General Internal Medicine Research Fellowship Program

The fellowship is a 2-year (with a 3rd year option) program funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The program includes formal training in research methodology leading to an optional Masters degree, an intensive mentored research experience, and training in all aspects of professional academic life, including grant and manuscript writing, clinical teaching, research and educational presentations, and critical review of the literature. 

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Candidates must be board-eligible in internal medicine and a U.S. citizen. The fellowship includes health care benefits, vacation, tuition, and travel stipends. Salary is based on PGY level. Personal work space with office support and access to CCDOR resources are provided.

Start dates for fellowships are flexible but summer is preferred. Applications are accepted for review on a rolling basis.

Application Material

• Cover letter stating career interests and fellowship goals
• Curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation
• Writing sample

Where to Send Your Application

Email: CCDOR.Fellowship@va.gov 

USPS Mail

Elisheva Danan, MD, MPH, Co-Director
Advanced Fellowship in Health Services Research
Minneapolis VA Medical Center (152)
One Veterans Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55417

The fellowship is housed primarily at the Minneapolis VA’s CCDOR. Founded in 1998, CCDOR is an interdisciplinary community of professionals conducting methodologically rigorous, clinically relevant research intended primarily to improve the health care of veterans. The Center supports over 50 funded projects and an annual budget of over $9 million. There are currently 31 PhD and MD core investigators, 10 affiliate investigators, 13 in the biostatistics and data core, and additional research and administrative support staff. In addition, there is an active post-doctoral training program for PhD investigators. More information about CCDOR can be found here.

Each fellow is paired with a primary mentor who is responsible for the overall success of the fellow’s career and professional development. Additional content or methodology mentors may be added to the team, as necessary. CCDOR supports a formal mentoring program that includes written materials, close oversight of the mentoring process by the fellowship director, ongoing training of mentors, and protected time for senior investigators to engage in formal mentoring.

Course Work

Fellows may complete coursework that leads to either an MPH in epidemiology or an MS in clinical research through the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Tuition is covered.

Conferences and Seminars

Each month, fellows participate in journal clubs as well as research, teaching, and clinical conferences and workshops. Formal training in systematic reviews is offered.

Independent Research Projects

Fellows develop, pursue and complete 2-3 independent research projects with the guidance of mentors of their choosing.

Training in Medical Education

Fellows gain expertise in medical education including program development and evaluation. Fellows participate in workshops and seminars, directed independent reading and clinical experience with feedback from faculty.

Training in General Medicine

Fellows further their expertise in general medicine and chronic disease management. The fellowship offers a wide range of clinical experiences including a Primary Care Continuity Clinic, a Women’s Comprehensive Health Center and a Geriatric Rehabilitation and Education Clinical Center (GRECC).

Active Areas of Research Within CCDOR

• Chronic Pain and Opioid Harms Reduction
• Trauma Recovery
• Tobacco Cessation
• Health Aging
• Evidence Synthesis
• Disease Prevention/Health Promotion
• Preventive Cardiology
• Cancer Detection and Prevention
• Benign and Malignant Urological Diseases
• Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment; Women’s Health
• Mental Health
• Substance Abuse
• PTSD
• Sexual Trauma
• Patient Disease Self-management
• Quality of Care
• Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Health Care
• Learning Health Systems

Research methodology includes clinical trials, observational epidemiology, systematic reviews and meta-analysis, surveys, database analyses, and economic analyses. Formal Cores nested within CCDOR include an Evidence Synthesis Core, a Patient Engagement Core, and an Implementation Science Core.

Veterans Health Administration and Minneapolis VA Health Care System

The Veterans Health Administration is a comprehensive healthcare system for the nation’s veterans and the largest managed care system in the United States. The Minneapolis VA Health Care System is a large teaching hospital with 237 acute care diagnostic and treatment beds, as well as a 104 bed extended care unit. The medical center provides primary, specialty, mental and behavioral health, extended care, and rehabilitative care to over 45,000 veteran patients. It has one of the largest education and training programs in the VA system and is affiliated with the University of Minnesota Schools of Medicine and Dentistry.