Seminars and Other Activities

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KL2 Career Development Awards Seminar
The practicum research experience includes a weekly Career Development Seminar in which all KL2 Scholars and their mentors will present their current research in progress and their ideas for future clinical research projects. This seminar is attended by KL2 Scholars, mentors, research team leaders, enabling technology team leaders and the KL2 leadership. This seminar is interactive and multidisciplinary by nature. Presentations are structured to review the current literature and background in the field, to identify important research questions, to define the potential of and need for multidisciplinary research agendas to move the field forward, and to solicit input from everyone in attendance.

Initially, KL2 Scholars will present their research proposals and research project development. Subsequent presentations will evolve as their clinical research projects evolve, with data collection, data management, data analysis and dissemination of results. Ultimately the KL2 Scholars will also be presenting their ideas for grant proposals to get input and feedback. As this seminar evolves in subsequent years, new and more seasoned KL2 Scholars will be able to share ideas and experiences and serve as junior mentors to the newer KL2 Scholars.

Large conference room in the CRTC

Presentations will also be given by mentors, members of the Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee (MAC), team leaders, and enabling technology team leaders to promote an understanding of the diverse disciplines and technologies represented and available for mentoring and assisting the KL2 Scholar’s development. This seminar will be structured to facilitate continuing education credits for diverse disciplines including medicine, surgery, nursing, pharmacy and other graduate programs. Attendance and participation will be tracked.

Evaluations will be performed for each seminar to solicit feedback from the participants about how to maximize the learning potential for all participants. These evaluations will be used to provide feedback to speakers, facilitators and mentors. Feedback will also be used to help tailor subsequent presentations to improve the success of the seminar.

This seminar will be open to all interested participants and will be advertised widely through posted flyers, institution-wide e-mail broadcasts and website postings. Each year the seminar will begin with extensive introductions and background information on all participants to facilitate interactions and collaborations.

KL2 Scholar Practicum Retreat / CRTC Career Development Retreat
A one-half day KL2 Scholar Practicum Retreat is held annually to facilitate professional and social interaction among the KL2 Scholars, mentors, team leaders, and the MAC members. At this annual retreat, KL2 Scholars present their work by giving short talks followed by discussion and interaction with all the attendees.

In addition, a one-half day CRTC Career Development Retreat will be held.  At this retreat, specific presentations are given on topics to facilitate the career development of the KL2 Scholars. Examples include: identifying funding streams, successful grant writing, managing budgets, managing conflict in the workplace, encouraging collaborative multidisciplinary teams, encouraging gender and racial diversity in the workplace, keys to successful verbal and poster presentations, setting personal and professional goals, and giving and getting performance appraisals.

The retreats include opportunities for social interaction and networking. Although CRTC Career Development Retreat is designed for KL2 Scholar development and to enhance team building across multiple disciplines, it will be open to other faculty, fellows and trainees from the entire campus, including participants in the CRTC Postdoctoral and Predoctoral Programs, Doris Duke Clinical Research Program, and other K12 training grants. Evaluations of the retreat will be solicited from all participants through a structured instrument. Summaries of the evaluations from the retreat will be discussed with the MAC and used to develop and improve subsequent retreats.

NIH Annual Meeting
Each scholar’s expenses will be paid to attend the annual meeting of the national CTSA KL2 Scholar meeting each year. This 2-3 day national meeting will give KL2 Scholars the opportunity to present his/her work at a national meeting, meet and interact with other KL2 scholars and clinical research colleagues from across the nation, hear about other multidisciplinary clinical research at other CTSA-awarded institutions, and to meet and network with clinical research leaders from the NIH. Scholars will be expected to attend this meeting annually while in the program and to present their research as a poster or a talk.