Professional Development Core

The primary goal of the Professional Development Core (PDC) is to provide comprehensive didactic training and
mentorship in clinical research.

• The intended recipients of PDC training and education would be individuals who have received TRANSCEND clinical and translational research funds or are interested in enhancing their skills in order to pursue TRANSCEND funds.
• The fundamental elements of the PDC will include a didactic curriculum regarding practical
  issues associated with clinical research.
• Also, there will be a multifaceted mentoring program that utilizes individual mentorship, group mentorship, and consultation mentorship to provide mentees with comprehensive guidance in terms of clinical research knowledge, and professional development.
• The overarching goals of the PDC can be characterized by the following set of specific aims:
  • Aim 1 will be to integrate clinical and scientific resources from the Sanford Health system with two North Dakota universities to propel clinical research training in the region.
  • Aim 2 is to create a comprehensive clinical and translational didactic training program that relies on a variety of modalities for clinical research teaching.
  • Aim 3 is to create a multifaceted mentorship program for early career scientists and clinicians
    interested in enhancing clinical and translational research skills.

PDC Core Faculty

Stephen Wonderlich, PhD - Core Lead

Dr. Stephen Wonderlich is Vice President for Research at Sanford Health and Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the University of North Dakota School Of Medicine. He will serve as Director of the Professional Development Core. He has been affiliated with Sanford for ten years and assumed the role of Vice President for Research in 2018. He has been a member of the UND School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science faculty since 1987 when he came to UND. Over the last 35 years, Dr. Wonderlich has held many administrative, clinical, teaching, and research positions at both the University of North Dakota and Sanford Health/Research.

Paul Carson, MD - Core Co-Lead

Dr. Paul Carson is an infectious disease specialist who has practiced in MN and ND for over 30 years.  He previously held several roles at Sanford Health including Chair of the Dept of Infectious Disease, Director of Clinical Research, and Chief Quality Officer.  In 2013, he joined the faculty of North Dakota State University in the Dept. of Public Health where he taught on the management of infectious diseases in the Master of Public Health graduate program, and founded and directed the Center for Immunization Research and Education (CIRE).  While at NDSU, he was the recipient of the Mary J. Berg Excellence in Teaching Award, the NDSU Faculty Lectureship Award, and the NDMA Physician Community & Professional  Services Award.  He recently retired from NDSU but remains on faculty in the department of public health as an Emeritus Professor as well as a Professor in the UNDSMHS, and currently works part-time as a clinical research faculty member at Sanford Health.