagnostic tests, systematic review and data analysis to their research projects
• Apply the principles of epidemiology and clinical research design including study types, bias and confounding, causation, incidence and prevalence, and screening to the review of research studies and to formulating their own projects
• Learn the principles of hypothesis formulation, and crafting research specific aims
• Incorporate concepts related to management of research data including principles of data security in study design into implementation
• Apply concepts related to developing a biosketch and a curriculum vitae (CV), finding funding, and building your academic portfolio
• Develop an understanding and awareness of the system’s research strengths, including the available mentorship and career development resources available to bolster your research career
• Develop an understanding of the system and administrative infrastructure necessary and helpful to conducting successful research

FIRsT Course Co-Directors:

• Thomas G. Fox, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Student & Resident Director Education, Emory University School of Medicine
• Stacy S. Heilman, PhD, Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine, Director for Pediatric Research Operations, Grants Education & Cores, Emory University Dept of Pediatrics & Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

FIRsT Administrative Coordinator:

• Mary Jane Polizzotto, Fellowship Program Coordinator, Pediatric Nephrology, Pediatric Fellowships Committee Coordinator

FIRsT Faculty:

• Rajit Basu, MD, MC, FCCM, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Emory School of Medicine, Research Director, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
• Beau B. Bruce, MD, PhD, Medical Officer / Analytics Lead, Enteric Disease Epidemiology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Neurology and Epidemiology, SOM
• Meredith Capasse, CIP, Manager, IRB, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
• Lisa Cranmer, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Emory School of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease
• Nancy DeSousa, PhD, MPH, Assistant Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Emory University, Learner Diversity Programs for Graduate Medical Education
• Karen Effinger, MD, MS, Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, Medical Director of Survivorship, Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
• Thomas G. Fox, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Student & Resident Director Education, Emory University School of Medicine
• Roshan P. George, M.D, FAST, Associate Professor, Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Associate Program Director, Pediatric Nephrology Fellowship Program, Director, Transplant Quality, Pediatric Solid Organ Transplantation, Director, Renal Transplant Transition Program, Emory University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
• Scott Gillespie, MS, Associate Director, Pediatrics Biostatistics Core, Emory University Dept of Pediatrics & Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
• Holly Gooding, MD, MSc, Associate Professor of Pediatrics/Adolescent & Internal Medicine,
  Emory University School of Medicine
• Stacy Heilman, PhD, Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine, Director for Pediatric Research Operations, Grants Education & Cores, Emory University Dept of Pediatrics & Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
• Preeti Jaggi, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Emory University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
• Lucky Jain, MD, MBA, George W. Brumley Jr. Professor and Chair Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Chief Academic Officer, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
• Linda Orkin Lewin, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
• W. Matthew Linam, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
• Ann Mertens, PhD, MS, CORPH Center Director & Professor, Emory University School of Medicine, Research Program Director for Survivorship, Program Director of the Clinical Research Office, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
• Claudia Morris, MD, FAAP, Co-Director, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Emory University School of Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Research Director, Department of Pediatrics
• Matt Oster, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Cardiology, Sibley Heart Center
• Marc J. Overcash, Assistant Dean, School of Medicine, IT Deputy Chief Information Officer
• Evan Orenstein, MD, MBA, Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine
• Matthew Paden, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care
• Ravi Patel, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
• Carol Price (Dickens), MBA, REDCap Program Lead Administrator, IS&T Pediatrics Informatics, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
• Christina Rostad, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
• Tal Senior, RN BSN, Manager, Advanced Analytics & Reporting, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
• Amanda Thomas, MSPH, Assistant Epidemiologist, Manager of Research Projects, Clinical Research, Sibley Heart Center
• Dan Weschler, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Section Director of Oncology/Thomas R. Giddens Chair, Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
• Pam Winterberg, MD, Director of Basic and Translational Research, Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine