The Oregon Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine career development program: innovation in research training for complementary and alternative medicine

Abstract

Background: The burgeoning use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) highlights the need for high-quality research to discriminate between those approaches based on positive anecdotes or polished marketing and those that are consistently effective and safe.

Description: To help meet this need, the Oregon Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has developed an innovative program to train researchers. The training program includes an individual mentoring and training plan, group mentoring, a clinical research class, proposal development, completion of an actual study, and journal club participation.

Evaluation: After 2 years the fellows have submitted 18 grants, presented 4 posters, submitted 7 articles, developed 2 treatment protocols, and earned 1 master of public health degree and 1 graduate certificate.

Conclusions: This program helps experienced CAM practitioners quickly adopt a research perspective. We encourage other career development programs to extend training in research methods to individuals possessing a profound understanding of CAM.