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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Medical Education

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​​​Medical Education Research​​

​The Division of Research (DOR) Biostatistical Consulting Unit (BSCU) is the primary research consulting resource for Kaiser Permanente medical education programs in Northern California. In partnership with our clinicians, research project managers​ ​ and faculty, we support graduate medical education programs by providing full spectrum research and quality improve​ment (QI) expertise. We support the scholarly development of our physician trainees and help spark the career trajectories of clinician researchers who advance knowledge in a wide range of clinical areas.

Learn more about the Graduate Medical Education programs that we support.
For eligible GME trainees, please review this guidance document and request a BSCU consultation here.


​​Graduate Medical Education (GME)

​Since 2004, the BSCU has helped GME programs develop their scholarly portfolios by advising on proposed study design, feasibility, regulatory compliance, electronic data extraction, chart review tools, database management, data analysis, and publication support. ​

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Scholarly Impa​​ct
​​In 2024, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Graduate Medical Education invested over $3.2 million to support research in its 19 residency programs and 18 fellowship programs. Nearly 300 scholarly projects and 100 scholarly products were produced with support from the Division of Research BSCU. ​​ Read more… ​​

Projects Supported by GME Trainee Specialty
N=298

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2024 Annual Report

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2024 Executive Summary
Graduate Medical Education

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​​BSCU-Supported G​ME Research 2024​​​​​​​​​​


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2023 Annual Report
Graduate Medical Education

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​​​​BSCU-Supported GME Research 2023​​​​​​​​​​​

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GME Research Project Managers ​
​ GME Research Project Managers (RPMs) partner with clinical faculty to direct the scholarly activities of our medical education programs across Kaiser Permanente Northern California. They are key connectors between our medical center-based physician training programs and our regional Division of Research. ​

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Aida Shirazi, PhD, MS, RPh

San Francisco

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Brooke Harris, PhD

San Jose

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Cynthia Triplett, MPH, MA

Santa Clara

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Kat Dang, MS, MAS

Napa Solano

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Lorlelei Lee-Haynes, MPH

Modesto

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Miranda Ritterman Weintraub, PhD, MPH

Oakland

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Nirmala Ramalingam, MPP

Oakland

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Shannon McDermott, PhD

Santa Rosa

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Stacie Lloyd, PhD

Sacramento

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Consultation Requests
​For eligible GME trainees, please review this guidance document and request a BSCU consultation here.

We currently offer 5 consultation types to eligible GME trainees:​
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This consultation type involves collaboration from inception to completion on a data-only clinical research study or ​QI ​project. This includes refining research aims, hypothese​s, and study design, conducting a​ power calculation to determine sample size, developing a statistical analysis plan, data collection and a​nalysis, interpretation of res​ults​, and manuscript support.​​​

A New BSCU-Developed Data Feasibility Project is a limited assessment to understand if a data-only project idea is feasible given KPNC data availability. Only essential variables of interest (i.e., primary exposure and outcome, critical inclusion/exclusion criteria) from accessible KPNC data sources are examined. This assessment does not evaluate other important factors that affect feasibility: clinician ability to chart review (if warranted), programmer availability within desired timeline, and funding level for programmer effort. Preliminary results from a feasibility analysis should not be presented or published as research.​

This consultation is designed for prospective clients who would like to expand an existing/completed research project that previously received direct ​support from a BSCU programmer analyst. Depending on the status of the original project, we will help teams determine if it is possible to expand their project (e.g., we still have access to the original data and programs, whether it is still active with the Institutional Review Board) or if the project will need to be recreated from scratch.

This consultation type is designed for prospective clients who want to expand a feasibility project previously supported by a BSCU programmer analyst. This includes further evaluation of project feasibility (timelines and complexity based on funding level parameters), refining researc​h aims, hypotheses, and study design, developing a statistical analysis plan, data collection and analysis, interpretation of results, and manuscript support.​

The BSCU facilitates connections between principal investigators (PIs), GME trainees, and programmer analysts affiliated with DOR scientists, promoting teamwork and the exchange of ideas to advance medical education research. This consultation type is designed for clinician investigators with access to a non-BSCU programmer analyst affiliated with a DOR investigator, who would like to request GME funding support for that analyst to develop and implement a project. See GME Funding Support for Non-BSCU DOR Programmer - Effort Reporting Guidelines* for more details.

Click here* for more details about each of our GME consultation types, collaboration requirements, and concrete examples.
For comprehensive guidance on developing, implementing, and publishing your idea, explore our available Resour​ces.​​​

*KP network required​
Biostatistical Consulting Unit
Kaiser Permanente Division of Research
4480 Hacienda Drive, Pleasanton, CA 94588
Email us at bscu@kp.org
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