UIC SPH Online Program Broadens Job Opportunities For Medical Professionals Everywhere

Clinicians all over the world, who wish to fill a growing need for team leaders in research, can now get the training required to accomplish this goal, without even leaving their own homes.

The Health Policy and Administration Division of the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health is launching a new online graduate certificate program in Clinical Research Methods. The program is expected to attract doctors, pharmacists, nurses, dentists, and physical and occupational therapists.

“Clinicians wanting to enhance their research skills are most likely to benefit from this program,” said Jack Zwanziger, UIC SPH Director of the Health Policy and Administration Division.

The new program was established based on the increasing need for clinical researchers who are trained to translate clinical knowledge into practice in order to deliver high quality care. Recognizing this need, the National Institutes of Health has increased funding for clinical research.

“There is a growing demand for clinically trained health professionals who are familiar with the research skills required to lead multi-disciplinary clinical and translational research teams,” Zwanziger said.

The CRM certificate is offered entirely online by experienced research faculty at the fully-accredited UIC SPH, and consists of five courses including Contexts for Clinical Research, Clinical Research Methods I and II, Data Collection and Management for Clinical Research and Evaluating Clinical Interventions.

The courses promote student and faculty interaction through online discussion groups and the use of virtual collaboration sessions. Course objectives are assessed by participation in discussion, quizzes and assignments. Each student will receive graduate credit for the classes successfully completed, which could be transferred toward the fulfillment of the UIC Master of Science in Clinical and Translational Sciences degree program.

Between now and 2016, employment of medical scientists is expected to increase 20 percent faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.

Zwanziger said these job opportunities include clinical investigators.

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited university is the minimum requirement for admission to the CRM program, developed through the UIC Center for Clinical and Translational Science Research Education, Training and Career Development Program. For additional information on admissions, visit www.clinicalresearch.uic.edu.

-- Tina Daniel