Department of Medicine
Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine
Fellowship Program
The research fellowship within the Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine offers a variety of research training opportunities with faculty mentors. Faculty areas of research interest include obesity, nutrition, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer prevention. Both MDs and PhDs are encouraged to apply. The research fellowship includes a comprehensive program of research and clinical activities (80%/20%) for candidates with clinical degrees, with many clinical activities being part of ongoing research projects within the Division. The fellow’s plan of research activities is designed collaboratively by the fellow and mentor to meet his or her specific training needs and interests, and to provide exposure to a variety of research activities in the fields of behavioral medicine that are of interest to the fellow. Weekly supervision occurs by the fellow’s research mentor or mentors. It is expected that fellows will submit at least one NIH grant proposal (e.g., K23 career development grant) during the fellowship period. When the fellow has secured funding, opportunities exist for transition to a junior faculty position, and this is strongly encouraged.
In addition to resources available within the Division, other development opportunities exist and are available to fellows, through the UMMS Office of Faculty Affairs. This office offers a wide array of programs to help fellows and Faculty advance their competencies, develop collaborative relationships with colleagues, enrich the UMMS faculty community, and enhance personal growth. The Mentoring Program developed by Dr. Ockene also is available to fellows. This program supports mentoring for professional and personal development in teaching, research, patient care and leadership. It provides junior faculty with input from experienced and successful faculty in an informal, confidential and non-evaluative manner. Additional training opportunities include participation in national conferences sponsored by professional organizations such as the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Society for Epidemiological Research, Association for the Advancement of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and the Obesity Society. Fellows are encouraged to participate in an intensive grant writing course offered within the Department of Medicine and taught by Stephenie Lemon, Ph.D., a faculty member from our Division. In addition, fellows are encouraged to apply for the Summer Institute on Design and Conduct of Randomized Clinical Trials Involving Behavioral Interventions sponsored by NIH.
Clinical resources also are available to fellows during their research training at UMMS. The UMMS’s clinical partner is UMass Memorial Health Care, the largest health care system in Central and Western Massachusetts. It is a not-for-profit, integrated health care system designed to provide all levels of health care, from primary to tertiary. UMass Memorial Health Care delivers care through the UMass Memorial Medical Center, four member hospitals, UMass Memorial Medical Group, University Commons Nursing Care Center, Fairlawn Nursing Home, Highlands Long-term Care Facility, Community HealthLink, Diversified Visiting Nurses Association and UMass Memorial Home Health and Hospice. This clinical infrastructure is a wonderful resource for studies of obesity, nutrition, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes in populations with special needs and co-morbidities. Please contact Fellowship Director, Dr. Sherry Pagoto (508-856-2092, sherry.pagoto@umassmed.edu) for more information.