6 for 6 is a family medicine, faculty development program in which doctors from different rural and remote regions around the globe will be accepted annually into a 2-year research skills certificate program. 

This learner-centered program utilizes a blended learning model involving eLearning (online module sessions, web-based and mobile learning with podcasts, and facilitated small group problem solving sessions) and face-to-face learning. 6for6 is built on sound educational curriculum development principals and entail synchronous and asynchronous learning models. There are 6 modules delivered in a hybrid online-offline session format in the first year of the program.  Some modules will be a hybrid of online and in-person sessions, while others will be completely virtual.  The second year of the program is a development year for participants to work on their research projects with the tools, resources, and experienced personnel that the 6for6 program provides.

The name of the program reflects the six participants accepted and the six modules that take place over the first year of study.

The main academic centre is Memorial University’s Faculty of Medicine in St. John's, Newfoundland.

The goal is to support rural family doctors in pursuing research relevant to their practices and their communities. These skills, in turn, will enable participants to help create a research initiative in their region by supporting others in working towards their research goals.

Rural doctors often face greater challenges compared to their urban counterparts given the often extended workload, hours, and resident teaching time in underserved communities and the relative lack of a community of practice that supports scholarly research interests. In addition, rural and remote doctors tend to indicate feelings of isolation from the main academic site in regards to their practice and scholarship.

6for6 addresses rural and remote barriers to scholarship, so participants are motivated to remain in and serve rural and remote communities.  The program also fosters participants' understanding of their local contextual determinants of health and how to utlize their research skills for patient and community advocacy.  Indeed, 6for6 participants and alumni continue to conduct socially accountable research to address the leading health issues of the communities they serve while contributing to rural health scholarship.

The need for a rural and remote research capacity building strategy and development program tailored to the needs of rural and remote doctors was identified following a thorough evaluation of current programs and extensive research involving a literature search, environmental scan, key informant interviews, a focus group session, and needs assessment surveys.

This program is designed to be flexible and self-paced, highly accessible and characterized by peer and mentorship support systems.

The processes and outcomes of the program will be evaluated. Participants will complete pre- and post-program and pre-post session evaluation surveys. These surveys are designed to evaluate the usefulness of program/session content and the effectiveness of program/session design and delivery. These surveys also aim to assess participants’ attitude toward scholarly research, gather feedback specific to participants’ impressions of the program, capture changes in research knowledge and skill, and allow opportunity to address potential areas for program enhancement.

Given the right circumstances, this program could assist with recruitment/retention of doctors to rural and remote areas of the province who are interested in rural health research. In a longitudinal capacity, 6for6 aims to help build and sustain research regional networks within rural areas of the province. It is anticipated that by developing research networks in rural communities, the program will help keep doctors connected to the main academic centre and will help foster communities of practice related to scholarly research. 6for6 may help recruitment/retention by helping faculty gain autonomy over conducting their own research and by promoting the development of community- and province-wide research support systems.

Bi-annually in April.

The dates for the six research skills sessions are yet to be finalized. This information will be distributed to participants via email and listed on our website prior to the commencement of the application process.

To be eligible to apply for this program, you must

• Be a rural or remote family physician, non-GFT
• Have no certification in advanced research skills
• Be able to commit the time to participate in the program

The program participants will be selected based on their geographical location, research interest and leadership skills.

The application is available online here.

• Submit letter of intent
  
• Committee notifies top ten candidates
• Top candidates submit application
  
• Successful applicants notified

Program participants will be expected to come to the main campus two to four times over a 12-month period.  The remaining sessions will be held virtually.

Participants are expected to attend, either virtually or online, the six faculty development sessions taking place over the program period. In addition to these sessions, ongoing self-paced involvement in independent eLearning modules, small group learning sessions, and podcasts are required. Each participant will have a personal mentor and the support of a research assistant to aid them with the program and their individual research project.

Upon completion of the program, each participant will be encouraged to contribute to the building of a local regional network of doctors interested in research. These individuals will be able to utilize the knowledge they acquire through the program to lead this group, act as a liaison with resources and support systems at the main academic centre, and pass along their acquired knowledge and skills to their regional research group.

Airfare  
If traveling by air, participants are permitted to claim the cost of the flights for each time they travel to St. John’s for their face-to-face sessions. All air travel on scheduled flights should be made at the lowest attainable cost and should not exceed the economy fare.

Private Vehicle 
If traveling by private vehicle, mileage from departure (rural) location to the hotel in St. John's can be claimed as per the University rate per kilometer.

Hotel
Participants will be reimbursed for a maximum period beginning with the night before the date that the 6for6 session begins and including the night it ends.  For the first iteration of the program, the rate provided by the Capital Hotel was deemed acceptable for reimbursement (as per program budgetary guidelines). This rate may be subject to change for future offerings of the program.

Meals
Participants will be reimbursed the cost of purchased meals during the face-to-face sessions. Reimbursement will be based on a per diem rate of $10 for breakfast, $15 for lunch, and $25 for dinner.

Participants in the program will not be required to travel outside NL.

A Project Coordinator has been hired to specifically support 6for6 program participants with their research endeavors, act as their main liaison and campus connection, and coordinate the curriculum development plans and program evaluation for the 6for6 program.

In addition to the assistance of the Project Coordinator, each 6for6 participant will have access to their own mentor in the program.

Yes.  The program is offered bi-annually.

Access to a computer and the Internet will be required for the eLearning component of the program.

Yes. This is a certificate program and all participants who successfully complete the program will receive a Certificate of Achievement in Rural Research and Scholarship. The 6for6 program has been accrediated for 504 MainPro+ credits from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).  In addition, the program has been accredited for 168 Section 1 - MOC Education Credits through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPS).