AAFP Inviting Applications for Vaccine Science Fellowship Program

The AAFP is again soliciting applications from members for two one-year vaccine science fellowships.

The fellowship program, which started last year, is intended to develop a cadre of family physician experts who can help the Academy provide effective input into the deliberations and decisions of federal and state public health agencies that set vaccine policies.

The first fellows selected for the program -- Everett Schlam, M.D., assistant director of Mountainside Family Practice Associates, Verona, N.J., and Jamie Loehr, M.D., of Ithaca, N.Y. -- have attended meetings of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, in Atlanta; the National Vaccine Advisory Committee in Washington, D.C.; and the Wisconsin Council for Immunization Practices in Madison. In addition, they have toured a Merck & Co. Inc. manufacturing facility in West Point, Pa.

"It's been an excellent experience with a lot of good education, not only on the science of immunizations but the politics and how decisions are made -- especially with the ACIP," said Schlam, who is scheduled to tour Sanofi Pasteur's Swiftwater, Pa., facility with Loehr in February. "It's been a very good overview of vaccines."

The fellows are mentored by Jonathan Temte, M.D., Ph.D., a professor in the department of family medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, and a member of the ACIP, and Doug Campos-Outcalt, M.D., M.P.A., the AAFP's liaison to the ACIP and associate head of the department of family and community medicine and assistant dean for outreach and multicultural affairs at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix.

Schlam said that during monthly calls with Temte and Campos-Outcast, the two fellows review with their mentors the meetings the fellows have attended, as well as anything new with immunizations, such as development of the vaccine for the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus.

"They're excellent role models," Schlam said. "They have a wealth of knowledge and experience on immunizations and patient education."

Schlam and Loehr, who will complete their fellowships on June 30, both said they valued learning about the process involved in developing vaccine recommendations and seeing the scrutiny of data by ACIP to ensure patient safety.

"I have been especially impressed with the attention to detail at all levels of the process," Loehr said. "For example, the manufacturer takes three years to modify the process of producing vaccines and is regulated by the federal government at every step along the way. The research the CDC does before making decisions on vaccines is stunningly complete."

Schlam said he learned more about dealing with patients who are resistant to immunizations and now knows how to listen better, address their fears and educate them about vaccines. He said he thinks more people will be immunized in his practice in the future.

"I think it's an ideal opportunity for anyone that wants to be more involved with immunizations and the Academy," Schlam said. "It's been a very positive experience."

Applications for the fellowship program are due Feb. 26.

Applicants must be active members of the AAFP who are out of residency and fellowship; they also must be U.S. citizens. Applicants should plan to devote about 10 percent of full-time employment for one year to fellowship program activities. Accordingly, an applicant's institution and/or department chair must submit a letter agreeing to the fellowship time commitment. Applicants also must commit to travel time for appropriate meetings; travel costs are covered by the fellowship.

Prospective candidates are invited to submit a curriculum vitae and letter of interest to Bellinda Schoof, M.H.A., C.P.H.Q., AAFP's scientific affairs manager, via e-mail.

The fellowship program is funded through a grant from Merck & Co. Inc., but the vaccine manufacturer has no input or control over the selection of fellows or the content of the program.