By By Dale Bixby, MD, PhD
2009-03-01
Dr. Bixby is a Fellow in the Division of Hematology and Oncology
in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan.
He is a member of the ASH Trainee Council.
Training to become an effective clinician and researcher in
hematology has become an extremely lengthy and complex activity.
Currently, 1,348 Associate members of ASH include physicians enrolled
in programs leading to certification in multiple hematology-related
clinical disciplines as well as non-physicians enrolled in pre- and
post-doctoral research training programs. One goal of the ASH Trainee
Council is to assist this increasingly diverse set of trainees in
navigating through the complex pathways of their career development by
defining and tracking specific milestones. The Council has recently
completed an extensive enhancement of Web-based resources for this
purpose on the ASH Web site,
under Career Planning. This updated section can be used by clinical and
non-clinical trainees and their mentors to plan their specific
educational objectives and to mark important milestones in their
progression through training.
A “Career Timeline for MD Trainees”
aids fellows by breaking down their education and research objectives
according to the clinical year of training. “Continuous priorities”
(those relevant throughout the training period) such as frequent
mentoring meetings and participation in research and writing
opportunities, are detailed. First-year priorities, including
identifying a research mentor and outlining and refining research
opportunities, are subsequently outlined. The second-year objectives
focus on initiating research opportunities and identifying possible
grant prospects, including the ASH Research Training Award for Fellows.
The third-year page focuses on continuing research and the need to
prepare an objective review of the fellow’s clinical and research
activities, which will allow for expedited applications and interviews
for employment opportunities. Embedded links, such as the ASH Job Bank, allow visitors to easily access a number of internal and external resources, many of which have been developed by the Trainee Council.
The “Career Timeline for PhD Students”
was developed to assist the growing number of PhD graduate students who
participate in ASH activities. This tool is organized around the three
“classical” phases of training revolving around the qualifying exam. On
the pre-examination page, numerous suggestions are made regarding
course work and identifying the optimal mentor — the most important
part of a student’s career. Links to critical questions that trainees
need to ask of possible mentors and additional suggestions for
screening prospective research laboratory prospects are provided. Near
the time of the qualifying examination, PhD candidates should also be
actively focusing on conducting research and identifying collaborations
that will extend their reach well beyond the confines of their primary
laboratory. Suggestions are made to prepare students for their exam and
to enhance their research experience. Finally, after successful
completion of the qualifying exam, trainees can focus on enhancing and
finalizing their thesis research project, publishing their results, and
beginning the hunt for post-doctoral positions while writing their
dissertations. A number of links, including a direct link to the ASH Grants Clearinghouse,
which allows direct access to information on more than 80 awards for
both clinical and non-clinical trainees, provides helpful advice and
recommendations for optimal career development.
Hematology practice and research are becoming increasingly
multi-disciplinary in nature, and training programs have necessarily
become ever more complex. The new ASH Career Timelines attempt to
detail critical milestones that trainees should concentrate on during
their academic careers. We have highlighted important events and
opportunities during each cycle of the training, so that both clinical
and basic science students can plan for and succeed in their chosen
field. The ASH Trainee Council has created these Web pages for the
trainee, but encourages both students and those who mentor them to
visit the site when constructing a training roadmap. By preparing for
and maintaining a steady progression throughout training, today doesn’t
have to be the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.
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