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History
In 1978, the Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) in conjunction with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, established the VA Advanced Fellowships Program for Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Clinical Scholars at selected VA medical centers. The program was designed to introduce new skills and training in the non-biological sciences and in health care research to young physicians committed to clinical medicine. Graduates were expected to be role models in leading and developing solutions to meet the most pressing health issues of the day. Since then, the VA/Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars program has become one of the premier fellowships for physicians interested in influencing health policy.
Program Overview
The fellowship provides two years of post-residency research, education, and clinical learning opportunities to eligible physicians. Participants are expected to complete a graduate level research project using a broad array of disciplines. These may include epidemiology, biostatistics, medical information sciences, economics, the social sciences, anthropology, history of medicine, law, and ethics. A recent change to the program is to emphasize the importance of community health, consistent with VA's goals to optimize the health of the veteran, the VA community, and to contribute to the health of the Nation. VA RWJ Clinical Scholars participate in activities at their designated VA Medical Center as well as participate fully in the overall RWJ Clinical Scholars program at the affiliated institution. Experienced mentors of national stature provide guidance to fellows in rich learning environments.
National Advisory Committee VA Liaisons
The Clinical Scholars National Advisory Committee is pleased to have two members from the VA Office of Academic Affiliations. Dr. Malcolm Cox and Dr. Stuart Gilman serve as VA liaisons.
Malcolm Cox, M.D.
Chief Academic Affiliations Officer
Veterans Health Administration
Washington, DC
Carl W. Walter
Distinguished Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA |
Stuart C. Gilman, M.D., M.P.H.
(UCSF CSP 87-89)
Director, Special Fellowships Programs
Office of Academic Affiliations
Veterans Health Administration
Washington, D.C.
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University Faculty VA Liaisons
The Clinical Scholars program has a VA faculty representative at each of the four participating universities where Scholars are trained.
MICHIGAN
Michele Heisler, MD, MPH
Co-director
Michigan Clinical Scholars program
Associate Professor of Medicine and
Health Behavior and Health Education
Research Scientist, VA HSR&D Center of Excellence |
YALE
Rani Desai, PhD, MPH
Co-director
Yale Clinical Scholars program
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Epidemiology
Associate Director, Northeast Program Evaluation Center
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PENN
Judith Long, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, VA Medical Center Senior Fellow, Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics Staff Physician, Philadelphia VA Medical Center |
UCLA
Debra Saliba, MD, MPH
Anna & Harry Borun Endowed Chair
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
Director, UCLA Borun Center for Applied Gerontological Research
Physician, VA GRECC
Senior Natural Scientist, RAND
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RWJF/VA Scholars
 University
of California, Los Angeles
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 University
of Michigan
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 University
of Pennsylvania
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 Yale
University
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