Ambulatory Care Fellowship

On this page: Overview • Outline of Program • Facilities • Directors • Application Process

Overview

The Section of General Internal Medicine at the West Haven Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and Yale University School of Medicine offers a two-year Ambulatory Care Fellowship, providing intensive training in Clinical Epidemiology. In brief, the first year emphasizes a curriculum in methods of clinical research, including topics in research architecture, biostatistics, and data processing. The second year is organized to support one or more clinical research projects. Throughout both years, approximately 75% of fellowship time is reserved for educational/research efforts. A unique strength of the program is the relationship with the Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Center at the West Haven VAMC and the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program at Yale University.

Goals and Strategies

The goal of the West Haven Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Yale University Fellowship Program in Ambulatory Care is to train physicians for careers in academic general internal medicine. Participants in the Fellowship Program will receive instruction and mentorship in Clinical Epidemiology as a basic science. The program provides experience in the design and conduct of clinical research projects, as well as in methods of teaching and strategies of patient care. Fellowship activities are organized as a two-year program within the General Medicine Section of the West Haven VAMC Medical Service and the Department of Internal Medicine at Yale University.

Outline of Program

Year One

• Methods of Clinical Research course
• Seminars in Health Policy and Delivery
• Longitudinal clinical experience in General Internal Medicine Clinic (or equivalent)
• Formulation of research question and outline of study design; collect pilot data

Facilities and Resources

The West Haven Veterans Affairs Medical Center is a 590-bed acute and chronic care “clinical campus” of Yale University School of Medicine. In addition to serving as a tertiary care center for regional and national programs, the West Haven VA provides primary care for veterans in the greater New Haven region and beyond. During the last fiscal year, more than 44,000 veterans were treated at the facility, including almost 16,500 patients followed longitudinally in ambulatory care clinics.

The fellowship involves two nationally recognized programs:
The West Haven VAMC Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Center has participated in numerous multicenter clinical trials. The Center has an IBM RISC System 6000 minicomputer, more than 30 microcomputers, and over 30 staff. In addition to a vast experience in clinical trials, the Center has access to VA databases for conducting health services research. Fellows will be encouraged to collaborate with the Center in the conduct of their research.

The Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program at Yale University is a renowned training program in clinical epidemiology. More than 100 fellows (with various training backgrounds) have graduated the program since 1976. Many alumni now have prominent roles in academia, professional societies, research organizations, government, clinical care units, and industry. Fellows participate in the Clinical Scholars Program core curriculum in clinical epidemiology, and related activities.

Directors

John Concato, M.D., M.S., M.P.H.
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, VA Connecticut HealthCare System
Director, Ambulatory Care Fellowship West Haven VA Medical Center

Peter Peduzzi, Ph.D.
Chief, Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Center
Associate Director, Ambulatory Care Fellowship West Haven VA Medical Center

Core Faculty

Terri R. Fried, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine (Geriatrics)
West Haven VA Medical Center

Harlan M. Krumholz, M.D
Professor of Medicine (Cardiology)
Co-Director, Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program
Yale University School of Medicine

Application Process

Applicants must be graduates of internal medicine residency programs accredited by the American Council on Graduate Medical Education. In addition to a completed application form, three letters of reference are required from persons familiar with the candidate's clinical abilities or research experience (although prior research experience is not required). Evidence of clinical competence, personal achievement, and potential for investigative creativity are highly valued in the application process. Selected candidates will be invited to West Haven/New Haven for an interview.

Requests for applications should be addressed to :

John Concato, M.D.
Director, VA Ambulatory Care Fellowship
West Haven VA Connecticut Healthcare System
950 Campbell Avenue
Building 35A, Mailcode 151B
West Haven, CT 06516

Phone: (203) 932-5711 x 2993
Fax: (203) 937-4932
email: john.concato@yale.edu