Scientific overview: CSCI-CITAC Annual General Meeting and Young Investigator's Forum 2013.

The 2013 joint Canadian Society of Clinician Investigators (CSCI)-Clinical Investigator Trainee Association of Canada/Association des cliniciens-chercheurs en formation du Canada (CITAC/ACCFC) annual general meeting(AGM) was held in Ottawa, September 2013. The symposium focused on "Applications of the 'omics' to Clinical Practice", with presentations from Drs. William T. Gibson (University of British Columbia), Julie Ho (University of Manitoba) and David Hwang (University of Toronto), discussing topics of genome, proteome and the microbiome, respectively. Other highlights from the 2013 AGM include presentations by Dr. Salim Yusuf (McMaster University, 2013 CSCI-RCPSC Henry Friesen Award winner), Dr. Gary Lewis (University of Toronto, 2013 CSCI Distinguished Scientist Award winner) and Dr. Michael Taylor (University of Toronto, 2013 Joe Doupe Award winner). The CSCI/CITAC/Friends of CIHR Joint Symposium consisted of presentations from Drs. John Bell (University of Ottawa), Dan Drucker (University of Toronto) and Heather J. Dean (University of Manitoba). Finally, the meeting ended with the presentation "The Power of an Idea to Bring Ideas to Power" by Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg (President, U.S. Institute of Medicine), the winner of the 2013 Henry Friesen International Prize. Also presented at the conference was research by clinician investigator (CI) trainees from across Canada; ie., those enrolled in MD/MSc, MD/PhD or Clinician Investigator Program(CIP) programs. Canadian trainees' research extended beyond the pillar of biomedical research, covering the spectrum between basic and clinical research, with a focus on the causes of significant morbidity and mortality for Canadians, including cancers, infectious diseases and other maladies. It is this research that we have summarized in this review.

Scientific overview: CSCI - CITAC Annual General Meeting and Young Investigator's Forum 2012.

In 2012, the Annual General Meeting of the Clinical Investigator Trainee Association of Canada - Association des cliniciens-chercheurs en formation du Canada (CITAC - ACCFC) and the Canadian Society of Clinician Investigators (CSCI) was held 19-21 September in Ottawa. Several globally-renowned scientists, including 2012 Friesen International Prize recipient, Dr. Marc Tessier-Lavigne, the CSCI/Royal College Henry Friesen Award recipient, Dr. Morley Hollenberg, and the recipient of the Joe Doupe Young Investigator Award, Dr. Phillip Awadalla, presented on a range of topics on research in basic and translational science in medicine. This year's CITAC Symposium featured presentations by Dr. Alain Beaudet, Dr. Michael Strong and Dr. Vivek Goel on the Role of Physician Scientists in Public Health and Policy, which was followed by a lively discussion on the role of basic science and clinical research in patient-oriented policy development. This scientific overview highlights the research presented by trainees at both the oral plenary and poster presentation sessions. As at previous meetings, research questions investigated by this year's trainees span multiple medical disciplines; from basic science to clinical research to medical education. Below is a summary of the presentations showcased at the Young Investigator's Forum.

It begins with the right supervisor: importance of mentorship and clinician-investigator trainee satisfaction levels in Canada.

PURPOSE: Clinician Investigator Trainee Association of Canada/ Association des cliniciens-chercheurs en formation du Canada (CITAC/ACCFC) represents the interests of clinician-investigator (CI) trainees across Canada. To better advocate for the successful training of CI trainees in Canada, CITAC/ACCFC conducted a survey to assess satisfaction with their training and to find what factors were most associated with satisfaction level. METHODS: A nominal scale-based psychometric survey was conducted online in 2009 on CI trainees in Canada (including MD/MSc, MD/PhD, or CIP/SSP). One hundred fifteen out of a target population of approximately 350-400 responded. Survey respondents were asked to rate their level of satisfaction in four areas: 1) quality of training, 2) financial support, 3) mentorship satisfaction and 4) program structure. Ratings in these four areas were also combined to produce a measure of overall satisfaction. RESULTS: At least half of the respondents were 'completely satisfied' in each of the four categories other than mentorship. While 98% of respondents considered mentorship as important to their success, 62% expressed some level of dissatisfaction with the level of mentorship received. Moreover, increased levels of mentorship were strongly associated with increased levels of overall satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The discrepancy between CI trainees' perceived importance of mentorship and the level of satisfaction in mentorship received reveals a strategic area where CI training should be improved. Recognizing that good mentorship in a CI training program often begins with one's research supervisor, the CITAC/ACCFC has compiled six specific recommendations for finding a good supervisor.