The Training and Research Academy for Clinical and Translational Science (TRACTS) is a training program for early career faculty who have an interest in pursuing clinical/ translational research as a major component of their careers. The goal of TRACTS is to prepare clinicians for an expanded role in health sciences, including further research career development. TRACTS is designed to have a small footprint on clinical schedules.
Training and Research Academy for Clinical and Translational Science (TRACTS)
Are you a clinician interested in navigating your academic career?
If you know anyone who might benefit from TRACTS, please click below to learn how you can get in contact with the TRACTS team.
Program overview
TRACTS consists of three components aimed at balancing the demands of clinical and academic pursuits:
Monthly meetings
Individual and group career navigation
Mentorship
TRACTS participants enter the program with a variety of research interests but are often new to UF. After one or more interviews with TRACTS staff, they will identify potential mentors from faculty within the Health Science Center as well as relevant academic units.
Is TRACTS for you?
- Candidates must be faculty with a full-time appointment within a UF department or a fellow or post-doc who plans to pursue a full-time faculty position upon completion of training.
- Candidates must have completed their health professions doctoral degree (e.g., M.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.M.D., O.D., D.C., Pharm.D.)
- Candidates with PhD or another doctoral degree in a clinical discipline such as clinical psychology, nursing, clinical genetics, speech-language pathology, audiology or rehabilitation are also eligible.
Interested in joining?
Sign-up for more information, we will contact you to arrange a meeting with TRACTS director Ron Shorr, MD, MS to discuss career trajectory and research interests.
TRACTS Program Director
Ron Shorr, MD, MS
Dr. Shorr specializes in the well-being of older adults in clinical settings. He practices at the Malcolm Randall VA, and his research at UF is sponsored by the NIH.
tracts co-director
Cyndi Garvan, PhD
Dr. Garvan is the Statistics Director of the Office of Educational Research in UF’s College of Education. She conducts statistical research for many projects, in addition to her teaching commitments.
Associate Professor, Anesthesiology
Terrie Vasilopoulos
Dr. Vasilopoulos applies her statistics expertise to her research on how patient demographics, mental health, and behavioral background influence pain and opioid use.
Senior Associate Dean For Faculty Affairs & Professional Development
Mark Segal, MD, PhD
Dr. Segal’s studies the mechanism of cardiovascular disease in unique patient populations. As a physician and a scientist, his goal is to remain a lifelong learner, always reassessing the best and most effective way to provide individualized care to my patients.
About the Director
Ron Shorr, MD, MS
TRACTS Program Director
Professor of epidemiology, UF College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, and director of the Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center at the Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Background
Dr. Shorr has a long track record and passion for mentoring and has been engaged in physician academic development programs at UF since his arrival in 2007.
- Undergraduate | Duke University
- Medical school | Ohio State University
- Training | Medicine and geriatrics, University of Wisconsin and William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital
- Masters | Epidemiology, Case Western Reserve University
- Fellowship | Pharmacoepidemiology, Vanderbilt University
Research interests
- Dr. Shorr has extensive experience conducting both observational and experimental studies on healthcare safety and quality, particularly in older adult populations.
Testimonials
K-23 AWARD RECIPIENT
Faheem Guirgis, MD, FACEP
I see clinical research as part of quality health care, and I believe that patients need access to both. I didn’t realize it but I probably wanted to be a researcher all along.
Laura M. Jacobsen, MD
TRACTS offers additional mentorship outside my division with classes and small group discussion tailored to physicians’ research needs. Advancing our statistical knowledge and ability, in addition to having a strong grant support system, are invaluable for young clinician researchers on the road to independence.
K-08 AWARD RECIPIENT
Amy Vittor, MD, PhD, MHS
TRACTS was instrumental in solidifying mentorship, facilitating collaborations, and enhancing my research skills.
