In 2017, the Division of Hospital Medicine launched “JetPack,” a scholarship program aimed specifically at clinicians interested in quality improvement or operational efforts.
Purpose
The purpose of JetPack is to provide peer-to-peer mentoring within a resource rich environment to help mentees succeed, typically junior faculty with little experience in conducting or writing a research/QI project. It is designed to help hospital medicine faculty pursue academic work that will lead to the publication of a peer-reviewed paper.
Core Structure
JetPack is built around a core structure that includes the following elements:
- A primary mentor: This individual works closely with the mentee to provide ongoing support and advice during the program
- A senior mentor: This individual supports both the mentee and junior mentor and provides tactical and strategic advice as well as periodic assistance with projects as needed
- Educational curriculum: JetPack is supported by five Department of Internal Medicine faculty members and staff, all of whom provide an educational structure to sessions:
- Todd Greene, PhD, MPH, provides didactic sessions during the year on topics related to epidemiology, study design, and research methods
- Jason Mann, MS, Project Manager, oversees and provides support for all JetPack sessions
- Ashley Snyder, MS, provides assistance with statistical analysis, research methods, and assistance with study design
- David Wesorick, MD, an experienced Hospitalist and Director of Faculty Development, oversees the program and provides support to mentees throughout the cycle of their projects
- Suzanne Winter, MS, assists with IRB submissions, protocol writing, and finalization for a research/QI project
Selection Process
JetPack selection is a competitive process open to junior faculty (Assistant Professor and below) only. The program runs for a 1-year period with mentees coming back in Year 2 as mentors to help other JetPackers, creating a culture of support and academic productivity.
Samples of First Year JetPack Projects
- Dr. Monee Amin: How often do patients “Google” medical information during hospitalization?
- Dr. Ruby Marr: What is the prevalence, structure, and focus of Second Victim Programs in the USNWR Top 25 hospitals?
- Dr. David Stephenson: How do hospitalists perceive their readiness, training, and willingness to run cardiac arrest codes?
- Dr. Sonal Kamalia: Art-Escape - Can group art therapy help improve feelings of well-being among hospitalized patients?
Goal
The ultimate goal of this program is to create a division in which every interested hospitalist is able to find effective mentorship and pursue academic work; thereby contributing new knowledge to the field, enriching a hospitalist’s career, and creating an ideal balance of clinical and intellectual effort.
For more information regarding JetPack, please email:
David Wesorick, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Director, Faculty Development
Division of Hospital Medicine
davidwes@med.umich.edu
