If you have a passion for research and are looking for a way to improve health care for Veterans, the Advanced Fellowships in Health Systems Research (HSR) around the country may be just what you’re looking for.
It’s a program perfect for early career post-doctoral candidates and board-certified physicians who are interested in pushing boundaries in health care delivery. The innovations that come out of this program result in high quality, innovative, patient-centric care for the nation’s Veterans.
About the fellowships
The Advanced Fellowships in Health Systems Research are 2-year, post-doctoral research fellowships with interdisciplinary training in health systems competencies. These competencies include:
- Systems science
- Research questions
- Research methods
- Informatics
- Ethics
- Improvement and implementation science
- Leadership skills to engage stakeholders and implement change initiatives
- Equity and justice
Fellows in the program participate in a mentored research experience as part of VA’s nationwide health care system, with an optional, specialized pathway in Rural Healthcare Policy and Delivery Systems.
In addition to the educational and research opportunities available through these fellowships, fellows also have access to networking and collaboration in the national VA Health Systems Research (HSR) and academic health services research communities.
These programs can also serve as a pathway to a VA career with post-fellowship research opportunities (e.g., VA’s Career Development Award, VA Office of Rural Health Rural Scholars Fellowship) and clinical positions.
While they are under no obligation to do so, fellows are encouraged to seek VA employment after their 2-year term, and program faculty are available to provide career counseling and assistance in finding a permanent home at VA.
Follow in the footsteps of fellows
HSR Fellows make an impact with research breakthroughs in key areas. Their research not only improves Veteran care at VA, but also health care delivery for the entire nation, as evidenced by this sample of participants from the Iowa City fellowship.
- Dr. Lexi Pratt has a PhD in Occupational and Environment Health and is focusing her research on understanding the health consequences of toxic exposures, which supports VA’s work to provide health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances. She has published “Disability Claims for Female Veterans Exposed to Contaminated Water at Marina Base Camp Lejeune” in Military Medicine.
- Dr. AM Racila, a PhD-trained anthropologist, is focused on reproductive health research, as well as the health and health care needs of sexual and gender minorities. He recently presented on the methodological considerations of assessing sexual and gender minorities in health surveys at a national conference.
- During his fellowship, Dr. Matt Smith, an internal medicine physician, focused on the environmental impacts of health care delivery. He has published “Single-Use vs. Reusable Duodenoscopes: How Infection Knowledge Gaps Are Driving Environmental Harm and What Can Be Done” in Gastroenterology, as well as a commentary published in JAMA titled, “Infection prevention, planetary health, and single-use plastics.”
How to apply
The Advanced Fellowships in Health Systems Research are open to MDs and PhDs who are United States citizens.
For PhD or equivalent-trained individuals, education in fields relevant to health care is required, which can include economics, statistics, epidemiology, public health, health policy, psychology, anthropology, sociology, communications, and more.
The fellowships may also be open to physicians and dentists who have completed residency training, as well as nurses, pharmacists, and clinical psychologists with doctoral training (e.g., PhD in nursing or DNP, PharmD, PhD in clinical psychology).
You can learn more about these fellowships at the Health Systems Research website, which includes further eligibility and application guidelines for each program.
Work at VA
Make a difference in the lives of Veterans through this unique fellowship program, and learn more about the ways VA supports research and education.
- EXPLORE VA’s education support programs.
- LEARN about innovation at VA.
- APPLY to the Advanced Fellowships in Health Systems Research.
