The proposed new mentored postdoctoral training program at UCLA, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Training in Urologic and Gynecologic Cancers (PCORT UroGynCan), is designed to prepare outstanding postdoctoral scholars (including MD, PhD, MD/PhD, ScD, DrPH, and PharmD) for research careers focused on development and uptake of new scientific discoveries and innovations that improve the design, delivery, and outcomes of reproductive system cancer care at the individual, population, and health care system levels. In the current era of declining numbers of health scientists nationwide, particularly among clinical providers, and of expanding necessity to bridge the gap between research and practice across diverse real-world settings of health services and systems as well as demographically diverse populations, the PCORT UroGynCan program will train next-generation researchers to formulate and conduct studies in close collaboration with and responsive to the actual interests, needs, and priorities of health care system stakeholders. To illuminate and better understand variation in practice and outcomes and the barriers of T4 translation, the interdisciplinary curriculum and mentored hands-on research opportunities of the new T32 program interweave the scientific expertise and mentoring experience of 27 multidisciplinary faculty who are committed to collaborative, team- based cross-training and research in health services and patient-centered outcomes, clinical epidemiology, and dissemination and implementation, including the newly emerging field of learning health systems. With four postdoctoral trainees per year, each for a 2- or potentially 3-year appointment, instantiating, for workforce expansion, multidisciplinary cohorts of PCOR-dedicated trainees both experienced in and newly attracted to research in urologic and gynecologic oncology, PCORT UroGynCan will leverage topically germane resources of education, training, and career development programs at UCLA for the core curriculum and protected time to achieve the following specific aims: (1) expand the multidisciplinary knowledge base of evidence-based practice as it relates to reproductive system cancer care; (2) provide didactic and hands-on research training in the intellectual and philosophical foundation of rapid and sustainable uptake of novel, proven interventions within the broader research enterprise of translational medicine; (3) develop trainees' scientific writing skills for presentations, publications, and grants; (4) provide an academic environment that enables development of the research skills and experience needed for successful, independent scientific careers as members and leaders of interdisciplinary teams dedicated to improving patient and population outcomes and health system performance in urologic and gynecologic oncology; and (5) model research-empowering teaching and mentoring skills for trainees' development, including their eventual replication of research training and career development programs in health system stakeholder-partnered improvements of reproductive system cancer care as their careers evolve into stable, scientific independence.
Through mentored research training and career development of the next generation of interdisciplinary team members, leaders, and innovators in health services and patient-centered outcomes, clinical epidemiology, and dissemination and implementation, the UCLA Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Training in Urologic and Gynecologic Cancers (PCORT UroGynCan) program will increase the pace and volume of scientific discovery and innovation in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of urologic and gynecologic cancers and advance our knowledge of delivery and implementation strategies for proven interventions in real-world practice and community settings. In closing the gap between evidence-based interventions and their uptake across diverse health services settings and populations, including historically underserved populations who manifest wide disparities in health status, PCORT UroGynCan will contribute to improved health system performance as well as outcomes and health-related quality of life of patients and their families.
