American College of Surgeons: Clinical Scholars Program
Details for the American College of Surgeons, Scholars in Residence Program
Information for Positions Starting July 1, 2013
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is offering a two-year onsite fellowship in surgical outcomes research, health services research, and healthcare policy. The ACS has positions available every year for a surgical resident who has completed two or three clinical years of training and has obtained two years of program funding from his/her home institution or other granting agency. The Clinical Scholar will work in multiple areas within the ACS Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care to advance the quality improvement initiatives of the ACS. The Clinical Scholar will also be able to conduct research in a variety of areas relevant to ongoing projects within the ACS. This work will further the research and policy objectives of the ACS and improve the care of surgical patients.
The primary objective of the program will be to address issues in patient safety, health care quality, and health policy that complement the priorities of the American College of Surgeons. Some areas of concentration will include surgical oncology (National Cancer Data Base, NCDB), surgical quality improvement (ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Project, NSQIP), and trauma (National Trauma Data Bank, NTDB). Other possible projects within the Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care include guideline development, accreditation programs, and health policy.
The goal of the Clinical Scholar in Residence Program is to help prepare a surgical resident for a career in academic surgery through a unique, practical research and health policy experience at the American College Surgeons. The program includes the opportunity to earn a Master’s of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI), Health Services and Outcomes Research, or Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety through Northwestern University’s Schools of Medicine, Public Health, and the Institute for Healthcare Studies. In addition, the Scholar will be able to participate in resident educational activities through Northwestern University’s department of surgery. The ACS offers a variety of educational programs, such as the Outcomes Research Course, Young Surgical Investigators Course, and Clinical Trials Course, that the scholar will be able to complete.
Mentorship
The ACS will assign internal mentors to meet regularly with the scholar. The Scholar will also interact and be mentored by various surgeons affiliated with the ACS and the Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care from across the country. As mentorship is one of the most important aspects of the fellowship, having guidance from multiple individuals from varied backgrounds will provide the best opportunity for success. In addition, there is a core of ACS staff statisticians and project analysts who will be invaluable resources for the Clinical Scholar in Residence. Information on several of the program’s mentors can be found online.
Master’s in Clinical Investigation (MSCI)
The MSCI program is designed for physicians with an interest in conducting clinical research. The coursework focuses on biostatistics, epidemiology, decision analysis, clinical trial design, paper and grant writing, peer-reviewing principles, and clinical research ethics. All coursework is done at Northwestern’s downtown campus, which is one block from the ACS headquarters. Clinical Scholars who have already completed an equivalent program may be exempt from the MSCI requirement.
Master’s in Health Services and Outcomes Research
The goal of this program is to educate clinicians to become effective health services and outcomes researchers. The Health Services and Outcomes Research program will focus on these issues within institutional and healthcare delivery systems, as well as in the external environment that shapes health policy around quality and safety. The program takes approximately two years to complete. All coursework is done at Northwestern’s downtown campus.
Master’s in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
The goal of this program is to educate clinicians to become effective health care quality and patient safety thinkers, practitioners, and researchers. The Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety program will focus on disparities in healthcare, health economics and financing, health services research methods, biostatistics and epidemiology. The program takes approximately 2 years to complete. All coursework is done at Northwestern’s downtown campus
Surgical Education
The scholar will be able to continue his or her surgical education through Northwestern University’s department of surgery by attending the weekly morbidity and mortality conference and grand rounds. Scholars have the opportunity to practice their surgical skills at Northwestern’s Surgical Skills Training Lab. Multiple opportunities for clinical moonlighting exist in the Chicagoland area as well. In addition, the Scholar may be able to take the American Board of Surgery In-Service Training Examination (ABSITE) locally.
NIH Loan Repayment
The scholar will also have the opportunity to apply for the National Institute’s of Health Loan Repayment Program which pays up to $70,000 over two years if the applicant is involved in clinical research for at least two years. This program is becoming a highly competitive process and applications are due in the fall prior to starting the Research Fellowship. Most Clinical Scholars have been awarded this loan repayment.
Funding and Location
Due to recent changes in the general economy, the ACS will no longer be able to fund the clinical scholar’s position. The scholar must be able to provide funding in the amount of $100,000 per year for two years to cover salary, benefits, tuition, meeting travel, and administrative costs. Funding may come from the scholar’s home institution or any other source. ACS will continue to attempt to find external funding for this position. If funding for the position is obtained prior to the application deadline, this website page will be updated accordingly.
As the clinical scholars work closely with the ACS staff and need to complete coursework, it is required that the clinical scholar move to Chicago. ACS will provide office space in its downtown Chicago headquarters.
Timeline for position starting July 1, 2013
| Application process opens | December 15, 2011 |
Application deadline |
March 15, 2012 |
Interview notification |
April 1, 2012 |
Interview Process |
May 2-14, 2012 |
Notification of appointment |
June 15, 2012 |
Starting date |
July 1, 2013 |
If you have questions, please contact
ACS Clinical Scholars Program
633 North St. Clair Street, 22nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60611
312-202-5109
clinicalscholars@facs.org
Clinical Scholars Application and Instructions (100K DOC)
Letter Of Recommendation Form (50K DOC)
Revised December 22, 2011