BIOSTATISTICS
All fellows participate in the Introduction to Clinical Statistical Course which includes two full weeks of classroom discussion including assignments, review of statistic textbooks (Basic and Clinical Biostatistics 4th Edition, Dawson and Trapp and Designing Clinical Research by Hulley and Cummings) and access to statistical software including SPSS, Sigma Stat and Sigma Plot. Research mentors also tutor residents in the application of study design and statistics as it relates to their individual research projects.
ECMO COURSE
Each year, Wilford Hall Medical Center/Lackland AFB runs a two-week ECMO course in July or August that is taught by WHMC staff and senior residents. The objective of this course is to train physicians and nursing staff about ECMO and teach them specifics concerning their responsibilities as members of the ECMO team. This course also includes two days of animal lab that includes circuit priming, cannulation, and a day-long ECMO run that familiarizes residents with the equipment and emergencies that can occur while on bypass. All students receive a comprehensive ECMO manual and most pass an exam and demonstrate competence in the lab to successfully complete the course. This course is recommended for all entering PGY 4 residents but must be completed in the PGY 5 year.
NEONATAL RESUSCITATION PROGRAM
Fellows are required to be Certified NRP Instructors i as they start their fellowship. Recertification is required in their third year of residency.
UTHSCSA EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND TEACHING SEMINARS
Fellows are encouraged to take classes offered by the UTHSCSA Division of Educational Research and Development, such as the Teaching Excellence Course (UTEC), focusing on the development of educational material, teaching skills, and demonstrating tasks and tools on evaluating student performance. Fellows are required to attend workshops and seminars on grant and scientific writing, research methods, data management, data analysis, clinical and research ethics during the three year fellowship.
MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN CLINICAL INVESTIGATION PROGRAM
Funded by a National Institutes of Health Clinical Research Curriculum Award (K30) grant, the UTHSCSA General Clinical Research Center offers this Master’s degree program that is available to fellows in approved graduate programs. The purpose of this program is to train investigators in the conduct of patient-oriented clinical research. Course schedules are flexible (twice per week) and scholarly activities are arranged with the program director to remain within duty hours.
TRANSPORT COURSE
Annually, Wilford Hall Medical Center provides a transport course for the fellows and nursing/RT staff taught by the WHMC staff. Attendance is recommended for PGY4 or 5 fellows. The objectives of this course are to teach the basic principles of both ground and aero medical transport to include handling of emergency procedures. Fellows receive comprehensive instruction on routine operations of transport equipment, safety features, and troubleshooting. In addition, they receive ambulance and airframe (including both civilian and military) orientation on the flight line. Fellows must pass an exam and demonstrate competence with the transport equipment to successfully complete the course.
Camp C.A.M.P.
Fellows are offered the opportunity to take an elective at Camp C.A.M.P. (Children’s Association for Maximum Potential) which provides children with multiple disabilities (includes many former NICU graduates) the opportunity to spend a week in the Texas Hill Country in a medically supervised environment. During this time, fellows experience caring for children with disabilities and learn first hand about the many challenges these patients and their families face after they are discharged home from the hospital. Fellows also receive a week-long lecture series from Camp faculty concerning the medical care of children with multiple disabilities. Fellows are supervised at Camp C.A.M.P. by a board-certified neonatologist (and/or other intensivist) and developmental pediatrician who are present on site. Fellows do not have any clinical call or other responsibilities during this time.