TRACTS Participants

The TRACTS program helped these clinicians navigate research careers. Find out more about how you can develop research skills, facilitate collaborations and connect with mentors in TRACTS.

Faheem Guirgis, MD, FACEP, 2016 TRACTS Participant and k-23 award recipient

Why TRACTS?

"I see clinical research as part of quality health care, and I believe that patients need access to both. I didn’t realize it but I probably wanted to be a researcher all along."

Thanks to TRACTS, Guirgis and other early-career researchers have been able to develop their careers, enhance their research and analytical skills, build strong mentoring relationships, and more.

All TRACTS Participants


Why TRACTS?

Christa L. Cook, PhD, MSN, RN, APHN-BC

TRACTS provided several opportunities to advance my career as an assistant professor including identifying and establishing a mentoring team, improving my statistical analysis skills, improving my publication record, and providing guidance and feedback on grant submissions.

K-23 award recipient

Faheem Guirgis, MD, FACEP

I see clinical research as part of quality health care, and I believe that patients need access to both. I didn’t realize it but I probably wanted to be a researcher all along.

K-08 award recipient

Amy Vittor, MD, PhD, MHS

TRACTS was instrumental in solidifying mentorship, facilitating collaborations, and enhancing my research skills.

Kristin Dayton, MD

I wanted to learn more about research methods and statistical analysis for large population-based studies on tools to improve the diagnosis and management of obesity-related diseases.

Scott A. Heller, MD

I became involved with TRACTS because I saw it as a program that can provide the guidance, resources, and skills to help a research novice like me someday develop into a polished, clinical and translational investigator.

Laura M. Jacobsen, MD

TRACTS offers additional mentorship outside my division with classes and small group discussion tailored to physicians’ research needs. Advancing our statistical knowledge and ability, in addition to having a strong grant support system, are invaluable for young clinician researchers on the road to independence.

Naykky Singh Ospina, MD

As a junior faculty in a new university identifying the opportunities that were a good fit for me was a daunting and challenging process. I joined TRACTS in order to facilitate this process.

Jennifer Schoch, MD

I joined the TRACTS program to provide me with the skills and resources needed to conduct prospective clinical studies. I am currently collaborating with several departments at UF while establishing my research in the neonatal cutaneous microbiome.