The Administrative Core of the Cleveland Kidney, Urology and Hematology Training Network has two Aims, to: (1) Optimize the multidisciplinary environment for the trainees among six institutions— Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) with seven basic-science departments, the Cleveland Clinic (CC) with three institutes, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center (UH), Louis Stokes Cleveland Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center (VA), MetroHealth Medical Center (MH), and Cleveland State University (CSU). And (2) Optimize interfaces between our KUH-TN and existing programs.
The organization structure and governance centers on the Steering Committee (SC), which will meet monthly and have representation from each of the six member institutions, and multiple representation from each of the K, U, and H disciplines.
The SC receives input from (a) an External Evaluation Board (EEB) and (b) an Internal Advisory Committee (IAC) that includes two CTSC Training Program Directors, a CTSC Director of Program Evaluation, a diversity expert, and a former dean. Also liaising with SC is (c) a Selection Committee and (d) a Diversity and Recruitment Committee that together make evaluate pre- and post-doctoral trainee candidates, and (e) a Program Evaluation Committee (PEC). These Committees have balanced institutional/disciplinary representation.
The network has four Cores. The Administrative Core comprises the two Program Directors, and will meet monthly with the Chairs of Committees (c), (d), and (e) as well as representatives of the three other Cores: (1) Professional Development, (2) TL1 Training, and (3) Networking. Both the SC and the Administrative Core will promote open and forthright discussions of issues of import to the broader KUH-TN community. The Administrative Support (1 FTE) will serve as the communications hub, which will include dedicated website, e-mail, social media, and a database of train- ees and trainers. The PEC, together with a program-evaluation expert (from IAC) will develop milestones (e.g., grant applications, publications) for the KUH-TN, and develop metrics for program evaluation. The Administrative Core, together with other Committees and Cores, will monitor the program continuously using the database and metrics, making corrective interventions as needed.
The SC plans to host a face-to-face meeting of other Training Networks in Year 1. The SC will recruit an EEB comprising experts in education/training as well as the K, U, and H disciplines. The EEB will meet in Cleveland in Years 2 and 4, by virtual platform in other years, and provide immediate oral feedback as well as written reports. In addition to diversity programs outlined elsewhere in the application, a proposed Interschool Program in Quantitative Bioscience plans to recruit underrepresented groups at levels from undergraduate to faculty. The MS in Medical Physiology (MSMP) program, geared for admission to medical school, has a large cohort of underrepresented groups. The MSMP has a vibrant nephrology shadowing program, and is preparing to launch an Area of Concentration in Kidney/Urology in FY22.