Changing the Paradigm of Research in Pediatric Hospital Medicine.

Abstract

Pediatric hospital medicine (PHM) is the newest subspecialty recognized by the American Board of Pediatrics. The academic focus of PHM has largely centered on clinical, educational, and health services research, quality improvement, and advocacy, with a notable paucity of either basic or translational research. Advances in biomedical technology, which are increasingly affordable and accessible, allow for an improved ability to identify specific patient phenotypes, tailor treatments, and identify patients at high risk for poor outcomes. This approach improves the care of hospitalized children, which is an essential aspect of PHM. Accordingly, there is a fundamental need to start building capacity to support and promote basic science and translational research to strengthen the existing evidence base for the management of hospitalized children. A critical first step is providing the education and support necessary to ensure interested hospitalists are able to succeed as physician scientists. In this perspectives piece, we provide our opinion as early- to midcareer researchers engaged in basic science and translational research in PHM. Although there are translational researchers within the PHM community,1–5 there is currently no framework for formal training in basic and translational research within PHM, nor is there precedent in the adult hospitalist community; therefore, PHM has an opportunity to lead the way for developing basic and translational researchers.6 Despite the current absence of formalized training, hospitalists already possess skills that are directly applicable to the translational world. Hospitalists routinely manage the pathologies from multiple organ systems, focus on coordination …