The Endeavor NorthShore Department of Family Medicine will host a one-year postdoctoral fellowship for health scientists who will apply emerging technologies and research methodologies in precision medicine to a primary care and population health context to improve disease prevention and health promotion while addressing health disparities.
A one-year fellow will complete the program and receive a certificate of completion diploma in Health Equity in Precision Health from the University of Chicago.
An option for fellows who are accepted into the program, as Endeavor Health employees, will be to apply for training (NCATS/NIH TL1) or career development (KL2) grants through the University of Chicago-Rush University Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM) – our shared Clinical and Translational Science Award funding Endeavor and the five other ITM institutions (The University of Chicago, Rush University, Loyola University of Chicago, Advocate Health Care, and the Illinois Institute of Technology). The appendix lists master’s degree programs funded in part by the TL1 for fellows who choose (completely optional) to apply. Any fellow who chooses to apply to the TL1 will, if successful, qualify for a second year of fellowship training. Postdoctoral fellows will be clinically active or if non-clinical (active in community service) while pursuing mentored health equity research and will be provided with the opportunity to earn a Master of Science in Precision Health at the University of Chicago (MSPH). Fellows will be eligible to apply for training (NCATS/NIH TL1) or career development (KL2) grants through the University of Chicago-Rush University Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM).
Fellows are required to complete three Masters in Precision Health courses, of which at least two of these courses will be from the list of core courses, and up to one course can be a concentration course (e.g., Pharmacogenomics). Fellows will complete a structured didactic curriculum with Endeavor Health instructors to complement their clinical and theoretical training in precision medicine. All fellows will be required to do a Community Capstone Project working with mentors from community engagement programs that serve our communities in north Chicago or the Evanston/Skokie region.
- All candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and need to have completed a professional doctoral degree (MD, DO, PharmD, DNP, DDS/DMD, etc) or clinical research degree (PhD) at the time of the appointment.
- Students completing a doctoral degree may apply as long as they will have completed doctoral degree requirements by the fellowship appointment start date.
- Dual degree recipients such as MD/PhDs and junior faculty are welcome to apply.
- MD candidates who are not family physicians will need a commitment letter from an Endeavor clinical unit leader (Section Chief/Department Chair) who is able to attest to institutional commitment for the candidate. If awarded the fellowship, the fellow will have 80% protected time based on a 40 hour work week during the appointment period for research and training activities. Internal candidates should have a primary mentor who should prepare one of the letters of recommendation for the application. External candidates who have not identified a primary mentor at Endeavor or other ITM institutions should suggest potential faculty mentors in their statement.
- This program will recruit outstanding physician and non-physician health scientists with emphasis on historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) nationally and existing pipeline programs from the Chicagoland medical schools and residency training programs.
- Participation in the Health Equity + Implementation Science Seminar webinar series (presented live or through asymmetrical learning of taped seminars);
- Monthly health equity didactic lecture series tailored to clinical practice and community engagement;
- Selective coursework offered through the Endeavor Medical Group and the University of Chicago tailored to each fellow’s individual learning objectives and career goals;
- Clinical rotations in medical genomics (including cancer), pharmacogenomics, and laboratory and pharmacy experiences; a community engagement capstone project in partnership with local public health agencies.
- Learn how to design and conduct health equity research studies focused on precision medicine, including the formulation of research questions, study design, and data collection methods while considering critical epistemologies.
- Develop skills in data management and quality control to ensure the integrity and reliability of precision medicine research data.
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of precision medicine, including its applications in various disease areas.
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the principles of Health Equity, Intersectionality, Structural Competency, and become a subject matter expertise in the social, institutional, and cultural influences that impact health.
- Acquire proficiency in data analysis and interpretation techniques specific to precision medicine, such as bioinformatics and computational biology.
- Gain experience in the ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks relevant to precision medicine and health equity, including privacy and informed consent.
- Enhance critical thinking and problem-solving abilities by actively engaging in interdisciplinary collaborations and discussions with experts in the field.
- Improve scientific writing and communication skills by preparing research/review manuscripts, grant proposals, and presenting findings at conferences or scientific meetings.
- Foster a mindset of innovation and creativity by exploring novel approaches and technologies that can advance precision medicine and health equity.
- Cultivate leadership and project management skills by taking ownership of research projects and community initiatives, coordinating team efforts, and meeting project milestones and deadlines.
- CV
- Personal Statement describing their career goals, research interests, and how the training program will help the candidate reach these goals. Maximum 1800 words.
- Research Plan that describes how their research goals already align with Endeavor Health’s and the ITM’s goals of advancing health equity, and how the fellowship training will help the trainee align their research with these goals. In 1-2 pages, applicants should describe how their research goals align with advancing health equity, specifically in one of the three main public health goals of Health Chicago 2025 and the city of Evanston: 1. Advancing health and racial equity; 2. Improving mental and emotional wellbeing; 3. Strengthening climate resilience.
- Two letters of recommendation. Ideally, at least one letter should be from a faculty mentor from their home institution. Both letters should be from a faculty member who can speak to the candidate’s ability or promise in clinical and/or translational research that addresses health equity challenges at the nexus with personalized medicine.
- Undergraduate (BA, BS) and graduate (PhD, MD, etc.) transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are preferred at this stage for application processing and should be uploaded directly to the application system.
Please contact Clarissa Huard (chuard@northshore.org) with any questions about the Health Equity in Precision Health Fellowship.