Learning by doing: developing fellows’ academic skills through collaborative research

Abstract

Physicians in postgraduate training are expected to learn research methods but how best to achieve that curricular goal is unclear. This article describes a novel educational approach to develop research skills among infectious disease fellows. Five infectious disease fellows and two faculty members participated in a collaborative research project as a vehicle for active, problem-based learning. During the learning experience several tasks with specific learning objectives were achieved. The authors evaluated the weaknesses and strengths of the collaborative research project as an educational program. This problem-based approach for learning research methods seems more effective than traditional methods and may be applicable to a broad range of training programs.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Miguel G. Madariaga

MIGUEL MADARIAGA, MD, WAHAB BROBBEY, MB ChB MPH, MARTIN PHILLIPS, MB ChB, EVELYN LO, MD, and KATAYOUN REZAI, MD, were first-year infectious disease fellows at John H. Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County and Rush University Medical Center at the time the study was conducted.

Arthur T. Evans

ARTHUR EVANS, MD MPH, is the co-director of the Collaborative Research Unit at John H. Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County. He is the clinical epidemiologist described in the article.

David N. Schwartz

DAVID SCHWARTZ, MD, is a clinical investigator and ID fellowship program co-director at John H. Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County and Rush University Medical Center.

Gordon M. Trenholme

GORDON TRENHOLME, MD, is Chief of the Section of Infectious Diseases at Rush University Medical Center.

Robert A. Weinstein

ROBERT WEINSTEIN, MD, is Chair of the Division of Infectious Diseases at John H. Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County.