Health Equity Academic Research in Pediatric Hospital Medicine (HEAR-PHM) Program

Children'S Research Institute, Washington DC

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The Health Equity Academic Research in Pediatric Hospital Medicine (HEAR-PHM) will build capacity to address disparities across the acute-care continuum by both delivering a health equity research curriculum to pediatric hospitalists and supporting a research-focused academic workforce within Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM). Disparities have been identified across the spectrum of care and conditions for the hospitalized child. Although responses to address disparities in pediatric care need to be multi-factorial, key strategies include developing expertise in health equity research and fostering a well-trained academic workforce. A dedicated focus on increasing researchers in the pediatric workforce has been identified as a national priority. Pediatric hospitalists are uniquely positioned to lead changes in inpatient healthcare delivery because their clinical practice spans multiple domains; PHM is a young subspeciality that has opportunities to address health inequities for hospitalized children and needs specialized health equity research training. To address this critical gap, we propose the Health Equity Academic Research in Pediatric Hospital Medicine (HEAR-PHM) to build capacity to address disparities across the acute-care continuum and support a well-trained academic workforce in PHM. HEAR-PHM program seeks to (1): Prepare PHM scholars to lead health-equity research in the care of hospitalized children. We will equip scholars (PHM fellows and junior faculty) with a background in health-equity research skills, and support completion of an impactful, rigorous capstone research project focused on child health equity; (2). Enhance health equity research in PHM. We will recruit early career pediatric hospitalist scholars across the country with an interest in advancing their careers in health equity research; (3). Build a repository of health-equity research resources to support the train-the-trainer model for PHM scholars. We will develop an online platform to support the health-equity research lectures, develop a toolkit for scholars to train others, and provide opportunities for scholars to share their experiences and knowledge locally and nationally. Children’s National Hospital is well-position to lead this national program as it is one of the oldest and largest PHM programs in the country, and CNH has long-standing expertise in medical education, translational research, and community-based programs. HEAR-PHM program directors are national PHM leaders with strong reputation as educators and researchers, and program scholars will leave the program with enhanced health equity research capabilities related to the mission of NICHD.