Post-Residency Research Training

Harvard Anesthesia Research Training Fellowship
Post-Doctoral Research Training for Anesthesiologists

We offer a small group of carefully selected anesthesiologists the opportunity to join one of the research groups of Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or their affiliated hospitals and institutions, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Boston, Harvard School of Public Health, and Massachusetts General Hospital, to train for two or three years under the mentorship of exceptional researchers and mentors.

This post-doctoral research training program is supported by the National Institutes of General Medical Sciences (T32-GM007592). The goal of the program is to develop physician-scientists who have the determination, creativity, training, and experience to launch academic research careers in areas of importance to anesthesiology and perioperative medicine.

This fellowship program is individualized to meet each trainee’s needs, based on her or his interests, chosen field, past experience, and education. One or more faculty mentors will be identified in consultation with the Program Director and a group of senior faculty advisors.

In addition to research work under the primary mentor, trainees may attend graduate-level courses and seek graduate degrees, such as a Master’s in Public Health, or certification in clinical research or biostatistics.

Research Fields

Anesthesiology is an interdisciplinary field drawing on a wide range of sciences. These include, but are not limited to: bioengineering, biochemistry, biophysics, comparative outcomes, endocrinology, epidemiology, genetics, metabolism, molecular biology, neurobiology, pharmacology, physiology, quality and safety, and toxicology.

Course Work

All trainees are required to complete courses in the Responsible Conduct of Research, and are urged to attend courses or workshops on Statistical Analysis and Reproducibility of Results, and Scientific Writing. Additional formal studies specific to individual trainee research areas are required. These are chosen in consultation with the Program Director and mentor(s).

Training Duration and Effort

The duration of research fellowship support is two to three years. A significantly longer commitment, usually with support from other Mentored Research Training Grants or K-series NIH Career Development Awards is needed to prepare for independent research.

Research fellows must spend at least 80 percent effort on research and career development activities.

Clinical Activities During Research Training

During the research fellowship, each trainee will hold a clinical appointment at one of the Harvard Medical School-affiliated academic Anesthesia departments (Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, or Massachusetts General Hospital). Trainees may spend up to 20% effort on activities that utilize and advance their clinical skills and knowledge. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) allows trainee stipends to be supplemented from non-governmental (usually clinical) funds for allowed clinical activity.

Qualifications and Criteria

Before formal written application to this Research Training Fellowship, interested candidates should obtain a firm commitment for a clinical appointment from the Chief of one of the Harvard Medical School-affiliated Departments of Anesthesiology.

NIH policies allow only citizens of the US and its territories and permanent residents to receive training funds.

Additional criteria used to select research trainees include:

  • Eligibility for the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) exams or ABA certification (required).
  • Acceptance and support from an approved research mentor (required).
  • Motivation to prepare for a long-term scholarly career in scientific research relevant to clinical anesthesiology and perioperative medicine.
  • Plans for both research activity and career development. These must specify anticipated accomplishments during fellowship training and post-fellowship career plans.
  • Previous records of academic and clinical performance.
  • Evidence of previous research aptitude, independent and critical thinking, and creativity.

This program and the Harvard Medical School-affiliated Anesthesia Departments are strongly committed to enhancing diversity in academic anesthesiology. Interested individuals from racial/ethnic background groups that are underrepresented in medicine and academia, women, and those with disabilities, are enthusiastically urged to apply for research training in this program.

Inquiries and Applications

Inquiries or requests for application instructions should include a CV, and may be addressed to:

Stuart A. Forman, MD, PhD
Professor of Anesthesia, Harvard Medical School
Department of Anesthesia Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Jackson 444
Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114
Or email: saforman@mgh.harvard.edu

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