Vice President's Clinical and Translational (VPCAT) Research Scholars Program

 

The VPCAT Research Scholars Program has been designed to offer intensive mentorship and support to early-stage faculty members engaged in clinical and translational research in transitioning to accomplished, funded principal investigators.

VPCAT leverages the resources of our institution to augment departmental resources in support of junior faculty investigators using a holistic framework, the Matrix Mentoring Model, that includes five levels of mentorship: self, scientific, peer, senior, and staff. During the 2-year program, scholars receive training in scientific career development, grant writing and management, and leadership designed to create empowered principal investigators. 

This is a competitive program that incorporates:

• Formal and informal mentoring

• Structured curriculum focused on leadership competencies and essential knowledge and practical skills to be an effective clinical and translational researcher

• Access to resources to facilitate appropriate study design, collection of pilot data, and preparation and submission of competitive grant applications.

For further details, see the Overview of Formal Participation in the VPCAT Program and the VPCAT Scholar Handbook. 

Latest News

Sep 15, 2021

COVID-19 Update, September 14, 2021

Emergency Med, coronavirus

Thanks to high vaccination rates among U faculty and students, COVID-19 cases on campus are very low. Nationally, cases and deaths have begun leveling off. In Utah, however, cases are rising. Hospitalizations and ICU usage have reached levels not seen since fall 2020. Utah’s accelerating case rate among the unvaccinated is now at more than 80 cases per 100K people. By contrast, the case rate for vaccinated people is just over 10 per 100K. With rising cases among children ages 1-14, we are closely tracking developments regarding potential vaccinations for that age group. ... Read More

Sep 14, 2021

From Industrial Engineer to Chief Quality Officer

University Hospital, quality, outcomes

Initially hired as U of U Health's first non-clinician quality improvement specialist, Sandi Gulbransen is drawing on her background as an industrial engineer and her own patient experience in her current role as Chief Quality Officer. Building on our proven track record in quality and safety, Gulbransen is leading the next evolution of quality—being accountable for the outcomes of our patients. Prioritizing the needs of our community and equitable care are critical to our future success. ... Read More

Sep 07, 2021

Ambitious Agenda for Dentistry

Wellness and Integrative Health,Community Clinics, pharmacy, primary care

As he begins his second five years as dean of the School of Dentistry (SOD), Rory Hume explains plans to concentrate on three vital initiatives: building on the school’s clinical network so it becomes even more integrated into the University of Utah Health network, building on SOD research activities that focus on the relationship between oral health and overall health, and increasing the diversity of students, staff, and faculty. ... Read More

Sep 03, 2021

Beyond the Drug Store

Wellness and Integrative Health,Community Clinics, pharmacy, primary care

The pharmacy profession has expanded. Pharmacists do much more than move pills from a big bottle to a small bottle in a neighborhood drug store. Many still work behind a counter on Main Street. But pharmacists are also involved as members of multidisciplinary clinical teams. From the corner drug store to your medical providers’ office, they act as the primary source of drug-related information for other health care professionals. As varied as these roles may be, both retail pharmacists and pharmacotherapy specialists have the same primary responsibility: ensuring patients get safe, appropriate, and effective medications. ... Read More

Sep 01, 2021

COVID-19 Update, August 31, 2021

Emergency Med, coronavirus

We are seeing a continuing spread of coronavirus across the United State and Utah is no exception. As of yesterday, one in 138 Utahns have an active coronavirus infection and they are each transmitting the virus to more than one other individual. The Delta variant is more virulent, which means that our hospital rates continue to increase—currently at levels nearing the peak at this time last year. Pandemics do end, but only with the help of broad vaccination across our community.... Read More

Aug 23, 2021

The Classroom of Rural Experience

rural health care

As the state’s only academic medical center, University of Utah Health plays a vital role in bringing essential health care—and health education—to both rural and urban areas of our state. Thanks to large grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration, we are developing a customized curriculum to prepare our trainees to practice medicine in these underserved areas. ... Read More