Standardizing Research Training: a Pilot Curriculum Within a Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Oncology Research
• Scholarly Activity Assessment

Background:

• Scholarly activity is vital in cancer education, yet methods for assessing research competencies and productivity are lacking.
• Formal assessment tools are needed to evaluate research training effectiveness in fellowship programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot a novel educational initiative involving a professional learning community (PLC) of research mentors and a research portfolio for formative assessment.
• To evaluate the impact of this initiative on Hematology/Oncology fellows' research training, confidence, and productivity.

Main Methods:

• Established a PLC for research mentors to discuss learning outcomes and instructional strategies.
• Piloted a research portfolio for first-year fellows to document, evaluate, and reflect on research training.
• Utilized pre- and six-month interim surveys to assess the initiative's effectiveness.

Main Results:

• 43% of fellows reported increased confidence in research training strategies.
• 100% of fellows using the research portfolio found it beneficial for self-reflection and goal setting.
• Research portfolio scores correlated with other academic success markers, indicating predictive potential.

Conclusions:

• A professional learning community and research portfolio framework can address critical needs in cancer research training.
• This novel educational approach shows promise for enhancing fellows' research skills and predicting future success.
• Further development of this educational tool is warranted based on positive pilot results.