As an alternative to the research program, a program for concomitant training in Clinical Epidemiology will be offered to the Head and Neck Fellow, if the concept is approved by the Joint Council. This program will be offered through the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology of the College of Public Health on the Health Sciences Center campus.
The purpose of this program is to provide the fellow with the knowledge base, practical experience and credentials to properly conduct clinical studies in oncology. The program will be tailored to allow the fellow to take nine (9) formal course hours per semester in a weekly schedule that, although demanding, would be compatible with the fellows clinical responsibilities. If completed satisfactorily the fellow will qualify for a Master of Science degree in Clinical Epidemiology.
Specific Aim
The specific aim is to establish and offer through the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, a Master of Science (M.S.) degree with specialization in clinical epidemiology.
Target Group and Goal of Program
The target group for this program includes physicians, surgeons and clinical pharmacists. The goals of the program are:
- To provide didactic training in epidemiology and biostatistics, with emphasis on the application to clinical problems.
- To provide hands-on practical training in clinical research, and the application of clinical epidemiology to problems in health care.
The program seeks physicians, surgeons and clinical pharmacists who are committed to the application of clinical epidemiology for the improvement of care of head and neck cancer patients. Ideally, the fellow enrolled in this program will be committed to pursuing an academic career.
Prerequisite
The program will be open to individuals with an M.D., M.D.- Ph.D., or a D.O. degree, or other advanced clinical degrees. The fellow will have completed a residency training in Otolaryngology, General Surgery or Plastic Surgery and will be Board Eligible in his/her specialty.
Program of Study
The program of study is similar to the M.S. in Epidemiology, but is modified to provide more flexibility targeted to the career needs of the fellow, while maintaining strong emphasis on the courses in epidemiologic methods. The program will require a minimum of 36 credit hours.