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FAQs

I am waiting to hear if I have gotten into a graduate program/post doctoral fellowship. Can I still apply to the DSECT Program?
Yes, you can still apply to this program while waiting to hear about acceptance into a graduate program or post doctoral fellowship. However, in order to take part in this training program, you must provide confirmation of acceptance into a graduate program or fellowship.

I am a clinician (physician, pharmacist, nurse, etc...). Can I apply to the DSECT program?
Yes, a clinician who has already completed their initial training (including residency, where applicable) is eligible to apply to the DSECT Program if they are currently engaged in or about to start post-graduate training.

I already have funding from an external trainee award (i.e. CIHR Doctoral Award). Will I be eligible to receive additional stipend funding if I am accepted into this program?
Stipend funding is not guaranteed for each applicant. Each request for a stipend will be evaluated on an individual basis as the regulations for holding concurrent awards will vary based on the funding agency, university, and university department. If you are not eligible to hold concurrent funding, you can continue to take part in the program without receiving a stipend if you are accepted into the program.

Can I defer enrollment if I am accepted into this program?
No, you cannot defer enrollment if accepted into this program. You will need to apply again if you are not able to accept placement into the program when you have received an offer.

I am not located in the Hamilton area? Can I still apply to this program?
Yes, you can still apply to the program if you are not located in the Hamilton area. Most program components will take place electronically using web-based technology. If accepted into the program, you will be required to attend a 2-day Spring Symposium in Hamilton, and all costs associated with attending the symposium will be covered by the program.

I have not done any work in the area of medications but am interested in learning more about this. Can I still apply to this program?
You do not need to have a thesis topic related to medications, but you should be able to demonstrate an interest in a research question related to medications that you would be able to explore throughout the program. It will be important to also show that you have the support of your supervisor to focus time in the area of therapeutics if this is not your primary area of focus.

What are the benefits of joining the DSECT Program?
As a trainee with this program, you will gain the following:

• Ability to work effectively within the CIHR cross-domain/interdisciplinary approach to research
• Experience and exposure in translating research into practice through interaction with health policy-makers
• Knowledge and skills to pursue quality cross-domain research in medication use as a practicing health professional, academic researcher, pharmaceutical industry representative, or government policy-maker
• Distinguished designation of “CIHR Strategic Training Fellow” on your Curriculum Vitae

What do you mean by "bridging scientific domains"?
The DSECT Program is designed to introduce and foster skill development in working with other disciplines and scientific domains. We expect that trainees who are focused in one area of study (e.g. basic, clinical, population health or health services), but who are also exposed to critical components from other areas of study can better foster scientific diversity and enable collaboration with those from other disciplines. This ability to understand the value of drawing on knowledge and skills from more than one scientific domain will lead to the creation of a researcher who: 1) can more successfully work collaboratively in multidisciplinary settings to address issues of drug safety and effectiveness in the real world; and 2) has a broader understanding of the inter-connectedness among scientific domains and how this relates to solving drug safety and effectiveness problems.

How are trainees evaluated in this program?
Upon acceptance into the program, trainees will be expected to complete a Learning Plan that outlines how they will meet each of the program's competencies. All trainees will need to meet the minimum requirements set out by the program. Trainees will connect regularly with their program mentors to ensure that training program requirements are being met.

What are the time commitment expectations?
The program takes one-year to complete and runs from April - March. The expected time commitment varies according to what time of year it is (attachment of the calendar overview from this program year). Trainees are expected to attend the program symposium in April, which is 2 full days. From then, trainees access our online sessions (via webconference and our curriculum site) with an average time commitment of about 4 – 8 hours per month – likely from April – Nov.  We don’t really define our sessions as courses – they are learning opportunities with a shorter time frame – there are approx 6 integrative sessions and a multitude of basic concepts sessions (trainees choose which area they are interested in) – the program is very self-paced and self-selective so the time commitment reflects that.  From Jan on, trainees are expected to participate in our OSKTE (Observed Structured Knowledge Translation Experience)  with one-full day time commitment (not including preparation). Trainees are also invited to participate in either a practicum or exposure within the drug safety & effectiveness setting – this time commitment varies greatly according to what you select (could be a couple of days job shadowing to 4 -  6 weeks involved in a project).  A seminar series that will take place once a month for one hour is planned for 2012-13.

What is expected in terms of program requirements from participants?
Requirements vary depending on the trainees’ learning plan. At the outset of the program, the trainees complete a plan in partnership with their primary and secondary (DSECT) mentors. This includes a checklist of curriculum activities that we provide – the checklist would address gaps in knowledge. All activities selected include some form of preliminary work and involvement through asynchronous or synchronous activities, discussions, etc.

What can the student expect from the program in terms of education or job opportunity? Is the program focused on technical knowledge or research skills that can be used in other domains?
Trainees will individualize their learning so depending on the intensity of their personal program a trainee will gain (1) a cross-domain approach to knowledge building so that trainees will have a broader perspective on other areas of drug safety and effectiveness research thatwill likely be more useful for future research projects or within a trainees first (or next) job and (2) some specific knowledge or skills through self-study modules, advanced courses, specific projects with a program mentor, or through a practicum.  So the focus can be on whatever the trainee needs to accomplish this (i.e., their selected domain they want to bridge to). We believe that trainees most suited to work in industry, government and academic institutions in fields related to pharmacology, therapeutics and related health services are too highly focused and lack flexibility in understanding how molecules move from bench to bedside; and so, may be less well equipped for the variety of industry, government, academic and other types of positions that require in-depth knowledge of pharmacotherapy. We strive to expose trainees to a combination of technical skills (i.e., through our basic concepts modules) and practical skill-building (i.e., through our OSKTE experience).

Is there an expectation to stay involved in the program after you have completed it?
The DSECT Program is a one-year program and trainees are expected to complete all program components within this timeframe. However, we anticipate ongoing correspondence with each trainee to track academic achievements and develop our alumni community. Therefore, you will receive requests to send us information from your CV as well as the completion of periodic evaluative surveys once you have ended the program. We also hope to host periodic events where current and alumni trainees can meet and interact.

What are the expectations for the trainees’ primary supervisor?
Expectations from the trainees’ supervisor: work in partnership with the trainees’ DSECT secondary mentor on the learning plan, support involvement in the learning activities contained within, attend the DSECT symposium, contribute to the DSECT curriculum through the submission of a special seminar or training module (this would involve contributing an existing presentation that you already have to our curriculum –). These expectations will be clearly outlined in the contract, should the applicant be accepted.