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Scholarly Activities

Introduction to research

The first month of research in the first year is spent on introductory online courses in the conduct of good clinical research, the protection of human research subjects, and statistical methodology are completed. Finding appropriate mentors, planning and initiating research projects, and writing case reports are often performed during this time. 

Structured training in scholarly activity

Fellow’s research projects typically fall into one of the three following themes:

  • Clinical/translational/basic research
  • Quality improvement
  • Medical education

Mentorship is provided to identify institutional resources, training courses and associated national conference meetings so that each trainee receives the necessary resources to meet their career goals.

The remaining 11 months of research time in the first three years are spent executing the project, presenting the results at a national meeting, and writing/publishing the manuscript. Many opportunities exist to perform more than one project if the fellow chooses. In addition, those interested in a career in research have the opportunity to take graduate coursework, and write/obtain grant support for future studies.

Fellow Accomplishments

Due to strong mentorship and divisional involvement in multicenter research, our fellows have a strong record of academic productivity. Since 2010, current and former fellows of our program have secured a number of national honors that attest to their excellence, available institutional resources, and the commitment to mentoring by our faculty. These honors include:

  • Grant funding in clinical research from the NIH, the Pediatric Heart Network, the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, the American Society of Echocardiography, American Academy of Pediatrics, Mend a Heart Foundation, Leducq Foundation Transatlantic Network for Cardiovascular Research and the Emerson Rose Heart Foundation
  • NIH Loan Repayment Program, which rewards fellows who dedicate their careers to academics
  • Finalists at Young Investigator Competitions at national scientific association meetings
  • NIH/NHLBI Pediatric Heart Network writing committees
  • More than 100 manuscripts
  • More than 100 abstracts

Clinical Experiences & Research Options

A fellow in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) participates in a variety of clinical programs and settings covering the broad range of DB disorders of childhood and adolescence. In general, he or she will hone skills in neuro-developmental assessment and use these skills seeing patients in his or her own clinic and as part of interdisciplinary teams. Individual and group precepting by one of the DBP faculty will allow for enhanced learning and generalization of information, skills, and attitudes, for further application to related clinical, research, and teaching roles of the DBP subspecialty resident. 

Required clinical experiences include:

  • 0-36 months clinic
  • Preschool age clinic
  • School Age clinic
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder evaluation/management clinic
  • ADHD assessment and management clinic
  • Developmental Behavioral Evaluation Clinic (developmental pediatrics, psychiatry, psychology, social work)
  • Medication consultation

Additional specialty clinical experiences in which a DBP fellow at MUSC will participate include:

  • Developmental High Risk follow-up clinic (follow up of high-risk newborns from the NICU)
  • Cardiac neurodevelopmental follow-up clinic
  • Myelomeningocele clinic
  • Down Syndrome clinic
  • International Adoption clinic
  • Cochlear Implant

Required outpatient clinic rotations outside of DPB include:

  • Genetics
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Adolescent Medicine
  • Child Psychiatry

Elective options include:

  • Craniofacial Clinic
  • Spasticity Clinic
  • Movement Disorders, including Tourette syndrome and tic disorders
  • Psychology
  • Neuropsychology
  • Outpatient Pediatric HIV Clinic
  • Ancillary Services, including occupational, physical, and speech therapy

In addition, DBP subspecialty residents participate in consultations to the Pediatric wards and clinics and assume a teaching role for the residents and medical students during their Developmental-Behavioral pediatrics rotation. DBP subspecialty residents are also exposed to community-based clinical programs.

Research Opportunities 

Fellow research projects have recently included:

  • Polypharmacology in ADHD and comparison of clinic populations
  • Psychosocial Effects of Bullying in Pediatric Clinic Populations
  • Predictors of Social-Emotional Functioning in High Risk Neonates
  • the Effect of an Intensive Day Treatment Program on the Language and Learning skills of Behavior Disordered Children Ages 3-6 Years
  • Developmental Screening Using Parent Questionnaires in the Neuromotor Assessment of Former Preterm Infants

Furthermore, there are support services available to assist in the pursuit research. These include:

  1. Coursework – option of traditional classes or online coursework, including courses related to research design, epidemiology, biostatistics, and grant writing
  2. South Carolina Translational Research Center (SCTR) - an NIH funded Clinical and Translational Sciences Awards program that encourages inter-disciplinary research initiatives across institutions in South Carolina