Postgraduate Fellowship
Training
Reproductive Endocrinology and infertility Training Program
The major goal of our Fellowship
Training Program in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University
of Cincinnati will be to provide advance training in both the physiology and pathophysiology
of mammalian reproduction. Basic instruction in the physiologic principles of
hormone action will be combined with clinical instruction involving the pathophysiology
of disorders of human reproductive function. It is also our intent to provide
clinical, surgical, and in vitro fertilization experience which will be of sufficient
scope so as to ensure development of competent and complete endocrine and infertility
specialists. Guided experience in conferences and in basic and clinical research
activities will be aimed at initiating trainees into productive investigative
careers in reproductive endocrinology.
A major portion of each
trainee's time during the first year of the fellowship will be devoted to research.
Early in the first year of training, the fellow will meet with each of the faculty
preceptors individually to discuss possible research projects. In consultation
with Dr. Thomas, each trainee will select a preceptor and design a research
program. Each trainee will be required to develop a complete research project
which includes a critical review of the pertinent literature, a statement of
the problem and its significance, experimental aims, statistical analysis, and
an outline of the proposed experimental design. Each fellow will present his
or her proposal at the biweekly research conference prior to its inception.
The research proposal will also be reviewed by the department of Ob/Gyn research
committee which will provide additional scientific input and approve funding
for the project. In addition, each trainee will be required to rotate and assist
with performance of immunoassays in the hormone assay laboratories (under the
direction of Dr. Thomas). Thus, trainees are encouraged to initiate a predominantly
laboratory research endeavor early in the first year and also to design and
implement a clinical research protocol later in the fellowship. All fellows
must purchase a computer. Use of the computer for database and analysis will
be supervised by Dr. LaBarbera.
During the first year, each
fellow will become proficient in the pelvic ultrasound monitoring of follicle
growth (under the direction of Dr. Thomas and Dr. Robins). Daily ultrasound
monitoring for gonadotropin ovulation induction is carried out seven days/week
by the first-year fellow. Each trainee will also be expected to spend one-half
day each week attending the Pediatric Endocrine clinic directed by Dr. Handwerger.
The required graduate course work (biostatistics) will be completed during the
first year as well.
During the second year of
training, clinical activities of the trainees will increase, but research endeavors
will continue. Daily ultrasound monitoring of IVF patients and IVF oocyte retrievals
(approximately 100 cycles/year) are performed by the second-year trainee. In
collaboration with the designated preceptor, a research grant proposal similar
to the NIH format will be initiated. On the basis of the numbers of patients
seen by the five clinical faculty, there will be over 7,800 patient visits per
year. Microsurgical cases will also be performed at The Christ Hospital with
two board-certified REI private practice faculty. We anticipate a continuing
increase in the number of patient visits. Fellows will also have the option
of a rotation through the medical endocrine clinic for a two-month period under
the direction of Dr. Robert Cohen. We believe that the clinical exposure afforded
the fellows will be more than sufficient to permit them to develop into well
trained consultants and specialists in this field. We are committed to the training
of academic reproductive endocrinologists.
The major goal of the third
year of fellowship training will be to provide an uninterrupted and intense
research experience so that the trainee can design and carry out a detailed
research project proposed during the second year. This research project proposal,
presented in the NIH format, will be reviewed by the Research Committee of the
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. After committee’s approval of
the budget, the Department will provide sufficient funding for this endeavor.
Trainees will also be expected to submit this proposal for funding from extramural
sources such as the Mead Johnson/ACOG fellowship grants during their second
year of fellowship. Over the past 3 years, trainees have received grants from
the North American Menopausal Society and Merck/ACOG.
During this time, the trainee
will have daily interaction with the preceptor and essentially be working on
a 1:1 basis in the laboratory of the preceptor. This working relationship will
be analogous to that of a postdoctoral candidate. The trainee will be required
to hone his/her manuscript preparation and grant writing skills. It is expected
that research from the previous two years will be presented at national meetings
such as the Society for Gynecologic Investigation or the Endocrine Society and
summarized in submitted manuscripts before completion of the third year.
The trainee will also be
required to expand laboratory skills that would pertain to his/her research
interest and projects. For example, the trainee may learn to carryout, troubleshoot,
and interpret data from cell cultures, HPLC, Northern/Southern blots, or PCR
techniques. Under the tutelage of the preceptor, the third-year trainee will
devote 100% time to research.
The progress and efforts
made by the trainee will be closely monitored by the preceptor, Dr. Thomas,
and the Research Committee. This progress will be reviewed on an every week
basis. The trainee will also be expected to present research findings at the
REI Division meeting monthly, the Department research seminar (twice per year),
combined Endocrine conferences (twice per year) and the Department Grand Rounds
(once per year).
It is anticipated that preliminary
data generated by research will serve as the foundation for extramural support
during this individual's early academic career. This experience could be the
basis for further research in the NIH-sponsored Women’s Heatlth Research
Scholars program which this department was recently award. In this way, the
trainee at the completion of the third year will have developed a credible curriculum
vitae, suitable preliminary data, grant and manuscript writing skills, and experience
to compete for independent extramural support during his/her academic career.
Throughout the fellowship,
trainees will participate in conferences. Attendance at weekly departmental
grand rounds, combined Endocrine conferences, research-in-progress seminars,
and journal clubs will be expected. Each fellow will be given the rank of Instructor.
The required graduate level course in statistics and those in a related endocrine field which each trainee may select are described below:
Introduction to Biostatistics
26 BE 787 / 001 / 804905 (4 Credits)
Descriptive statistics, probability distributions, estimation, types of error, significance level, test of hypotheses, sample size, correlation, linear regression, non-parametric methods. Emphasizes practical-applied aspects.
Molecular Genetics
26 GNTD 871 / 001 / 804999 (3 Credits)
Genetic concepts, DNA structure, replication and repair, recombination, transcription, translation, regulation, cloning methods.
Biochemistry
26 GNTD 872 / 001 / 805000 (3 Credits)
Application of classical and molecular techniques to problems of protein structure and function; membrane organization and dynamics; biochemistry of membrane transport processes.
Comparative Endocrinology
15 BIOL 679 / 001 / 802593 (3 Credits)
Study of hormones and hormonal mechanisms affecting life processes.
Reproductive Pharmacology-Physiology
25 PBIO 750 / 001 / 803564 (3 Credits)
Disorders and diseases of the reproductive system impact a significant portion of the population, and not only those of reproductive age. Moreover, management of reproduction, particularly through pharmacological means, is broadly used in_most societies. This elective will explore these topics.
Contact: Angel Hall
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Holmes Hospital Building
Reproductive Health
200 Albert Sabin Way
Cincinnati, OH 45267-0457
Telephone: (513) 584-0784
Fax: (513) 584-0337
Email: angel.hall@uc.edu |
