Dr. Mike Spaeder, a Professor of Pediatrics at UVA and director of the Pediatric Critical Care fellowship, dives into the nuts and bolts of fellowship project design. He emphasizes the critical role of mentorship and offers fresh strategies for clinical research planning. The conversation also addresses generational differences in mentorship, touching on how to engage younger trainees effectively. Spaeder shares insights on mastering science writing and navigating the intricacies of manuscript submissions, highlighting the importance of community in pediatric critical care.
41:32
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Choosing Research Study Design
Choose multi-center projects with strong mentor involvement and realistic expectations on patient enrollment.
For prospective studies, assess the feasibility of enrolling enough patients within an 18-month timeframe.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Project Planning Essentials
Start fellowship projects with a clear research question and mentorship team within the first semester.
Develop comprehensive plans including protocol, sample size, and data collection forms before data entry.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Research Timeline and Meetings
Create a realistic timeline for research activities aligned with your clinical schedule.
Set regular meetings with mentors to maintain progress and accountability.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
By the end of this series, listeners should be able to:
Understand the research expectations of PICU Fellows in the United States.
Explain the types of research available to PICU fellows and how a new fellow might explore their local options.
Explain the work necessary to refine a research question and write mature specific aims for a project.
Understand the key factors involved in getting a fellowship paper submitted, including the common pitfalls for each type of research
About our Guest:
Mike Spaeder is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine and a pediatric critical care physician at the UVA Children's Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia. He received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Trinity College and his master’s in statistics from George Washington University, where he also received his medical degree. He completed his pediatrics residency at Hasbro Children's Hospital/Brown University and his pediatric critical care fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is now the director of the Pediatric Critical Care fellowship at the UVA Children's Hospital. His research is based at the Center for Advanced Medical Analytics at the University of Virginia, where he focuses on modeling physiologic signatures of illness to identify patients at risk for clinical deterioration.
Selected References:
Horvat CM, Hamilton MF, Hall MW, McGuire JK, Mink RB Child Health Needs and the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Workforce: 2020-2040. Pediatrics 2024 Feb 1 153
Tasker RC. Writing for PCCM: The 3,000-Word Structured Clinical Research Report. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2021 Mar 1;22(3):312-317.
Sanchez-Pinto, L. Nelson MD, MBI1; Badke, Colleen M. MD, MS1; Pololi, Linda MBBS, FRCP (hon)2. Group Peer Mentoring: A Strategy to Promote Career Development and Improve Well-Being Among Early-Career Faculty in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine ():10.1097/PCC.0000000000003763, May 15, 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000003763
Scott K. Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity. New York: St. Martin's Press; 2017. 1st ed.
How to support PedsCrit: Please complete our Listener Feedback Survey Please rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! Donations are appreciated @PedsCrit on Venmo , you can also support us by becoming a patron on Patreon. 100% of funds go to supporting the show.
Thank you for listening to this episode of PedsCrit. Please remember that all content during this episode is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be used as medical advice. The views expressed during this episode by hosts and our guests are their own and do not reflect the official position of their institutions. If you have any comments, suggestions, or feedback-you can email us at pedscritpodcast@gmail.com. Check out http://www.pedscrit.comfor detailed show notes. And visit @critpeds on twitter and @pedscrit on instagram for real time show updates.
PedsCrit 
