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Contributors JCC, KLR, KLK, NLD, DR, and RMA designed the study and wrote the protocol. JCC, CLH, JAT enrolled participants and performed the data collection. JCC, CLH, JAT, KLR, and JS performed the qualitative data analysis. JS, MJ, NMD, GAR added insights in understanding and contextualizing the thematic findings within the context of the current field of perinatal marijuana research. JCC wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed to and have approved the final manuscript.

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With today’s focus on the translation of basic science discoveries into clinical practice, the demand for physician-scientists is growing. Yet, physicians have always found it challenging to juggle the demands of clinical care with the time required to perform research. The Research on Careers Workgroup of the Institute for Clinical Research Education at the University of Pittsburgh developed a comprehensive model for career success that would address, and allow for the evaluation of, the personal factors, organizational factors, and their interplay that contribute to career success. With this model, leaders of training programs could identify early opportunities for intervening with potential physician-scientists to ensure career success. Through an iterative process described in this article, the authors identified and examined potential models for career success from the literature, added other elements determined to be significant, and developed a comprehensive model to assess factors associated with career success for physician-scientists. The authors also present examples of ways in which this model can be adapted and applied to specific situations to assess the effects of different factors on career success.

Objective To describe obstetric health care providers’ responses and counseling approaches to patients’ disclosures of marijuana use during first prenatal visits. Methods We performed a content analysis of audio-recorded patient–health care provider first prenatal visits for obstetrics health care providers’ responses to patients’ disclosure of marijuana use. The study was conducted at five urban outpatient clinics located in Pittsburgh, PA. Results Among 468 audio-recorded first obstetric encounters, 90 patients (19%) disclosed marijuana use to 47 health care providers; mean number of recoded encounters containing marijuana disclosures for participating health providers was 1.8+1.4.. In 48% of these 90 visits, obstetric health care providers did not respond to marijuana use disclosures or offer counseling. When counseling was offered, it consisted of general statements without specific information on the risks or outcomes related to marijuana use in pregnancy, discussions regarding the need for urine toxicology testing, and warnings that use detected at the time of delivery would initiate child protective services involvement. Conclusions Obstetric health care provider responses to disclosure of marijuana use occurred in approximately half of patient encounters when marijuana use was disclosed and focused on legal and procedural consequences with less focus on health or medical implications. Our results suggest a need for health care provider training on potential consequences of perinatal marijuana use and communication skills for counseling patients about perinatal marijuana.

Objective To describe obstetric provider attitudes, beliefs, approaches, concerns, and needs about addressing perinatal marijuana use with their pregnant patients. Methods We conducted individual semi-structured interviews with obstetric providers and asked them to describe their thoughts and experiences about addressing perinatal marijuana use. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded and reviewed to identify themes. Results Fifty-one providers participated in semi-structured interviews. Providers admitted they were not familiar with identified risks of marijuana use during pregnancy, they perceived marijuana was not as dangerous as other illicit drugs, and they believed patients did not view marijuana as a drug. Most provider counseling strategies focused on marijuana’s status as an illegal drug and the risk of child protective services being contacted if patients tested positive at time of delivery. Conclusions When counseling about perinatal marijuana use, obstetric providers focus more on legal issues than on health risks. They describe needing more information regarding medical consequences of marijuana use during pregnancy. Practice Implications Provider training should include information about potential consequences of perinatal marijuana use and address ways to improve obstetric providers’ counseling. Future studies should assess changes in providers’ attitudes as more states consider the legalization of marijuana.

Our findings support NephroTalk as an effective communication skills curriculum for nephrology trainees. Fellows increased their communication skills significantly in delivering bad news leading to more efficient encounters.

Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) TL1 trainees and KL2 scholars were surveyed to determine the immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on training and career development. The most negative impact was lack of access to research facilities, clinics, and human subjects, plus for KL2 scholars lack of access to team members and need for homeschooling. TL1 trainees reported having more time to think and write. Common strategies to maintain research productivity involved time management, virtual connections with colleagues, and shifting to research activities not requiring laboratory/clinic settings. Strategies for mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on training and career development are described.