careers. Content analysis of the semi-structured interviews wasperformed by a team of four researchers using an iterativecoding process. The goal of these analyses is to informdevelopment of mentorship and research training programsfor CAM researchers.Summary of Results: Three key themes that emerged fromthese analyses are of particular interest to educators: 1) im-portance of recognizing and navigating the career path for aclinician researcher, 2) benefits of participation in research,and 3) unique challenges to professional capacity building.Comments showed that respondents had varying understand-ing of the milestones needed to progress in a research career,and of the personal and professional advantages of researchparticipation. Respondents also articulated the uniquechallenges of establishing and maintaining CAM researchcareers.Conclusion: CAM clinicians seek opportunities to contributeto research in various capacities; from research literatepractitioner, to study clinician, to funded principalinvestigator. The educational path for CAM practitioners toparticipate in research is not well-defined and is not “one sizefits all.” In order to develop a highly skilled CAM researchworkforce it is essential to establish training, infrastructureand funding opportunities to engage in research. Themesemerging from content analysis will be discussed.

Contact: Kimberly Tippens, ktippens@ncnm.edu

Research Scholars: A Faculty Development Pro-gram to Advance Evidence Informed Practice

Roni Evans, Glori Hinck, and Michele Maiers

Northwestern Health Sciences University, Bloomington, Minne-

sota, United States

Background: Faculty members at complementary andintegrative medicine (CIM) institutions have traditionallyhad fewer opportunities to hone their evidence informedpractice (EIP) and research related skills than their conven-tional medicine colleagues. Northwestern Health SciencesUniversity has received funding through an R25 to partnerwith the University of Minnesota to enhance use of researchamong CIM practitioners. This presentation focuses on asuccessful Research Scholars program which provides facultythe opportunity and resources to enhance their EIP andresearch skills.Summary of Work: A workshop format is used for Scholars Iand II. Activities include facilitated group discussions, exe-rcises focusing on using research to make evidence informeddecisions, and creating and disseminating scholarly work.Both entail 36 hours of participation (for which faculty aregranted release time) and require completion of a capstoneproject. Scholars III is a guided research experience in whichfaculty seek out a mentor, and work with them to design,

implement and publish an original educational or clinicalresearch study.Summary of Results: 25% of faculty have participated in atleast one of the programs. Surveys of graduating Scholarsdemonstrate greater confidence in their EIP skills than thegeneral faculty population. Satisfaction rates are high withappreciation for the opportunity to interact with colleaguesand mentors while enhancing skills. Presentations of capstoneprojects at faculty conferences have been well received andhave increased interest in the monthly event. Scholargraduates are increasingly integrating research into theircoursework and improving the quality of the academiccurricula.Conclusion: The Research Scholars Program created anopportunity for faculty dialogue and EIP skill developmentthat was not previously available at NWHSU. It has provideda forum for faculty across academic programs to learntogether in a manner that inspires them to create innovativestudent educational programs.

Contact: Glori Hinck, jsession@nwhealth.edu

A Pilot Curriculum and Faculty DevelopmentProgram for Advancing Evidence Informed Prac-tice in the Integrated Acupuncture and OrientalMedicine Clinical Environment

Barbara Gosse,1 Roni Evans,2 Louise Delagran,3

Patricia Casello-Maddox,1 Lori Baldwin,2

and Michelle Maiers2

1 Northwestern Health Sciences University, Minneapolis, Minne-

sota, United States

2 Northwestern Health Sciences University, Bloomington, Min-

nesota, United States

3 Center for Spirituality and Healing, University of Minnesota,

Minneapolis, United States

Background: Northwestern Health Sciences University(NWHSU) is conducting an education project (R-25AT003582)funded by the National Center of Complementary andAlternative Medicine (NCCAM) with the broad objectiveof facilitating evidence informed practice (EIP). A naturalextension of this project has been to provide both piloted EIPfaculty development, as well as pre-clinical and clincialcurriculum for the College of Acupuncture and OrientalMedicine (CAOM) professional program.Summary of Work: Evaluation for the CAOM projectincludes qualitative and quantitative data collection, andEIP “deliverables” assessed in piloted pre-clinical classroom,selected internship environments (integrated allopathic acutecare, transitional care and long-term care) and advancedclincial medicine coursework in the curriculum.Summary of Results: NWHSU classroom and clinical facultyhave been actively engaged in EIP foundational training

Abstracts EXPLORE September/October 2013, Vol. 9, No. 5 325