International Trauma and Injury Prevention Training and Research

(ICTIRT)

Sponsors
Stampar School of Public Health in Zagreb, Croatia
The University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, United States

Rationale
Worldwide, injuries are the leading killer of people from age one through 45, and are a leading cause of disability for all ages. Motor vehicle crashes and numerous forms of violence are two of the leading causes of injury. This program seeks to facilitate the implementation of effective, multidisciplinary strategies for appropriate prevention approaches.

Training
Trainees from eligible participating Public Health Collaboration in South Eastern Europe* will develop skills to conduct research and teach in the area of injury prevention. Focus areas for study include violence prevention, motor vehicle safety, occupational injury prevention, fire safety, drowning prevention, agricultural injuries, traumatic injury from disasters, acute and trauma care, or pre-hospital care. Other injury interests will also be considered. The potential to receive continuing education credit or an academic degree are possible with further study.

Training will consist of:

• 20 hours of preparatory work in trainee's home country using distance learning technology (done at the trainee's convenience)
• One semester (five months) of training at The University of Iowa, during which trainees enroll in three courses and train with a mentor
• Follow-up research projects in the trainee's home country

Trainees receive tuition, housing, and a stipend while training at The University of Iowa. Each trainee's home institution makes a commitment to retain and support him or her during their absence and to provide round-trip airfare to the US. (Travel funds can be applied for, if necessary). An international committee reviews, interviews, and selects trainees from among applicants in the participating countries- usually coming from the participating institutions. Selected trainees are identified as potential or current leaders in their disciplines and institutions.

Resources
The University of Iowa offers many resources for research in injury prevention, which include:

• An Injury Prevention Research Center funded for more than ten years by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• A state-of-the-art Level I Trauma Center and Emergency Department
• Experts in multiple fields of injury prevention, including epidemiology, behavioral health, evaluation, engineering, and medicine, who study broad topics including violence prevention, motor vehicle safety, trauma and critical care, disaster management, fire safety, and occupational injury prevention.

Application
Qualified candidates should:

• Have a strong interest in research and/or teaching related to traumatic injury prevention.
• Be considered as an early- or mid-career professional.
• Have English speaking, reading, and writing skills in order to complete educational and research objectives.

Interested candidates should send a CV and a letter of interest to Kristina Venke (kristina-venzke@uiowa.edu). CVs should give complete information as to educational background and experience.

The letter of interest should be no more than one or two pages in length, and should develop in your own words the reasons for your interest in this fellowship, and/or your future goals over the next 5-10 years. Outline your specific disciplinary interests. Please also list the names and contact information for two people who would be willing to support your candidacy with a letter of reference.

Questions about the training can be directed to Kristina Venzke.

*Eligible countries include:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Kosovo
• Macedonia Albania
• Moldova
• Serbia and Montenegro
• Romania