UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Women's Reproductive Health Research (WRHR)
Career Development Program
UAB’s Center for Women’s Reproductive Health (CWRH) was initially awarded the NICHD
funded training program entitled “the Women’s Reproductive Health Research Career
Development Program” in 1999 and successfully competed for a second 5 year cycle in 2005.
This program is dedicated to providing excellent research training program
for its scholar, who are OB/GYN physicians who have recently completed their postgraduate
clinical training and are interested in academic medicine and research. Completion
of the WRHR Career Development Program equips them with the research skills that
can be applied to study of important health problems in women.
Our outstanding faculty mentors come from the Departments of OB/GYN, Pediatrics,
Medicine, Microbiology, Periodontal Medicine, Cell Biology, and Epidemiology, among others,
who have had extensive interaction through research collaboration and teaching. Each mentor
is a well funded and established senior investigator with national credentials within the
Schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Dentistry. The central theme of the WRHR Program is to
train OB/GYN physicians to become independent researchers across the spectrum of research related
to women’s health care. The Program Director, Associate Directors, and the Advisory Committee
review, evaluate, and recommend appropriate scholars to the Principal Investigator. Since the
program’s initiation, we have attracted trainees of diverse backgrounds involved in basic
biomedical, translational, and clinical research, covering the disciplines of gynecologic oncology,
gynecologic urodynamics, reproductive endocrinology and infertility including contraception,
genetics, and maternal-fetal medicine. Their career development and research projects are
performed in collaboration and with mentorship provided by senior mentors in the Program.
The WRHR Scholarship Provisons and Expectations
The WRHR Career Development program provides the scholar with research and salary support at
the assistant professor level for a minimum of two and up to five years. Scholars spend 75%
of full time professional effort conducting research and participating in career development
activities.
They complete relevant coursework, participate in clinical, laboratory and statistical learning
activities, and develop and foster a research focus during the initial two years.
It is anticipated that an entry level scholar will have prepared scientific abstracts on their
research focus and presented at a National OBGYN scientific meeting such as the Annual American
College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Meeting. Scholars are ultimately expected to prepare
and submit NIH type grant applications for extramural funding.
Eligibility Requirements
* MD or MD/PhD with completed residency (completed fellowship optional).
* No previous independent NIH research awards or more than 3 years on a K award.
* United States citizen, non citizen national, or permanent citizen with verification of
legal admission.
Availability of positions will be posted on the UAB WRHR website.
Program Application
Contact Dr Ronald Alvarez via email at ronald.alvarez@uab.edu, and send the following:
* Brief statement of research and career plans
* CV/Biosketch
A formal application will be requested after review of the brief statements if the candidate is under consideration.
The full application includes:
* Research plan with hypotheses and specific aims
* NIH Biosketch
Three letters of recommendation, one from the candidate’s chair, two may be from residency or
fellowship director, previous mentors or scientists familiar with the candidate’s work and
qualifications.
Selected Mentor’s name and research focus
UAB WRHR Administration Contact information
Principal Investigator:
John C. Hauth, MD, Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
UAB Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
619 20th Street South
Old Hillman Building, Room 246
Birmingham, AL 35249
Phone: (205) 934-9414
Fax: (205) 975-5723
Email: brials@uab.edu
Program Director:
Ronald D. Alvarez, MD
Professor
UAB Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
619 19th Street South
Old Hillman Building, Room 538
Birmingham, AL 35249
Phone: (205) 934-4986
Fax: (205) 974-6174
Email: ronald.alvarez@ccc.uab.edu
Administrative Assistant:
Rachel Copper LeDuke, MSN, WHNP-BC
CRWH 379
1500 6th Ave South
Birmingham, AL 35233
Phone: (205) 934-5509
Fax: (205) 975-4411
Email: rcopper@uab.edu