Fellowship Description: The goal of this 2-year program is to train future academic leaders whose research is relevant to the broad area of women’s health.  The program is affiliated with the Veterans Administration Women’s Health Clinic, UW-Madison Women’s Health Clinic and the UW Center for Women’s Health Research (CWHR).  To meet this goal, didactics, mentored research, and experiential clinical activities will be individualized to meet the needs of each fellow’s career.  Most fellows complete a Master’s degree program in Population Health or Clinical Investigation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in two years.

Goal: The overall program goal is to train future academic leaders interested in the broad field of women’s health including research on sex and gender differences.  

Length of Training: This 2-year fellowship provides time and resources to pursue a graduate degree that will prepare the fellow for clinical investigation and a chance to work in a thriving interdisciplinary academic environment. A 3^rd year is available for those who need it to complete a research project.

Who is Eligible:

a. Physicians interested in pursuing academic careers in women's health.  Applicants must be Board eligible or certified.  Any specialty is acceptable, but most fellows will come from Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, or Obstetrics/Gynecology. In addition to research and academic career training, the fellow will work 25% time clinically at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison Wisconsin.

b. Postdoctoral fellows interested in research related to (a) implicit, stereotype-based bias (b) gender-specific therapies. Applicants need a clinical degree such as counseling or clinical psychology, social work, speech language pathology, or nursing.  In addition to research and academic career training, the fellow will work 25% time clinically at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison Wisconsin.  For psychologists, the requisite clinical supervision will be provided.  Quantitative skills are desirable. 

Clinical Program: Clinical activities will be individualized to meet the needs of each fellow.  Fellows provide clinical care in the VA Women’s Health Clinic.  An array of other clinical experiences is available to meet the training needs of each fellow.

Research Program: Fellows can select from a group of research faculty that span women’s health research from cell biology to population health.  Many fellows will enroll in the Master’s in Population Health Program which will provide grounding in research methodology, statistics, and epidemiology; however the new MS in Clinical Investigation is a good alternative for those interested primarily in clinical trials.

Other Experiences: Fellows attend various activities at the UW Center for Women’s Health Research or VA Women’s Health Program related to clinical, education and professional or leadership development.  An individualized learning plan is developed to meet the training goals of each fellow. Mentorship is provided by the Program Director and faculty involved in a broad array of women’s health research and committed to the advancement of physicians in academic women’s health.

Stipend:  Compensation for physician fellows are based on the number of years of ACGME-accredited residency completed and will conform to the rate and benefits at the index hospital.  Compensation for Advanced Associated Health Fellows are locality-based. All compensation rates are set by the Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA), VA Central office, Washington, DC.