Vanderbilt University has a long tradition of excellence in research and innovation. This has been recognized with two Nobel Prizes for Physiology or Medicine: Earl Sutherland for his discovery of cyclic AMP and to Stanley Cohen for his discovery of Epidermal Growth Factor. Over 90 principal investigators comprise the Vanderbilt Diabetes Research and Training Center (DRTC), which is the nation's oldest program. These investigators are complemented by hundreds of additional investigators at the multiple colleges at Vanderbilt. Endless opportunities exist for research training in areas related to pediatric endocrinology.
We believe each Vanderbilt trainee requires rigorous training in investigative science to hone critical thinking skills. Our division is dedicated to providing protected time for the pursuit of scholarship. Second-year and third-year fellows are limited to six weeks of call and one half-day of clinic each week. The remainder of the time (about 80 percent) focuses on the development of an area of research interest and expertise. First-year fellows work closely with the division/program director to identify candidate mentors. Research mentors can be selected from faculty at Vanderbilt University and can have either a clinical or basic science focus. Once a research mentor is chosen, the fellow will identify a Scholarship Oversight Committee in accordance with American Board of Pediatrics requirements and will meet with their SOC at least twice yearly. Depending on the interest area and experience of the fellow, some fellows may also desire and benefit from enrolling in the Masters of Public Health or Masters of Science in Clinical Investigation degree programs.
Fellows are expected to compete for intramural and extramural funding and will receive guidance from their research and division mentors in this process. Fellows are also expected to publish regularly in peer-reviewed journals. Recent trainees have received prestigious grants from the Endocrine Fellows Foundation and the NIH, including three individual F32 awards. They have also been recognized twice with the Elliot Newman Award, which is presented to the top research performed by all house staff at Vanderbilt.