Stacie Tyler looks at her new daughter Cassidy Grace Tyler, who was the first baby born at Vanderbilt in 2001. Cassidy Grace was born a few seconds after midnight on Jan. 1. (Photo by Dana Johnson)
In an effort to meet the growing need for Clinical Research professionals, the Health Systems Management program at the Vanderbilt School of Nursing is introducing a Clinical Research Professional Development Seminar Series.
The seminars, Concepts of Clinical Research, Concepts of Epidemiology and Data Management and Concepts of Project Management respectively make up a sequence of coursework aimed at nurses and other healthcare professionals who want to develop or further their careers as clinical research professionals. To meet the needs of a broad base of participants, the series was designed both for individuals seeking academic credit and for those who are interested in career development and advancement through continuing education.
As an academic credit option, the series of courses can be taken as a focus area in Health Systems Management or as a Post-Master’s option. For individuals not interested in academic credit, the series can be taken as a Certificate of Completion program or for CE credits. Seminars can also be taken individually based upon a participant’s interest.
The seminars will be offered in concentrated four-day blocks. “We wanted to offer the series in such a way that they would fit into the lifestyle schedules of nursing and healthcare professionals,” said Health Systems Management Program Director Jo-Ann Kamencik, “so we decided to work around weekends and chose a concentrated Saturday through Tuesday format for each course.”
The dates for the courses are:
Concepts of Clinical Research – February 24-27; Concepts of Epidemiology and Data Management – April 21-24; and Concepts of Project Management – May 26-29. The series will be repeated later in 2001.
In addition to the coursework, the series offers the option of an intense 70 – 210 hour practicum working with an experienced preceptor in a supervised clinical trials setting. “Our goal is to make sure that individuals who attend the series also have the opportunity to gain practical hands-on experience in a clinical research environment,” added Kamencik.
A full description of the seminar series is available through the Office of Admissions. For more detailed information about this new seminar series contact Debra Wujcik at Debbie.Wujcik@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu.