Program Overview

Objective

The overall objective of our program is for fellows to have clinical experiences that allow for the in-depth observation and management of patients with metabolic conditions that contribute to cardiovascular disease and other complications. Fellows will have clinical and non-clinical experiences that will expose them to areas of expertise that significantly affect the care of patients with metabolic disorders. Scholarship in the field of cardiometabolic health is required.

Training Sites

University Health Truman Medical Center (UHTMC) 

UHTMC is an urban, academic safety net hospital in Kansas City, Mo., and the primary teaching hospital of the UMKC Health Sciences Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry and Pharmacy. Approximately 60% of fellows' time will be spent at this site.

University Health Lakewood 

UHLMC is a suburban, academic hospital in Lee’s Summit, Mo., which houses the Community and Family Medicine Department and its residency program. The internal medicine subspecialties provide on-site consultation services in endocrinology, cardiology, gastroenterology, oncology and other specialties. Approximately 40% of fellows' time will be spent at this site.

Curriculum

Clinical rotations include longitudinal experiences in preventive cardiology and endocrinology/metabolism with adjunct clinical experiences in sleep medicine, weight management, women’s health, renal medicine and nutrition. Fellows work with faculty in internal medicine, family medicine and pharmacology. Protected time is provided to develop and pursue a research project. One elective is included in the curriculum, so fellows can tailor their clinical experience, if desired.

Monthly and weekly schedule

  • UHLMC Endocrine and Cardiology Consults (3 months)
  • UHTMC Endocrine Consults and Procedures (3 months)
  • UHTMC Cardiology Consults and Procedures (1 month)
  • UHTMC Research/Specialty Clinics: Sleep, Cardiac Rehab (2 months)
  • UHTMC Weight Management/Specialty Clinics: Women’s Health, Renal, PharmD (2 months)
  • UHTMC Elective Clinics (1 month)
  • UHLMC Inpatient Cardiology Clinics (one week per month longitudinally)
  • UHLMC Endocrine Clinic (one clinic per week longitudinally)
  • UHLMC Cardiology Clinic (one clinic per week longitudinally)
  • UMKC Health Sciences District Heart Failure Clinic (one clinic per week longitudinally)

Graduate Course

Program curriculum includes one graduate course for research training. This course is called Biostatistics I (MEDB 5501) and takes place during the Fall Semester. This course is in the Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics and counts toward either a certificate or master’s degree in clinical research should any fellow wish to pursue additional training/degrees.

Research

The research experience includes formal training in biostatistics. Interested fellows may take additional coursework toward a Certificate in Clinical Research or a Master of Science in Bioinformatics. Training in research methodology is provided online through the NIH Course Introduction to the Principles and Practice of Clinical Research (IPPCR). Research opportunities are available with faculty in endocrinology and cardiology, as well as in related basic and clinic fields with faculty in other departments across an array of fields with cardiometabolic impact. Fellows are expected to present the results of their scholarly activity to the faculty in a conference in June at the close of the academic year.

Available research services

  • School of Medicine Statistical Consult Service to assist with study design and analysis
  • Study coordinators for help with IRB applications and research compliance

Quality Improvement and Patient Safety

There is a didactic curriculum in quality improvement and patient safety. Fellows are expected to complete the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Open School Basic Certificate in Quality and Safety. Fellows may participate in ongoing quality improvement and patient safety activities as time and interests allow.