Academic Career Enrichment Scholars (ACES)

The primary focus of our residency training program is development of clinical skill and expertise required for the practice of anesthesiology.  However, many of our residency applicants aspire to careers in academic anesthesiology and seek to supplement their clinical training with opportunities for research and publication.  In the past, the knowledge gained through clinical training was sufficient for an appointment as a junior faculty member and to conduct meaningful laboratory or clinical research.  But the quickening pace of innovation makes it difficult to perform state-of-the-art research without additional postdoctoral training. Increasingly, the skills necessary for successful scientific investigation falls outside the scope of clinical residency programs.  Given these challenges, how is our specialty working to prepare the next generation of physician-scientists?

The Duke University Department of Anesthesiology has constructed two continuums designed to integrate advanced clinical and research training without prolonging the duration of the traditional residency and fellowship system.  Our goal is to prepare outstanding clinicians with the skills and experience necessary for successful careers in academic anesthesiology.

ACES-5

By combining a modified 4-year anesthesiology residency with a year of subspecialty fellowship, the ACES-5 continuum is designed to offer trainees up to 13 months of dedicated research experience while meeting the American Board of Anesthesiology clinical training requirements for both residency and fellowship certification.  The 5-year curriculum will be individualized to meet the academic goals of each Scholar and will not require selection of a clinical fellowship until after completing subspecialty rotations.  In addition to housestaff salary and benefits, a stipend will be provided to each Scholar during the CA-1 through CA-4 (fellowship) years. Individuals completing ACES-5 will be eligible for enrollment in the NIH T32 post-doctoral research training program in conjunction with a faculty appointment.

ACES-6

ACES-6 is intended for applicants who have already obtained advanced research training or board certification in another medical specialty prior to beginning residency training in anesthesiology.  Applicants who anticipate primary careers in basic science research may also be eligible for ACES-6. These select individuals will complete a customized 6-year continuum that combines clinical training in anesthesiology with up to 30 months of NIH-funded T32 research.  In addition to housestaff salary and benefits, ACES-6 Scholars will receive a stipend during the CA-1 through CA-3 years and will be eligible for faculty salary (with T32 support) for the final two years of the continuum.  Previous trainees have utilized the NIH T32 Institutional National Research Service Award, administered by the Department of Anesthesiology, to complete advanced basic science training or advanced clinical research training through the Duke Clinical Research Program (http://crtp.mc.duke.edu).  ACES-6 is limited to US citizens or permanent residents, per NIH T32 guidelines.

Didactic Component

The ACES program includes a lecture series designed to address the career development objectives of the Scholars.  The following is a list of upcoming lectures:

Other lectures topics currently in preparation include “-omic Technologies”, “Repository of Biologic Tissues”, “Industry-Sponsored Research”, “IRB and IACUC”, “Bioinformatics”, and “NIH Pathway to Independence (PI) Award (K99/R00).” Scholars will also have the opportunity to select a prominent clinician-scientist in anesthesiology to visit Duke as part of the Invited Lecturer Series.

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Resources

ACES Application Form
Applications are open to applicants who have been offered an interview.

Submit completed applications to:

Thomas Pafford
ACES Program
Department of Anesthesiology
DUMC 3094
Durham, NC 27710

Completed electronic applications will also be accepted and can be forwarded to:
thomas.pafford@duke.edu

For questions regarding this opportunity please contact:

David S. Warner, MD
Director, ACES Program
david.warner@duke.edu
phone: 919-684-6633

ACES Mentors

Tong J. Gan, MB, BS, FRCA, FFARCS
Ashraf Habib, MB, BCh, MSc, FRCA
Stephen Klein, MD
Madan Kwatra, PhD
G. Burkhard Mackensen, MD, PhD, FASE
Mihai Podgoreanu, MD, FASE
Andrew Shaw, MD
Scott Schulman, MD
Mark Stafford-Smith, MD, CM, FRCPC, FASE
Jeffrey Taekman, MD
Melanie Wright, PhD
Elliott Bennett-Guerrero, MD
Steven E. Hill, MD
David S. Warner, MD
James D. Reynolds, PhD
Wulf Paschen, PhD
Madhav Swaminathan, MD
Joseph P. Mathew, MD
Terri Monk, MD

Detailed list of mentors and their research interests.