Fellowship in Emergency Care Research

The University of Pittsburgh Fellowship in Emergency Care Research produces well-trained clinical investigators with the skills needed to pursue an independent research career. The fellowship typically follows a two-year program that includes obtaining a master’s degree, most often through either the Institute for Clinical Research Education (ICRE) or the School of Public Health. Individuals may consider other graduate programs. Our prior Fellows are pursuing investigative and leadership careers around the country, and include several of our current faculty members.

Since 2017, we offer an NHLBI-sponsored T32 research training in Emergency Care for postdoctoral trainees.  The T32 experience is aimed at investigators during or immediately after clinical training or residency, prior to application to K-level career development awards.  T32 Funding may be possible for Research Fellows who are eligible for NIH training grants.  This T32 has also short-term appointments for predoctoral students.  These opportunities are aimed at medical students or others in doctoral programs who want to spend a few months focused on emergency care research.

T32 Program Alumni

Alexandra Weissman, MD, MS, MPH, Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh

Kathleen Noorbakhsh, MD, MPH, MS, Attending Physician, UVA Health

Kevin Cullison, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, New York University

Nadine Talia, MD, Attending Physician, UPMC

Nancy Mikati, MD, MS, Resident Physician, University of Iowa 

David Barton, MD, MS, Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh

Academic Program

Fellows in Emergency Care Research are able to receive training from multiple mentors at the University of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is one of the major training sites within the national emergency medicine community. Research training within the department includes potential projects in emergency medical services, acute resuscitation, medical education and simulation, animal models of resuscitation and clinical decision making. Collaboration with a large number of investigators in other departments within the University is encouraged. For applicants with appropriate clinical credentials, limited clinical duties in our emergency departments are encouraged to maintain clinical skills. 

Goals are accomplished by:

  • Immersing the fellows in an intensive and comprehensive research environment
  • Ensuring that the fellows have hands-on experience in all aspects of research
  • Having the fellows serve as part of a well-established team of emergency medicine investigators
  • Providing the fellows with intensive guidance and direct (i.e. one-on-one) mentorship
  • Directing the pursuit of graduate studies that will enhance the basic skill set needed for independence
  • Assisting the fellows in the design, development and conduct of original experimentation
  • Having the fellows submit their own proposals to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and/or the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
  • Assisting the fellow in the preparation of grant proposals
  • Matching the fellows with the appropriate mentors, and submitting NIH or other proposals by the program’s end

Application Requirements and Process

Candidate fellows are residency-trained, board-certified or board-eligible emergency physicians, or critical care medicine physicians. Non-physician PhDs or other qualified applicants will also be considered. 

Interested applicants should send a CV and note of interest to Clifton Callaway, MD, PhD (callawaycw@upmc.edu) and James Menegazzi, PhD, MS (menegazzijj@upmc.edu).