Western Reserve Hospital Research and Quality Improvement Fellowship 

This is a 6-week Research and Quality Improvement Fellowship for students who have completed their first year of medical school. Fellows will begin by completing several modules to gain a broad understanding of research concepts, including human subject protections, laws and ethics, and research methods, as well as modules to develop a foundation of quality improvement concepts, including patient safety, healthcare quality, the quadruple aim of healthcare, the patient experience, and regulatory requirements. Fellows will attend various meetings on quality, safety, research, healthcare administration, and patient experience.  

Fellows will be asked to participate in ongoing research projects in various capacities. They may be asked to conduct literature reviews or participate in data collection with the potential to form and execute an original research study. Fellows will work closely with the manager of quality improvement and accreditation, the research coordinator, research committee members, quality department members, medical staff, faculty, and residents. Fellows will receive the resources they need to get the most out of the six-week fellowship. 

Knowledge gained throughout the fellowship may include an understanding of research, policies and procedures, protocol development for both quality and research frameworks, data collection and analysis, the IRB and publication submission processes, quality improvement methodologies, data-driven process evaluation, patient safety principles, and the process for manuscript development and publication. Fellows will also have the opportunity to shadow faculty and residents based on their areas of interest. 

 

Qualifications/Eligibility 

  • Successful completion of MS 1 (first-year medical school) with an accredited medical school (Students must be between MS1 and MS2 years) 
  • Strong interest in healthcare research and quality improvement at a community hospital 
  • Ability to provide documentation of required immunizations (MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B) and a negative TB test within five years 

Details 

  • Application Deadline: January 15  
  • Selection/Notification: January 31 
  • Program Dates: First Monday in May - Second Friday in June (flexible with prior approval) 
  • Hours: Full-time working hours (8-hour workdays; 5 days per week)  
  • Stipend provided 

Preceptors: 

  • Nealie D'Abate, DHSc, MHSA 
  • Kris Holmes 
  • Aimee G. DeWitt, CCRP

Application 

  • The application requires the following: 
    • CV (PDF) 
    • A formal Letter of Interest (PDF). No more than 300 words 
    • Vaccination Records 
  • Click here to apply for the Research and Quality Improvement Fellowship 
  • Please email adewitt@westernreservehospital.org with questions