CTSA Postdoctoral T32 at University of Colorado Denver - Clinician scientists fulfil a unique role by integrating discovery science with clinical practice and therapeutic intervention. However, their numbers are in decline, creating the need for flexible training and research opportunities to ensure their future. The Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute’s (CCTSI) T32 Post-Doctoral Program will address the need for highly qualified and competent translational scientists by providing a responsive and evidence-informed program, a stimulating environment with well-equipped facilities, a community of practice for translational scientists. We request support for 4 post-doctoral trainee slots of two years each. Our program is novel in that it expands the translational spectrum by recognizing the importance of shared, naturally occurring models of disease among animals and humans to push discovery, which we coin T0.5. Our program will involve both doctorally prepared clinicians (physicians (MD), pharmacists (PharmD), physical therapists (DPT), nurses (DPN) and others) at the University of Colorado who will complete the Master of Science in Clinical Science (MSCS) degree and veterinarians completing a PhD from Colorado State University, a partnering university. Trainees of our interprofessional program will be highly qualified and thoroughly prepared to be effective team members and translational scientists that fuel discovery that is translated to communities for improved health and lives of its citizens. Development of translational scientists that characterize Domain Expert, Rigorous Researcher, Boundary Crosser, Process Innovator, Team Player, Skilled Communicator, and Systems Thinker will be emphasized through completion of a degree program (MSCS or PhD), meaningful immersion experiences for translational science and translational research, effective mentorship and peer support, and alleviating “pull factors” by creating a community of practice through our Translational Scientist seminars. Pull factors are demands that compete or conflict with trainee engagement, integration, and performance that ultimately diminish persistence. Clinical and translational science and research requires a shift from an individual-based approach to a teamwork model. Team member competency development will be kick-started by early participation in our Teaming and Leading program. The One Health framework will be used to highlight the need for teaming and permit application of all translational scientist competencies recognizing that achievement of optimal health is reliant on the interconnection among people, animals, and their shared environment across eco-health system levels (local, regional, national and global). A culminating activity will be trainee led interdisciplinary teams participating in a One Health Hackathon focused on antimicrobial resistance. Long term-evaluation and continuous quality improvement will be used to guide programmatic efforts and respond to changing demands. Evaluative efforts will focus on the program’s ability to develop a successful group of persistent team oriented translational scientists.
