This past summer, 20 fellows and 21 faculty members gathered in Dana Point, CA, for the fifth annual ASH Clinical Research Training Institute. Kristy Richards, MD, was one of the 20 participants. Below is her perspective on the workshop.
The ASH Clinical Research Training Institute is a perfect example of the adage "good things come in small packages." Having heard wonderful things about the weeklong workshop and terrific mentoring experience from previous attendees, I was thrilled when my application was accepted. Now in hindsight, I can say that the experience was even better than I expected. In part, this is due the commitment and dedication of the ASH faculty, many of whom have returned year after year to donate their precious time. But, another big part of the ASH Clinical Research Training Institute’s success lies in the design of the institute itself. Admitting only 20 senior fellows/junior faculty members and limiting the Clinical Research Training Institute to several short, focused meetings (a weeklong workshop in August, a session at this annual meeting, and a short meeting at ASH headquarters in the spring) allow this "small package" to have a huge impact.
The week in lovely Dana Point, CA was structured to provide the optimal blend of didactic teaching and hands-on experience. Mornings were dedicated to lectures on topics ranging from career development to grant writing to clinical trial design. Afternoons were generally spent in small group sessions refining the specific clinical trial design we had proposed as part of our application to the workshop. This provided a tangible product at the end of the week, giving us something to show for our efforts and something we could put into action immediately upon returning to our respective institutions. The collaborative, small-group meetings gave us a chance to have hands-on experience with trial-design issues and get input from group leaders who are knowledgeable in the field of clinical hematology research. The cooperation and camaraderie among the group members and leaders made the experience a pleasure.
But to describe just the nuts and bolts of the workshop doesn't truly do it justice. There was something intangible happening outside the classroom that was probably equally beneficial to our future careers as academic hematologists. The workshop was intensive, but the organizers were wise to leave some informal time for interactions among the trainees and instructors. With only 20 participants, I got to know everyone almost immediately. Now I have 19 other friends and colleagues around the country whom I am delighted to know personally, and who are invaluable resources for future collaborations and other professional interactions. Furthermore, those who become Clinical Research Training Institute faculty are clearly interested in mentoring, which made the environment richly interactive and supportive. The advice I received during our informal interactions has definitely helped to guide my career and research plans. The career retrospectives that often accompanied dinner were inspiring. I look forward to our future meetings this year to see how everyone’s research is progressing.
In summary, the ASH Clinical Research Training Institute is a wonderful experience that efficiently accomplishes its goal to help launch the careers of aspiring academic hematologists. I would strongly encourage any trainee interested in this type of career path to take advantage of all that the Clinical Research Training Institute has to offer. It is truly a package you don’t want to miss.
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