Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety

Health Services Research (HSR)

The Health Services Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Houston, Texas offers doctorally-prepared social and health scientists as well as physicians completing residency training the foundational scientific and career development training necessary for a successful academic career in Health Services Research (HSR). This is accomplished by surrounding fellows with interprofessional scientists with a broad variety of interests who come together to share ideas and provide one-on-one mentoring. At the core of the fellowship program is an individualized, structured career development program. As part of your fellowship, you will participate in a comprehensive curriculum and team-based research experiences designed specifically to meet your methodological and career development needs.

The fellowship provides two years of 100% protected effort for health services research experience and training with 75% protected effort for research and education opportunities and 25% in clinical care at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center. An appropriate research mentor from among the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety faculty will be identified prior to acceptance in the program. Primary mentors along with other faculty, who may be outside IQuESt (when appropriate), will guide fellows during the course of their fellowship. Fellowship alumni will be prepared to obtain careers developing and conducting health services research, establishing innovative health services programs within care systems, or directing health policy for public or private health systems or governmental bodies.

Applicants must have completed their doctoral degree prior to entering the fellowship program. However, interested candidates can begin the fellowship application process if they are within 3 months of completing their doctoral degree.

Fellowship benefits:

• Participation in new or ongoing team projects
• Opportunities for research collaborations with other educational institutions
• Two years of individualized HSR training and experience
• Individualized mentoring from experienced faculty mentoring team
• For non-clinical fellows: 100% protected effort for research and education, stipend approx. $52,000 for a first-year post-doctoral graduate
• For clinical fellows: 75% protected effort for research and education, 25% for clinical care, stipend determined by PGY level at the Michael E. DeBakey VAMC
• VA employee benefits include: health insurance, life insurance, annual leave, and sick leave
• Candidates accepted into the M.D. Fellowship will have the opportunity to apply for the Clinical Scientist Training Program (CSTP) at Baylor College of Medicine, which offers a Master's degree in Clinical Investigation

Program Director:

• Terri L. Fletcher, Ph.D.

Program Co-Director:

• Felicia Skelton, M.D., M.S.

Current Postdoctoral Fellows:

• Haley Kolp Ph.D.
• Mackenzie Shanahan, Ph.D.
• Jennifer Sloane, M.S., Ph.D.

Current Mentors:

Requirements:

• US Citizenship
• Doctoral degree
• MD candidates must:
• Have board eligibility (any specialty)
• Have completed clinical training prior to entering fellowship program
• Have a full medical license (or currently applying)

Application materials:

1. CV
2. Cover letter/statement of interest
3. Unofficial transcripts
4. Three letters of recommendation emailed directly to Dr. Fletcher from the recommender
5. Writing sample (e., first author publication, dissertation chapter)

Deadline:

1. Deadline to submit application is December 1

For more information or any questions you may have, contact Education Program Coordinator. Once you have compiled your application materials, please submit your application HERE.

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