NEWS

New Clinical Trials Support Program Offers Resources to Principal Investigators

Assistance With Research Activities Available

Academic Affairs has created the Clinical Trials Support Program in order to provide resources to Principal Investigators of both investigator-initiated or sponsored clinical trials who need assistance on a short term, intermittent, or less than full-time basis.

The Clinical Trials Support Program staff, with broad expertise in clinical research protocol development and implementation, can support investigators with the following:

• Coordination of inter-departmental aspects of the protocol

• Preparation of regulatory documents

• Drafting of standard forms and flow sheets, ensure availability of necessary equipment and supplies

• Preparation for study-specific procedures

• Set up and implementation of participant recruitment, screening, enrollment and follow-up

In developing the CTSP, Academic Affairs is striving to support the institutional “Advancement of Knowledge” mission by building the necessary research infrastructure to support investigators in their ability to conduct high quality research resulting in publication in leading journals.  CTSP was developed based on feedback from investigators and review of services existing at other academic medical centers.

For more information, see the CTSP page on Academic Affairs eWorkplace site, or contact Marybeth Roy, RN, CCRC at 794-7671or MarybethRoy@bhs.org to discuss your specific research needs.

Literature & Medicine: Humanities at the Heart of Health Care Group Starting in January 2009

Featured Authors Include Chekhov, Tolstoy, Williams, Carver and Moore

Literature & Medicine: Humanities at the Heart of Health Care is a national award-winning, hospital-based, reading and discussion program for health care professionals that benefits both them and their patients by improving their communication and interpersonal skills. Created in 1997 by the Maine Humanities Council, by 2007 Literature & Medicine groups had met in more than 90 different health care settings in 19 states. Though the program appears deceptively simple, participants report profound effects: increased empathy for patients, cultural awareness, job satisfaction and respect or their colleagues.

Participation Information

The group will meet one evening a month under the direction of experienced facilitator and humanities scholar Leslie Nyman, fiction writer and former pediatric nurse and health educator. Participants are asked to commit to attending a minimum of 5 of the 6 sessions. The group will meet from 5:30 - 7:00 pm (light dinner provided) on the following dates:

• January 13 (snow date January 20)

• February 10 (snow date February 17)

• March 10 (snow date March 17)

• April 14 (snow date April 21)

• May 12

Please register online by November 24. For more information, call Loretta Grikis, Health Sciences Library, at 413-794-1894, or e-mail her at Loretta.grikis@bhs.org.

Baystate is offering this program in conjunction with the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities. For more information, visit the MassHumanities website or read Synapse, the program's e-newsletter.