Curriculum

Curriculum

The Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training program (KRESCENT program) core curriculum promotes the development of leaders in the field of kidney research in Canada, capable of transdisciplinary research that fosters knowledge translation. The curriculum is delivered across the country, irrespective of the trainee’s location.

Curriculum Outline
The KRESCENT program’s core curriculum aims to offer unique learning opportunities that are not available in any other forum or location and is designed to be complementary to any core course work/degree programs in research design, methodology, and other core content areas that might be available at participating institutions. It is also complementary to local development of the trainee’s specific research project(s), either independently (in the case of New Investigator awardees), or in conjunction with the local research supervisor (in the case of Fellowship trainees).

The KRESCENT program’s core curriculum is delivered through three different educational formats:

1. A formal core lecture series, (knowledge acquisition modules), delivered at twice-yearly workshops led by Dr. Adeera Levin, Sunny Hartwig and Dr. Todd Alexander
2. Web-based exercises (knowledge application modules and knowledge integration modules)
3. Transdisciplinary research challenges held once yearly at the May workshop and tied to the skills acquired and applied in the core lecture series and web-based exercises

The advent of patient-oriented research has resulted in the incorporation of patient engagement into the core curriculum, which lies at the heart of the training program for the kidney SPOR Network, Can-SOLVE CKD. Additional details on the core curriculum can be downloaded here.

Mentorship
A novel and important aspect of the KRESCENT program is a built-in mentoring system that facilitates career development. Trainees meet with the Program Director, Curriculum Chair and invited senior scientists at biannual workshops where they interact in a career development workshop setting. Additionally, at the discretion of New Investigator trainees, the KRESCENT Program will facilitate establishment and provide ongoing support of formal “level-specific” mentorship with a Program Mentor, identified by the trainee.

It is expected that Program Mentors will interact with trainees at least twice a year, providing counsel with regards to the provision of conditions/resources required to establish and sustain a successful independent career in research including:
 

1. Reviewing the percentage of protected time dedicated to research
2. Reviewing the resources available to the candidate to develop their research program
3. Helping the candidate evaluate the quality of the research environment and suggesting possible changes (if required), including the development of collaborative relationships that might foster knowledge translation
4. Providing assistance and guidance on grant writing, the preparation of manuscripts and future directions for their research

By design, program mentorship does not conflict with the research supervisor’s important mentorship role during the fellowship period. As Program Mentors receive progress reports on individual trainees from both supervisors and the Program Steering Committee, the roles of the mentor and supervisor are distinct and complementary for fellowship-level trainees:

• The research supervisor directs the trainee’s research work and is considered the lead mentor.
• The Program Mentors evaluate the trainee’s progress with respect to the KRESCENT program, and
  • ensure the goals of the KRESCENT program are being met;
  • facilitate changes (if required) to optimize training, and;
  • facilitate career transition counselling, the negotiation of academic appointments, advise on the consideration of options for faculty positions, etc.