Over the course of their lives the average American will undergo nearly nine surgical procedures, many related to diseases of the digestive track or conditions associated with obesity. Despite being some of the most commonly performed interventions, most of these procedures have not been subjected to rigorous scientific evaluation. For almost all of these procedures, fundamental questions regarding surgical epidemiology, clinical effectiveness, best practices to accomplish best outcomes, population-level results, patient-reported perspectives, and cost considerations have yet to be addressed. As healthcare delivery is reformed and as we strive towards building a learning healthcare system, addressing these questions is critical. To address this need, we started the Gastrointestinal Surgical Outcomes Research Postdoctoral Fellowship.

This NIDDK-funded fellowship involves didactic training and practical experience in advanced research methodology focused on interventions related to the gastrointestinal system, obesity, and obesity-associated conditions. The training is focused in six areas:

1. Research using observational data.
2. Patient-centered outcome and preference assessment.
3. Health economics and behavioral economics.
4. Implementation and health systems science.
5. Clinical / translational research.
6. Research operations management.

The didactic component of this fellowship includes coursework that results in a Masters of Public Health (MPH) or Masters in Science (MS) degree through the University of Washington School of Public Health. The T32 Fellows will also participate in unique community, regional, and national research initiatives including Washington State’s Comparative Effectiveness Research Translation Network (CERTAIN).

Current Fellows: David Droullard, MD, Alex Lois, MD, Joshua Rosen, MD, and Irene Zhang, MD
Past Fellows: Kathryn Stadeli, MD, John Monu, MD, Steve Kwon, MD, MPH, Timo Hakkarainen, MD, MS, F. Thurston Drake, MD, MPH, Meera Kotagal, MD, MPH, Vlad Simianu, MD, MPH, Ann Ehlers, MD, MPH, Lucas Thornblade, MD, MPH, Matthew Bartek, MD, MPH, and Francys Verdial, MD, MPH, Erin Fennern, MD, MPH, and Kavita Pandit, MD

More information on the fellows including their research interests can be accessed here: Resident Research Current Projects >>

For more information on qualifications to apply, click here (.pdf)>>. Interested candidates may contact Director, Dr. David Flum, at sorce@uw.edu to discuss research opportunities. Two fellowship positions are now available each year. Fellowship positions begin annually on July 1. Please note that applications are due 17 months prior to the fellowship start date. We are currently accepting applications for July 2022 positions.

Applications will open for 2022 positions on March 15, 2021. Applications will be reviewed and admission decisions made on a rolling basis.

To apply, please complete the online application. You will be asked to upload the following documents to your application form:

1. A current curriculum vitae.
2. A 2-3 page letter of interest, outlining your research interests as they relate to the program, your career goals, current positions and progress towards your goals, and how this position would contribute to your goals.
3. (Optional) A brief personal statement:  SORCE welcomes fellows who have varied cultural experiences and values the contributions that fellows from differing backgrounds contribute to the intellectual and social environment of the fellowship program. A personal statement should tell reviewers about your experiences, background, and perspectives that you would bring to the SORCE fellowship. You may also wish to include information about your special interests or skills that are not covered elsewhere in your application.
4. (if applicable) Letters of reference: you are asked to submit 2-3 letters of reference, which can either be uploaded along with your other application materials or submitted under separate cover to sorceOBFUSCATEuw.edu.

This fellowship is supported by the National Institute Of Diabetes And Digestive And Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number T32DK070555. The research content is solely the responsibility of the Investigators and Fellows and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.