Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2009

Mentor: Roderick S. Hooker, PhD
Department: Rheumatology
Room number: Clinical Research Unit (Dallas VA Medical Center)
Mail Code: VA Medical Services (111)
Phone number: 214/857-1503 (Emily Goodfellow - research coordinator)
E-mail: Roderick.hooker@va.gov or Andreas.reimold@va.gov (Chief)
Project title: Cost of an episode of ankylosing spondylitis

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): Not applicable. Uses existing approved Ankylosing Spondylitis registry (PULSAR) - IRB approved.

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): Not applicable

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects) Patient Based - health economics

Brief Description of Project:

Analyze an episode of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) to assess the cost of disease in a comprehensive national registry of veterans (PULSAR). Over 100 patients with AS. The VA is a unique form of a vertically integrated healthcare system that captures all costs of disease. The data is available for analysis. The outcome will be a 300 hour project with a poster and a publication as the result. The PI (RSH) is the director of rheumatology research for the VA, the registrar of PULSAR, is a health economist and a rheumatology PA.

The student will work directly with the PI and a research team. (S)he will also work with patients and learn how to manage AS patients with advanced disease. The student will learn how to analyze large and comprehensive databases and understand the value of longitudinal research studies. This project has been completed for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the data project has been mapped out. The research team is skilled in working with students and residents. Facilities with computers and workrooms are available.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

The PI has 25 years of mentor experience, is a faculty member at two universities and has had a doctoral student each year for the past 12 years, as well as 100 PGYs. Twelve students and over 100 residents have worked with Dr. Reimold as well.