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Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety

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Health Systems Research (HSR)

The Health Systems Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Houston, Texas offers doctorally-prepared social and health scientists as well as physicians completing residency training the foundational scientific and career development training necessary for a successful academic career in Health Systems Research (HSR). This is accomplished by surrounding fellows with interprofessional scientists with a broad variety of interests who come together to share ideas and provide one-on-one mentoring. At the core of the fellowship program is an individualized, structured career development program. As part of your fellowship, you will participate in a comprehensive curriculum and team-based research experiences designed specifically to meet your methodological and career development needs.

The fellowship provides two years of 100% protected effort for health services research experience and training with 75% protected effort for research and education opportunities and 25% in clinical care at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center. An appropriate research mentor from among the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety faculty will be identified prior to acceptance in the program. Primary mentors along with other faculty, who may be outside IQuESt (when appropriate), will guide fellows during the course of their fellowship. Fellowship alumni will be prepared to obtain careers developing and conducting health services research, establishing innovative health services programs within care systems, or directing health policy for public or private health systems or governmental bodies.

Applicants must have completed their doctoral degree prior to entering the fellowship program. However, interested candidates can begin the fellowship application process if they are within 3 months of completing their doctoral degree.

Fellowship benefits:

  • A paid full-time fellowship through the VA Office of Academic Affiliations. 
  • A two-year program cultivating expertise in VA health services research. 
  • Personalized mentorship and training from an experienced faculty mentoring team tailored to your area of interest and individual career development goals. 

Program Director:

Program Co-Director:

Current Postdoctoral Fellows:

Current Mentors:

Mentor Name Area of Expertise
Jane Anderson, Ph.D., RN
  1. Implementation of evidence-based stroke interventions
  2. Inter-professional education
  3. Telestroke, Telehealth Self_management Support
  4. Mobile Health Apps and Decision Support
Maya Balakrishan, M.D., M.P.H.
  1. Adapt evidence based weight loss interventions
  2. Develop behavioral interventions for liver disease
  3. Health disparities (gender, racial/ethnic, underserved populations)
  4. Patient values, preferences & experiences of illness and care
Derrecka Boykin, Ph.D.
  1. Expanding access to evidence-based mental health care
  2. Understanding needs and improving care for special underserved populations (e.g., rural, women, survivors of sexual trauma/military sexual trauma)
Jeffrey A. Cully, Ph.D.
  1. Development and testing (clinical trials) of evidence-based mental health practices for underserved populations
  2. Psychotherapy quality, outcomes, implementation, and scaling (e.g. demonstration and quality improvement projects)
Bich N. Dang, M.D.
  1. Patient-provider communication
  2. Patient values, preferences & experiences of care
  3. Video-based coaching and feedback interventions
  4. Health disparities (racial/ethnic, underserved populations)
 Jessica A. Davila, Ph.D.
  1. Delivery of care and outcomes for patients with liver cancer
  2. Utilizing electronic health data for research
  3. Program evaluation
Lilian N. Dindo, Ph.D.
  1. Test pragmatic psychotherapeutic interventions
  2. Develop interventions to improve mental health w/ comorbid illnesses
Hashem B. El-Serag, M.D., M.P.H.
  1. Epidemiology and outcomes of digestive diseases
  2. Screening and surveillance of GI and liver cancer
Kevin Erickson, M.D., M.S.
  1. Assess the consequences of economic policies involving patients with kidney disease through the analysis of large administrative datasets.
  2. Understand barriers to improving access to high-value kidney care in all patients with kidney disease.
Terri L. Fletcher, Ph.D.
  1. Improving diagnostic practices for anxiety disorders
  2. Access to EBT for Veterans with anxiety, OCD, and PTSD
  3. Mixed methods research
Kyler Godwin, Ph.D., M.P.H.
  1. Training and leading healthcare improvement
  2. Implementation science
  3. Program evaluation methods
L. Parker Gregg, M.D., M.S.
  1. Fatigue and depression in patients with kidney disease
  2. Epidemiology of medication use and outcomes in patients with kidney diseases
Drew A. Helmer, M.D., M.S.
  1. Deployment-related health concerns
  2. Military exposure-related health concerns
  3. Chronic multi-symptom illness
Molly J. Horstman, M.D.
  1. Hospital care for older adults
  2. Family caregiver support and engagement
  3. Quality improvement and implementation practice
Natalie Hundt, Ph.D.
  1. Increasing initiation, engagement, and completion of psychotherapy for PTSD
  2. Expanding access to mental health care for Veterans
Sylvia J. Hysong, Ph.D.
  1. Audit and Feedback interventions
  2. Performance measurement and team coordination
  3. Primary care processes
Fasiha Kanwal, M.D., M.S.H.S.
  1. Effectiveness and Timeliness of liver disease care
  2. Quality of life in liver disease
Bhavika Kaul, M.D., M.A.S.
  1. Epidemiology and Outcomes of Interstitial Lung Disease (Pulmonary Fibrosis)
  2. Radiomics (AI-based image analysis) 
  3. Optimizing Timely Access to Subspecialty Care & Preventing Diagnostic Delays 
  4. Novel Care Delivery Models for Advanced Pulmonary Disease
Jan A. Lindsay, Ph.D.
  1. Develop & test techno-based behavior interventions
  2. Access and Implementation of evidence-based psychotherapy 2a. Develop and evaluate digital mental health tools 2b. Increase access to evidence-based substance use disorder treatment 2c. Personalize implementation strategies to meet unique needs of rural facilities, providers, and patients
Laura A. Petersen, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P.
  1. Economic Incentives, quality of care
  2. Evidence-based health policy
  3. Patient safety
Barbara W. Trautner, M.D., Ph.D., F.I.D.S.A.
  1. Prevention of healthcare associated infections
  2. Guidelines implementation
  3. Antimicrobial stewardship
Salim S. Virani, M.D.
  1. Understand gaps in implementation of cardiovascular guidelines
  2. Implement strategies to improve CV guidelines adherence

Requirements:

  • US Citizenship
  • Doctoral degree
  • MD candidates must:
  • Have board eligibility (any specialty)
  • Have completed clinical training prior to entering fellowship program
  • Have a full medical license (or currently applying)

Application materials:

  1. CV
  2. Cover letter/statement of interest
  3. Unofficial transcripts
  4. Three letters of recommendation emailed directly to Dr. Fletcher from the recommender
  5. Writing sample (e., first author publication, dissertation chapter)

Deadline:

  1. Application deadline is December 15th. 

For more information or any questions you may have, contact the Fellowship Director, Dr. Fletcher. Once you have compiled your application materials, please submit your application HERE.

Click Here to Apply Now

 

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