Outcomes Research Fellowship

A unique opportunity for a researcher from an MPOG participating site to join MPOG for a one-year fellowship. The fellowship will allow the selected candidate to use the MPOG platform to transform real-world data into actionable knowledge. Applications are accepted each year in October.

About

The Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG), a consortium of more than 70 hospitals across 24 states, is seeking applicants from active MPOG member centers for the 1-year MPOG Outcomes Research Fellowship. As a leader in perioperative research, performance improvement, and digital innovation, MPOG offers applicants a unique mentored education experience. Fellows can choose one of two pathways: onsite at the MPOG coordinating center (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI) or a hybrid experience while staying at their home institution, which must be a member of MPOG. A minimum of 50% non-clinical time devoted to MPOG fellowship activities is required. Fellows will participate in monthly MPOG didactics led by MPOG coordinating center and participating site faculty.

Learning Objectives

Research Informatics

  • Gain experience working with different electronic health record ontologies (eg ICD, CPT)
  • Understand various common data models (MPOG, OMOP) to store EHR data
  • Understand the MPOG data onboarding process, including data extract infrastructure, clinical content mapping, data validation, and data diagnostics
  • Establish options for patient matching across data sources (eg MPOG, surgical registry, claims)
  • Understand differential privacy risks and research limitations with different data types
  • Development of computed research phenotypes based upon EHR data

Large Dataset Analyses

  • Identify research questions well suited for observational data analysis
  • Identify research questions that should not be addressed using observational data analysis
  • Understand missing data significance and handling options
  • Use physiological monitoring artifact reduction techniques
  • Identify the strengths and weakness of other complementary perioperative large datasets
  • Apply the appropriate research methods checklist (STROBE, RECORD, CONSORT)
  • Identify specific statistical analysis technique advantages and disadvantages

Performance Measure and Improvement

  • Understand the Delphi process for quality metric specification development and consensus building across a national collaborative
  • Gain understanding of SQUIRE guidelines for healthcare improvement reporting

The Project

The fellowship applicant may choose to emphasize one of these aspects (Informatics, Large dataset analysis, or Performance measurement). All fellows will engage in a Practicum Capstone Project, executing an MPOG- based clinical research project or quality metric development feasible using solely the MPOG standardized data file.

To achieve these learning objectives, MPOG fellows will actively participate in several MPOG activities, including but not limited to: site onboarding, quality metric development and validation, research phenotype development and validation, scientific facilitation, statistical analysis design, and manuscript preparation.

Apply

Required qualifications:

  • Valid immigration status and work authorization at an MPOG participating site before your expected start date
  • Completion of medical doctorate degree (MD, MBBS, MBChB, or equivalent)
  • Minimum 50% protected non-clinical time devoted to fellowship (documentation by chair required)
  • Identification and letter of support from a faculty mentor at the applicant’s local MPOG center

Preferred qualifications:

  • Postgraduate training in anesthesiology or surgical residency
  • Experience with observational dataset analysis for research or quality improvement
  • Coursework in epidemiology or clinical research

Salary:

  • Salary support and professional development funding sources will vary based upon hybrid vs onsite pathway. Fellows may choose to apply concurrently to the University of Michigan NIH T32 Post-Doctoral training program.

Application process:

Please e-mail your application packet to mpog-research@med.umich.edu by November 22, 2024. Your application packet should include:

    • Cover letter
    • Current CV
    • Letters of support
    • 1-page research plan (analogous to NIH-style Specific Aims page)
    • 1-page training plan (analogous to K/IARS/FAER Training Plan)

Downloadable document. 
Frequently Asked Questions

For any inquiries please email

mpog-research@med.umich.edu