University of California San Diego Training Program

Abstract

The goal of the program is to produce medical and epidemiologic scientists who can conduct empiric, interdisciplinary research aimed at preventing cardiovascular diseases from a population-based perspective. The training will consist of several components including didactic coursework and seminars aimed at providing the trainee with the requisite skills for developing into an independent researcher. Additionally, a central component of the program is an independent research project. Within this context, the fellow will be provided extensive and pertinent mentoring by two senior faculty members who will provide coordinated instruction. A program of directed study and data analysis and a core seminar series, required of each trainee, enhance the research training, as do selected opportunities for other course work, patient care, and teaching. Postdoctoral trainees are encouraged to publish three to six articles during their training period (average 2 years). The program is conducted under the auspices of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and includes collaboration with a number of other departments at the University, as well as possibilities for partnership with consultants outside of UCSD. Research being conducted at UCSD spans a broad range and includes studies of subclinical cardiovascular disease, women's health, hypertension, genetics, peripheral arterial disease, venous disease, socio-cultural determinants of CVD, the influence of the built environment on health, obesity prevention and weight loss, cigarette smoking, the inter-relationship of diet and exercise, lipid disorders, obesity, and nutrition intervention studies. A particular focus exists on health disparities for ethnic groups. At the conclusion of the training period, it is anticipated that the fellow will be competitive for extramural funding opportunities.

Trainee selection is based on interest in cardiovascular disease prevention, potential for an academic research career, and demonstrated excellence. Pre-doctoral trainees are eligible for applying to the UCSD-SDSU Joint Doctoral Program in Epidemiology and preference will be given to those with a Master's degree. Post-doctoral trainees will hold either the M.D. or Ph.D. degree. Physician trainees will generally enter after completion of clinical training in medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, or preventive medicine. All trainees will be allowed to enroll in the Graduate School of Public Health at San Diego State University, where they may pursue a Master's degree in Public Health.

Areas of Special Emphasis

Cardiovascular disease prevention and epidemiology, clinical cardiology, subclinical atherosclerosis, peripheral arterial disease, health psychology, behavioral medicine, exercise physiology, nutrition, smoking, healthy aging, women's health, nephrology/hypertension, quality of life, research design, and biostatistics.

Type of Training: Pre-doctoral and Post-doctoral

Key Faculty Available as Preceptors

Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, MD, Professor of Medicine and Division Chief for Epidemiology in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at UCSD

Michael Criqui, MD, MPH, Professor in the Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, and in the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine

Anthony DeMaria, MD, Professor and Director of the Cardiovascular Center at the UCSD School of Medicine

Joel Dimsdale, MD, Professor of Psychiatry at UCSD

John Elder, PhD, MPH, Professor of Health Promotion at San Diego State University Graduate School of Public, and Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California-San Diego

Theodore Ganiats, MD, professor and interim chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and the Executive Director of the UCSD Health Outcomes Assessment Program

Cheryl Rock, PhD, Professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine

James F. Sallis, PhD, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University and Program Director for the Active Living Research Program, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Matthew Allison, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine

Beatrice Golomb, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine at UCSD and a Robert Wood Johnson Generalist Physician Faculty Scholar

Mel Hovell, PhD, the founding (1982) Head of the Division of Health Promotion and founding member of the SDSU/UCSD Ph.D. programs in clinical psychology and epidemiology and health behavior

Alan Maisel, MD, Professor in the Division of Cardiology, VA Health Systems, San Diego

Anthony DeMaria, MD, Professor and Director of the Cardiovascular Center at the UCSD School of Medicine

Robert Mattrey, MD, Professor in the Department of Radiology

Ravindra Mehta, MD, Associate Professor in the Division of Nephrology

Daniel O'Connor, MD, Professor in the Division of Nephrology

Kevin Patrick, MD, MS, Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California, San Diego and is the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine

John P. Pierce, PhD, the Sam M. Walton Professor of Cancer Research and leads the Cancer Prevention and Control program at the UCSD Cancer Center

Greg Talavera, MD, Professor and Director of Vascular Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at UCSD

Sortorios Tsimikas, MD, Professor and Director of Vascular Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at UCSD

Matthew Budoff, MD, FACC, Associate Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and is the Director of Cardiac CT at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, CA

Nathan D. Wong, PhD, Associate Professor and Director of the Heart Disease Prevention Program within the Division of Cardiology at the University of California, Irvine

Last updated: September 2009

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