Evan Calkins, MD, Community-Based Research Fellowship

The annual award encourages recipients to explore and discover the rewards and opportunities of community-based scholarship.

Residents, fellows (PGY 1-7) and junior faculty whose career goals are centered around clinical practice are encouraged to apply.

Evan Calkins, MD, served as director of medicine at Meyer Memorial Hospital, now Erie County Medical Center, for 12 years. During that time, the clear but unmet needs of the community, especially in poor and medically underserved areas, made a strong impression on him. Calkins believed medical institutions have an obligation to improve the quality of, and access to, health care throughout the community. The Calkins fellowship is a product of this conviction.

Up to $4000 for distribution among 1 or more recipients.

Following approval of your letter of intent, you must be a resident, fellow (PGY 1-7) or junior faculty member (assistant professor on tenure or non-tenured track) in any clinical department of the medical school or the School of Public Health and Health Professions.   

Residents of the combined internal medicine/general preventive medicine residency are also eligible.

Your project must be implemented in a community setting, a community-based clinical practice, an ambulatory clinic or an emergency room setting of a UB-affiliated hospital.

Consult and execute preliminary planning with a faculty member possessing recognized expertise in community-based research or quality improvement.

An active faculty member with appropriate expertise should mentor and guide you throughout the program.

Be specific in these areas:

• the research question or quality improvement aim
• indicate if and how the project aligns with priorities of the community, hospitals and other organizations
• the proposed methodology, budget and timeline
• description of the work including measurable outcomes, impact on the community, preliminary data and relevant references
  
• qualifications of your mentor to coach a research or quality improvement project and their role in guiding the design of the project
• description of the role you will play in the conduct of the proposed research

Examples of possible proposals include:

• description and documentation of a current problem in health care identifying specific issues preventing a positive outcome
• controlled study of an investigation designed to address a specific management problem
• translation of evidence-based guidelines into practice
  
• replication of published research in a new setting
  
• addressing one or more phases of the quality improvement cycle
• enhancement of patient self-management
  

A committee appointed by the senior associate dean for graduate medical education reviews all applications.

The committee bases selections on:

• the strength of your research proposal and personal statement
• the study’s potential impact on community health
• the quality of the research environment and its appropriateness for the proposed study
• your potential to develop into a practicing physician or researcher as evidenced by letters of support
• your agreement to present your work at next year’s UB GME Research Day if you win the award
  

Proposals directed toward the health care needs of the poor and medically disadvantaged, especially for work that has not yet been done in Buffalo, will receive priority.