# UCSF Learning Health System K12 Career Development Program

> **NIH AHRQ K12** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2020 · $714,137

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
UCSF and UCSF Health, in primary partnership with San Francisco Health Network (SFHN) is proposing a 5-
year K12 program to support the career development of scientists who conduct patient-centered outcomes
research (PCOR) within learning health systems (LHS) in order to help accelerate the translation of research
and evidence into practice in ways that are integrated into health systems and produce improvements in
patient health outcomes, particular among diverse patient populations and in safety net health systems. UCSF
and UCSF Health have implemented multiple research, education and health system programs and initiatives
to support a LHS. What’s still needed is a cadre of faculty with appropriate training and research programs to
leverage the current LHS infrastructure to accelerate improvements across a wide range of clinical
microsystems and populations at UCSF and its Network Partners (SFHN, SF Veterans Affairs Medical Center,
UCSF-Fresno). UCSF has a large and successful K-program for scholars pursuing research careers in clinical
and translational sciences, but does not have one that focuses on development of LHS researchers with deep
engagement and alignment with the health system. We propose to train approximately 8 scholars over the 5-
year period, with at least half having primary appointments with our network partners. Eligible scholars have
completed doctoral training in health professions or other relevant fields such as public health or social
sciences, will have primary appointments (instructor or junior faculty) with UCSF or a network partner, and will
commit at least 75% effort for research training. Scholars who have completed clinical research training will
complete a 2-year program, and those without will complete a 3-year program. The UCSF LHS K12 career
development program is guided by a mentored-research model that includes a) education and skills in clinical
research methods and PCOR, implementation and improvement sciences, stakeholder engagement,
leadership and research management, and ethics; b) experiential learning where scholars will apply and adapt
this knowledge base to real-world settings by completing embedded research rotations at UCSF Health and
SFHN; and c) academic success training and skills. During the training program period, Scholars will be
expected to complete at least 2 process improvement projects in partnership with their health system
unit/microsystem; and to prepare and submit at least 1 manuscript for publication within the areas of
implementation science and/or PCOR. At 2, 5 and 10 years after Scholars have finished the program, each
will be asked to submit a curriculum vitae to extract current academic position and rank, peer reviewed
publications, grant funding, and focus of research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10015289
- **Project number:** 5K12HS026383-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** RALPH GONZALES
- **Activity code:** K12 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** AHRQ
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $714,137
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-30 → 2023-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10015289

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10015289, UCSF Learning Health System K12 Career Development Program (5K12HS026383-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10015289. Licensed CC0.

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