Clinical Investigation: News & Events

Clinical Investigation Program to Close in 2010

The Board of Trustees of the MGH Institute of Health Professions has voted to close its Graduate Program in Clinical Investigation after an in-depth internal review process.

“Closing an academic program is a weighty decision,” MGH Institute President Dr. Janis P. Bellack said. “I am confident that the trustees' decision, while difficult and disappointing to many, is ultimately in the Institute's best interest.” Dr. Bellack cited declining enrollment as a key factor in the Board’s decision.

The clinical investigation program, the first of its kind in the United States when it was launched ten years ago, has been instrumental in helping lay the ground work for academic clinical investigation programs nationwide.

“We continue to be proud of the program, its graduates, and its many accomplishments,” Dr. Bellack said. “We can be proud of the many contributions of the program to the MGH Institute’s mission and goals, and it will always remain a part of the Institute’s heritage and legacy.”

The clinical investigation program – which has awarded 58 Master of Science degrees and 37 Certificates of Advanced Study – is no longer accepting new students, and the last graduating class will finish in 2010. Program faculty are working with current students to design a course of study to help them complete their degree or certificate requirements over the next two years.

Dr. Bellack noted that the MGH Institute, a graduate school founded by Massachusetts General Hospital in 1977, continues to grow. The MGH Institute recently held its largest Commencement ceremony, graduating 308 students. The campus will expand later this year into two additional buildings in the historic Charlestown Navy Yard to accommodate the increasing number of students being prepared as advanced practice health professionals through a distinctive combination of academic study, clinical practice, and research.

NEWS: James Parmentier Honored by ACRP Chapter

James L. Parmentier, PhD, Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Graduate Program in Clinical Investigation, was presented with the Clinical Researcher of the Year Award at the November 2007 Symposium of the New England Chapter of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals. Dr. Parmentier was recognized for his advocacy of elevating the professional image of clinical researchers and the important role that they play. Dr. Parmentier currently serves as President of the Consortium of Academic Programs in Clinical Research.

 At the same November Symposium, Dr. Delia Wolf '99, gave a presentation titled, "Is Doing the Right Thing Enough for Ensuring Regulatory Compliance in Conducting and Managing Clinical Research?" Dr. Wolf was the first person to receive a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation from the MGH Institute.

NEWS: Bryan Bergeron, MD, Appointed Acting Program Director

Bryan Bergeron, MD, has been appointed Acting Director of the Graduate Program in Clinical Investigation, effective August 1, 2007. Dr. Bergeron is a physician, technologist, researcher and educator. As President of Archetype Technologies, Inc., Bergeron provides technology consulting to businesses and academia, develops grant proposals and white papers, and speaks internationally on the intersection of technology and business. Representative roles and clients include scientific support for Partners HealthCare and the MGH Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, including support for the Harvard Anesthesia Multimedia project.

Most recently, Bergeron has been involved in bioterrorism preparedness. He designed a web portal for training physicians to recognize and treat Class A and Class B biologicals, an intelligent tutoring system for the US Army’s Advanced Technology group, and given lectures on bioterrorism risk assessment.