This is a 2-year fellowship that is available to all physicians with residency training in an adult medical specialty, and does not require training in geriatrics. With six sites around the country, the Quality Scholars program is sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs to train researchers and leaders in health care improvement. The San Francisco site emphasizes strong training in research methods and is most appropriate for candidates interested in research as a major part of their careers. Exceptional candidates with an interest in the administrative and policy sides of quality improvement are also encouraged to apply.

Past fellows have gone on to faculty appointments at UCSF as well as working in the fields of public health and healthcare quality improvement.

For more information about the national program, click here.

Fellows in the VA National Quality Scholars Program participate in the following activities as part of their training:

Advanced Training in Clinical Research (ATCR) / TICR.
ATCR is an intensive, highly-regarded year-long course on research methods for fellows and junior faculty across UCSF pursuing careers in clinical, epidemiologic, and health services research. Students also have an option to extend their studies for a second year and obtain a master's degree in clinical research. Coursework includes classes on epidemiologic methods, introductory statistical analysis, advanced statistical methods, statistical computing, clinical trials, database management systems, systematic reviews and meta-analysis, publishing and presenting clinical research, and an ongoing seminar. Additional elective courses are available in decision and cost-effectiveness analysis, medical informatics, clinical research with diverse communities, and outcomes research. Click here for more information.

Division of Geriatrics Works-in-Progress Conferences
This weekly conference provides a venue for all faculty and fellows to present ongoing academic work to the entire division. Like the fellows conference, many consider the discussions to be highly valuable in improving their own projects and developing the skills necessary to think critically about research and scholarship.

TWIV (Two-Way Interactive Video) Conferences
This biweekly teleconference links the six sites of the Quality Scholars Program for an ongoing seminar in quality improvement and research issues. Quality Scholars attend these sessions, but other fellows who have an interest in the material may often attend as well.

National Conferences
Fellows in the Quality Scholars Program also attend three other conferences each year, including the Quality Scholars Summer Symposium, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement National Conference, and the VA Health Services Research and Development Annual Conference.

Quality Improvement Faculty

C. Seth Landefeld, MD - Chief, UCSF Division of Geriatrics and Director of Research Fellowships
Sei Lee, MD - Assistant Professor of Medicine
Michael Steinman, MD - Assistant Professor of Medicine in Geriatrics
Edgar Pierluissi, MD - Associate Professor of Medicine and Medical Director, Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Unit, SFGH

For information about applying to the program at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, please contact

Jonathan Leff
Education Coordinator
UCSF Division of Geriatrics
3333 California Street, Suite 380
San Francisco, CA 94143-1265
(415) 476-3174
leff@medicine.ucsf.edu