• Linda J Burns, Charles P Clayton, James N George, Beverly S Mitchell, and Scott D Gitlin.
• L.J. Burns is professor of medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. C.P. Clayton is senior director of education and training, American Society of Hematology, Washington, DC. J.N. George is professor of medicine, Departments of Medicine and Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. B.S. Mitchell is George E. Becker professor of medicine, Divisions of Hematology and Oncology, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California. S.D. Gitlin is associate professor of internal medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan, and staff physician, Veterans Affairs Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
• Acad Med. 2015 Aug 1; 90 (8): 1061-6.

ProblemThere is a recognized need to translate scientific discoveries to patient-oriented clinical research (POCR). Several obstacles interfere with the successful recruitment and retention of physicians for POCR careers.ApproachThe American Society of Hematology developed a yearlong educational and mentoring experience, the Clinical Research Training Institute (CRTI), for early-career physician-scientists from multiple institutions throughout the United States and Canada pursuing POCR careers. Several academic outcome measures of the 140 participants in the first seven years (2003-2010) of CRTI were evaluated by reviewing former trainee participants' curriculum vitae and survey responses.OutcomesEthnic, racial, and gender diversity of CRTI trainees was reflective of the proportions represented across U.S. hematology/oncology fellowship programs. Eighty-six percent (109/126) of trainees reported success establishing a POCR study; nearly half (62/126) had primarily research-focused jobs. Former CRTI trainees received at least 262 external grant awards and published 1,035 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 173 chapters, and 115 review articles.Next StepsBecause mentorship is key to developing a successful career, the CRTI program is being modified to enhance longitudinal mentorship by CRTI faculty mentors and mentors at trainees' home institutions, as well as to encourage the establishment of collaborations and the potential for research project success. Efforts to make the CRTI experience available to more phy sicians, include more CRTI graduates as faculty, and increase participation by hematologists from backgrounds under represented in medicine are under way.

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