Center for Global Women's Health​

This postdoctoral program focuses on research training to promote health in vulnerable populations; specifically women, children, and families. Specific aims are to train nurse scientists to:

1) study multi-system level factors that contribute to health disparities among vulnerable women, children, and families; 2) develop expertise in cutting-edge, culturally-appropriate, interdisciplinary research strategies with the potential to identify and reduce health disparities, with a particular focus on bio-behavioral, descriptive, and intervention methods; 3) collaborate with a diverse group of interdisciplinary scientists, community leaders, and anticipated beneficiaries of interventions in a mutually instructive fashion to promote health in vulnerable women, children, and families; 4) develop values, critical thinking, communication skills, and research expertise that address the power differentials that create, sustain, or augment health disparities in vulnerable populations.

In this five-year competitive-renewal training program, four post-doctoral trainees will be supported annually. When training is completed, they will be positioned to use novel methods to make significant contributions to the health care of vulnerable people and their families. Our goal is for these trainees to contribute in sustainable ways to a critical mass of scholars whose lines of inquiry will illuminate, reduce, and eliminate health disparities in vulnerable women, children, and families.

Contact Information
Marilyn S. Sommers PhD, RN, FAAN
Director of the Center for Global Women's Health
sommers@nursing.upenn.edu

Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research​

 This interdisciplinary postdoctoral program of study comprises the conceptual and empirical foundations and the methodological approaches and statistical tools of advanced outcomes research. Research training in this program directly interfaces with related pre- and post-doctoral training programs across the University of Pennsylvania providing a network of educational opportunities for fellows that augment the rich experiences offered within the School of Nursing. The program is guided by the conceptual framework of the Quality Health Outcomes Model postulating that outcomes of nursing interventions are mediated by the organizational context in which care takes place and the characteristics of patients. Thus research fellows receive state of the science education in the measurement of the organizational context of care, patient risk adjustment methods, and nurse sensitive outcome measures. The program has as its goal the development of a cadre nurse researchers whose work will advance nursing science through rigorous testing and validation of this conceptual model for nursing outcomes research. The present grant funds four post-doctoral fellows.

The program will continue its basic focus on identification of research questions of high relevance to clinical nursing practice, evidence-based management, and health policy, and the acquisition of knowledge of advanced quantitative methods to address important questions. New directions include 1) the integration of population health including the increased prevalence of chronic health conditions into research on the outcomes of nursing care, and 2) advances in translational research strategies and methods. This program produces nurse researchers who will create the knowledge base leading to patient-centered health care services that are safe and effective. They will discover through scientific research how to improve patient outcomes and attract and retain a qualified nurse workforce. Most will also educate the next generation of professional nurses.

Contact Information
Linda Aiken PhD, FAAN, FRCN, RN
Director of the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research
laiken@nursing.upenn.edu

New Courtland Center for Transitions and Health​

This program focuses on research training investigating individualized care for at-risk older adults. The program employs a conceptual framework of transitional care. Specifically, this training program is designed to:

1) prepare trainees with in-depth knowledge of key transition points for at risk older adults and the critical questions appropriate to the next iteration of research on this population; 2) provide intensive research experiences with seasoned mentors well-versed in methods appropriate to critical questions in aging and transitional care; 3) utilize the resources in the School of Nursing and the University to assure cross-center and interdisciplinary exposure and opportunities in transitions and aging research; and, 4) facilitate the conduct of clinically relevant research in aging transitions leading to significant contributions to the science.

This five year training program supports four post-doctoral trainees annually. Our goal is to contribute in sustainable ways to a critical mass of scholars in transitions and aging who will further the advancement of knowledge in gerontology, broaden a significant base in interdisciplinary aging research, and be positioned to contribute to the science of transitions and individualized care for at risk older adults.

Contact Information
Mary D. Naylor PhD, FAAN, RN
Director of the NewCourtland Center for Transitins and Health
naylor@nursing.upenn.edu

Criteria for Appointment of Post-Doctoral Fellows

The five most important criteria for appointment to a Post-Doctoral Fellowship associated with a T32 institutional training grant are the:

• Match with the overall goals and objectives of the training grant and affiliated Center;
• Match with the T32 and Center-affiliated faculty advisor;
• Scholarly potential for nursing science inquiry that has a high impact;
• Commitment to a research career in a research-intensive environment;
• Scholarly productivity during and/or after the research doctoral training.

Candidates for Fellowship will be competitively evaluated based on the above criteria. We value a diverse population of Post-Doctoral Fellows with a strong commitment to nursing science, focused motivation, and an academic record that demonstrates a high level of intellectual achievement and curiosity.