A network of trained physician researchers working in partnership with the ORC would substantially increase the impact of clinical research on developing an evidence base for osteopathic medicine. An example of a major study that could be conducted through the
CONCORD-PBRN would look at how OMT is used in clinical practice to treat patients with chronic low back pain. Over a period of five years, the ORC, working with 24 physician researchers trained through the CONCORD-PBRN, anticipates recruiting and collecting data on more than 5,000 subjects. Having a network of trained physician researchers means that no one practice or individual bears an
unrealistic burden to recruit subjects for a study.

CONCORD-PBRN is a unique approach to developing a practice-based research network for the osteopathic profession
because it focuses on a realistic pathway for training physician researchers.

CONCORD-PBRN uses Extended Weekend Seminars as the foundation of its training component. Each fellow selected for the program commits to attending six Extended Weekend Seminars at the ORC, located on the University of North Texas Health Science Center campus in Fort Worth, Texas. Workshops are held all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday in February, April, June, August, October and December. We anticipate having the next class of fellows start the didactic training in the fall of 2013, pending funding to support the program.

Topics covered during each annual cycle of six Extended Weekend Seminars include:

• Clinical Research Design - 24 hours
• Epidemiology -19 hours
• Biostatistics - 27 hours
• Human Subjects Research - 10 hours
• Critical Analysis of the Biomedical Literature - 20 hours
• Miscellaneous Topics - 46 hours
• Practicum Research Planning - 16 hours

In addition to the 162 hours of classroom training, the PBRN fellows will work closely with the ORC for at least two years to collect data on patients with chronic low back pain.

The ORC plans to conduct a site visit at each fellow’s practice location during the first year of data collection, and will guide fellows throughout the research and publication process.

Richard A. Vincent, MBA
Osteopathic Heritage Foundations
Program Advisor

One member from each class of CONCORD-PBRN fellows will also be named to the advisory board. In addition, other members may be named to the board over time. The board will convene three times each year - once in Fort Worth, once at the American Osteopathic Association Osteopathic Medical Conference and Exposition and once by teleconference.

The ORC had initially sought to accept eight fellows into the inaugural 2011 class. Based on the quality and number of applicants to the CONCORD-PBRN training program, 14 fellows were accepted for the 2011 class.

Reem Abu-Sbaih, DO
New York College of Osteopathic Medicine at the New York Institute of Technology
Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine

Murray Berkowitz, DO, MA, MS, MPH
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia Campus
Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine and Preventive Medicine

D’Arcie Chitwood, DO, MPH
University of North Texas Health Science Center -Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Geriatric Fellow/Internal Medicine

William Devine, DO¹
Midwestern University-Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Family Practice and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine

Robin Dyer, DO¹
Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Family Practice and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine

Marcel Fraix, DO
Western University of Health Sciences-College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Deborah Heath, DO
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences-School of Osteopathic Medicine, Mesa
Family Practice and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine

Amber Heck, PhD
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Molecular Biology

Stephen Miller, DO, MPH
Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Family Practice

Natalie Nevins, DO, MSHPE²
Downey Regional Medical Center, Downey, Calif.
Family Practice and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine

Mark Sanders, DO, MPH, JD¹
Midwestern University-Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Family Practice

Kevin Treffer, DO¹
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences-College of Osteopathic Medicine
Family Practice and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine

Peter Zajac, DO
Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine
Family Practice

¹ Department Chair
² Director of Medical Education and Residency Program Director

The CONCORD-PBRN fellows represent 12 colleges of osteopathic medicine and one hospital, the CONCORD-PBRN directors represent two colleges of osteopathic medicine and one hospital, and the CONCORD-PBRN Advisory Board members represent three colleges of osteopathic medicine and one foundation. In total, 14 different colleges of osteopathic medicine, two hospitals and one foundation are represented in the CONCORD-PBRN.

Dr. Licciardone and Ms. Kearns had the opportunity to update participants at the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Annual Meeting, held April 7-10 in Bethesda, Md., on the CONCORD-PBRN. Participants received information through a 20-minute brief presentation and a poster.

Additional information about the CONCORD-PBRN was included in the ORC's Second and Third Quarters 2010, First Quarter 2010, Fourth Quarter 2009 and Second Quarter 2009 newsletters.

The need for a practice-based research network in the osteopathic profession was discussed by Dr. Licciardone in his editorial in Osteopathic Medicine and Primary Care titled, "Time for the Osteopathic Profession to Take the Lead in Musculoskeletal Research."