Research | Pulmonary & Critical Care Fellowship

From the start of training, each fellow is paired with a dedicated scholarly activity advisor who meets with them regularly throughout their first and second years. Together, they identify a primary research mentor from our faculty, define a project scope, and set clear milestones for completion.

Individual faculty members mentor fellows through every phase of the scholarly process: question formulation, study design, IRB submission, data collection and analysis, abstract submission and manuscript preparation. Research plans for clinical projects are written and submitted to the MHMMC Institutional Review Board by the fellow, with faculty support throughout. Fellows also benefit from a broader infrastructure of research support, including:

• Dedicated research navigators to assist with project logistics, regulatory requirements and study coordination
• Biostatistics support through the MaineHealth Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), embedded within MHIR
• Access to MHIR’s full suite of research resources — located just minutes from campus — including centers for clinical and translational research, molecular medicine and acute care science

Submission of independent scholarly work to a peer-reviewed journal is our goal for all fellows.

Fellows are encouraged to identify original research questions that reflect their own clinical curiosity and career interests. With a supportive faculty mentor and access to institutional resources, there is real opportunity to take a project from concept to completion — and potentially to publication. 

Recent fellow-initiated projects illustrate the range of what’s possible:

• Serial biomarkers in pulmonary embolism — characterizing the trajectory of inflammatory markers in PE to guide risk stratification
• Pleural fluid viscometry — a pilot study of viscosity as a novel diagnostic tool in pleural effusions
• Next-generation microbial sequencing in exudative effusions — a collaborative project with UNH investigators exploring the microbiome of pleural disease

Critical care

MHMMC is an active clinical trial network site with a robust critical care research program. Faculty investigators lead and participate in multicenter randomized trials, observational studies and translational science across a range of critical care domains. Areas of active investigation include cardiac arrest resuscitation and post-arrest care, neurocritical care (TBI, status epilepticus, subarachnoid hemorrhage), sedation and analgesia, ARDS and temperature management. Fellows can join ongoing studies or develop independent projects within these established research programs.

Pulmonary medicine

MHMMC is a CFF Therapeutic Development Network (TDN) center, participating in sponsored clinical trials and registry-based outcomes research in cystic fibrosis. Additional pulmonary research opportunities span pulmonary vascular disease and PE, interstitial lung disease, advanced bronchoscopy and EBUS, and pleural disease diagnostics. 

Quality improvement

Quality improvement (QI) training is integrated throughout our fellowship. Fellows participate in departmental QI initiatives and are supported in designing and leading their own QI projects. Fellow-led QI work has resulted in peer-reviewed publication, demonstrating that impactful scholarship is achievable across all domains.

Medical education

Fellows with interest in clinician-educator pathways can pursue mentored work in medical education. MaineHealth offers a fellow level Clinician Educator Leadership Track (CELT) as well as opportunities for education research in simulation and ultrasound.

Basic and translational science

Basic science in immunologic, biochemical, genetic, molecular and cellular techniques occurs at MHIR. Faculty with laboratory programs are actively engaged in translational research at the interface of bench and bedside.

Fellows interested in formal training in research methods, biostatistics or health policy have access to additional degree and certificate programs. Programs are available at Tufts School of Medicine and Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, as well as the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine:

• Certificate in Clinical and Translational Science
• MS in Clinical and Translational Science
• MS in Public Health