ANNOUNCEMENT
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
AHRQ Patient Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR)
Institutional Career Development Program (K12)
Applications now open
Program Description
Scholars supported through this program will complete mentored research projects that must emphasize
specialized focus on patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR). For purposes of this announcement, PCOR is
defined as the conduct and synthesis of research that compares the benefits and harms of different interventions
and strategies to prevent, diagnose, treat and monitor health conditions in clinical practice settings to inform
decision making. The Penn K12 program is specifically focused on evaluating interventions at the organizational or
policy levels that may impact patient outcomes.
The purpose of PCOR is to improve health outcomes by developing and disseminating evidence-based information
to patients, clinicians, policy makers, and health care administrators, responding to their expressed needs about
which clinical and health system design interventions are most effective for which patients under specific
circumstances. Programs and scholars appointed to the programs must focus the content on health care delivery
within the United States.
Scholarship Award
This institutional career development program is intended to provide for two years of continuous, full-time, 12month support for one cohort of scholars, and is not renewable. Scholars should be committed to two years of
training and to a career in PCOR that also aims at the integration of evidence into practice and decision-making in
the United States’ health care system. Post-doctoral candidates with different levels of prior research training and
at different stages in their training and career development may be appointed as scholars.
Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Scholar Eligibility Requirements
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Post-doctoral research career development is for individuals who have received a PhD, MD, DDS, DMD,
DC, DO, DVM, OD, DPM, ScD, EngD, DrPH, DNSc, DPT, PharmD., ND, DSW, PsyD, or equivalent doctoral
degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution.
Individuals are eligible for placement as a scholar if they have been, or currently are the PD/PI of an NIH
or AHRQ R36, F31, or F32 grant or a Federal or non-Federal award that duplicates the provisions or
research goals of these grants. The scholar will have to terminate the existing award before being
appointed to the K12.
Individuals are NOT eligible for appointment as scholars if they are current or former PIs on any research
project (R01, R03), program project (P01), center grants, FIRST Awards (R29), sub-projects of program
projects (P01) or center grants, other career development Awards (K- awards), or the equivalent types of
awards from any other source of funding.
At the time of appointment to the career development program, each scholar selected for research
training supported by K12 career development grants must be a citizen or non-citizen national of the
United States, or must have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence, i.e., in
possession of a currently valid Permanent Resident Card (USCIS Form I-551), or some other legal
verification of legal admission as a permanent resident.
Application Deadline: September 30, 2012
Earliest Award Start Date November 1, 2012
Application Process
Interested candidates must submit the following application materials:
☐ Research proposal, 2 pages max. Summarizing the focus of the project, proposed methods and time line
☐ 1 paragraph statement discussing the intended impact of the award on the candidate’s career
development
☐ Curriculum Vitae
☐ Letter of support from a current or former mentor
Evaluation of Applications
Applications will be reviewed by an Advisory Committee composed of faculty from across the University.
Submit application via email to:
Samantha Fellman <safellm3@mail.med.upenn.edu>
Direct questions about the program to:
Joshua P. Metlay, MD, PhD, Program Director <jmetlay@mail.med.upenn.edu>
1232 Blockley Hall 423 Guardian
Drive Philadelphia, PA 19104