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UTHSC AND ST. JUDE AWARDED NIH CLINICAL TRAINING GRANT

 

            Memphis, Tennessee (October 14, 2005) – Ronald I. Shorr, MD, MS, associate professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), and Patricia M. Flynn, MD, MS, professor, Department of Infectious Diseases at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, were recently awarded a five-year $1.5 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant.

Generated by the UTHSC Department of Preventive Medicine, the grant will focus on improving and expanding multidisciplinary clinical research training and mentoring new clinical investigators. The ultimate goal is to establish a Clinical Research Track that will enhance the current Master of Science in Epidemiology program (MSE). This award will improve training accessibility in three ways: by offering web-based, self-paced learning with four core courses in clinical research, by establishing scholarships for qualified students, and by enhancing mentoring of clinical fellows and junior faculty interested in clinical research.

“We will build on the strengths of UTHSC and St. Jude which provide a rich environment of clinical research activities and experienced senior research faculty,” said Dr. Flynn. “This collaboration also allows us to leverage the General Clinical Research Center, the 21^st Century Scholars program, and the UTHSC Centers of Excellence. We will also draw on the tremendous talent from the UTHSC Colleges of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy, making this a truly multidisciplinary project.”

Dr. Shorr noted, “The Department of Preventive Medicine and its masters program in epidemiology have been the backbone of education in clinical research for UTHSC and ST. Jude since 1997.  We are pleased that we have received external recognition for the quality of this program and the resources to expand its offerings.”

Dr. Flynn, also a professor at UTHSC, received her medical degree from the Louisiana State University Medical Center and a master’s degree in epidemiology from the UTHSC College of Graduate Health Sciences. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases at UTHSC and St. Jude. Widely published in refereed journals in the areas of pediatric infectious diseases and oncology, she has also written nearly 30 book chapters and review articles and has been invited to lecture both nationally and internationally.

Dr. Shorr is also associate director of medical education at Methodist Healthcare. He received his medical degree from Ohio State University and a master’s degree in epidemiology from Case Western Reserve University.  Completing postdoctoral fellowships in geriatric medicine from William S. Middleton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Madison, Wis., and Case Western Reserve University, he also obtained a fellowship in pharmacoepidemiology from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Shorr is widely published in the field of geriatric medicine.

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