Intermountain Healthcare Researchers Selected to Participate in the University of Utah’s Clinical & Translational Scholars Program

“Intermountain Healthcare is proud to partner with the University of Utah in providing invaluable mentorship opportunities to junior investigators who are committed to pursuing careers in clinical and translational health science research,” says Raj Srivastava, MD, MPH, assistant vice president for research for Intermountain.

Dr. Peltan serves as an attending critical care physician in the Shock Trauma Intensive Care Unit and the Telecritical Care Program at Intermountain Medical Center and is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Utah. Dr. Peltan’s research will improve early identification of sepsis and develop interventions that prevent its morbidity and mortality. Dr. Peltan will be mentored by Samuel Brown, MD, MS, Assistant Director of Critical Care Echocardiography at Intermountain Medical Center.

Dr. Knight is a cardiovascular and genetic epidemiologist at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute whose research has focused on the discovery of genetic causes of cardiovascular diseases that can be leveraged to enhance their prevention and treatment on a personalized level. Dr. Knight will be mentored by Kirk Knowlton, MD, Director of Cardiovascular Research and Associate Chief of Cardiology at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute.

Last year, three Intermountain investigators were chosen to participate in the program: Eddie Stenehjem, MD, MSc, of Infectious Disease; Patrick Carroll, MD, MPH, of Neonatology; and Sarah Majercik, MD, MBA of Trauma/Surgery. The three have published 17 peer-reviewed, patient-centered articles and presented at 40 national conferences.

The VPCAT Program provides selected investigators with mentorship teams and a structured curriculum designed to enhance their leadership skills and research knowledge. The two-year competitive program incorporates:

• Formal and informal mentoring
• Assistance with grant preparation and submission
• Opportunities to present their research findings
• Participation in leadership development seminars
• Structured curriculum to teach study design
• Access to biostatisticians in the Center for Clinical & Translational Science 

“This program is paramount to providing scholars with the foundation for their careers and conducting clinically relevant research to help patients live the healthiest lives possible,” says Brad M. Isaacson, PhD, MBA, MSF, a Research Initiatives Manager at Intermountain’s Office of Research.