Bridging research and practice in a learning health system: Developing and refining an embedded scholars program through insights from scholars and clinical mentors

Abstract Introduction A learning health system (LHS) necessitates collaboration to produce translational health research. This experience report examines the integration of Clemson University scholars into clinical departments of Prisma Health–Upstate in South Carolina, highlighting their experience...

Full beskrivning

Sparad:
Bibliografiska uppgifter
Huvudupphovsmän: Windsor Westbrook Sherrill, Luke Hall, Lawrence Fredendall, Janet Hoffman Evatt
Materialtyp: Artikel
Språk:engelska
Publicerad: Wiley 2025-07-01
Serie:Learning Health Systems
Ämnen:
Länkar:https://doi.org/10.1002/lrh2.10481
Taggar: Lägg till en tagg
Inga taggar, Lägg till första taggen!
_version_ 1839627562977853440
author Windsor Westbrook Sherrill
Luke Hall
Lawrence Fredendall
Janet Hoffman Evatt
author_facet Windsor Westbrook Sherrill
Luke Hall
Lawrence Fredendall
Janet Hoffman Evatt
author_sort Windsor Westbrook Sherrill
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction A learning health system (LHS) necessitates collaboration to produce translational health research. This experience report examines the integration of Clemson University scholars into clinical departments of Prisma Health–Upstate in South Carolina, highlighting their experiences working alongside clinician mentors to inform and facilitate research translation. Particularly, this study aims to explore the interpersonal and structural factors influencing the success of an embedded scholar program, focusing on enablers and barriers to collaboration, knowledge integration, and mentorship within the LHS. Methods Nine embedded scholar and 12 mentor semi‐structured interviews were conducted. This qualitative study initially used an inductive technique to analyze responses thematically. After thematic saturation was achieved, deductive analysis was utilized to further organize enablers and barriers across the following five categories: (1) Scholar Integration, (2) Scholar Autonomy, (3) Mentor Support, (4) Programmatic Outcomes, and (5) Institutional Dynamics. Results We found 10 major program‐related enablers and barriers to successfully embedding scholars. These were clinical environment adaptation, mentor interaction, research management, balance of independence, role clarity, resource provision, research application and quality, scholar development, organizational support, and policy and procedure alignment. Findings reveal that effective mentorship, organizational alignment, and resource availability are critical enablers of program success, while misaligned expectations, limited institutional support, and insufficient scholar integration into clinical environments are barriers. Conclusion Evaluating specific components of embedded scholar programs can uncover best practices and innovation opportunities in the LHS. These provide a great opportunity to enhance the mentorship mechanisms between clinical mentors and embedded researchers. As research on embedded scholars in a LHS progresses, fostering structured mentoring relationships may serve as an impetus to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. Further study is needed to operationalize these relationships effectively.
format Article
id doaj-art-04e20b7de8ba4d37b46d2eb9551cbdd6
institution Matheson Library
issn 2379-6146
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Learning Health Systems
spelling doaj-art-04e20b7de8ba4d37b46d2eb9551cbdd62025-07-16T08:06:36ZengWileyLearning Health Systems2379-61462025-07-0193n/an/a10.1002/lrh2.10481Bridging research and practice in a learning health system: Developing and refining an embedded scholars program through insights from scholars and clinical mentorsWindsor Westbrook Sherrill0Luke Hall1Lawrence Fredendall2Janet Hoffman Evatt3Clemson University School of Health Research Clemson South Carolina USAClemson University School of Health Research Clemson South Carolina USAClemson University School of Health Research Clemson South Carolina USAClemson University School of Health Research Clemson South Carolina USAAbstract Introduction A learning health system (LHS) necessitates collaboration to produce translational health research. This experience report examines the integration of Clemson University scholars into clinical departments of Prisma Health–Upstate in South Carolina, highlighting their experiences working alongside clinician mentors to inform and facilitate research translation. Particularly, this study aims to explore the interpersonal and structural factors influencing the success of an embedded scholar program, focusing on enablers and barriers to collaboration, knowledge integration, and mentorship within the LHS. Methods Nine embedded scholar and 12 mentor semi‐structured interviews were conducted. This qualitative study initially used an inductive technique to analyze responses thematically. After thematic saturation was achieved, deductive analysis was utilized to further organize enablers and barriers across the following five categories: (1) Scholar Integration, (2) Scholar Autonomy, (3) Mentor Support, (4) Programmatic Outcomes, and (5) Institutional Dynamics. Results We found 10 major program‐related enablers and barriers to successfully embedding scholars. These were clinical environment adaptation, mentor interaction, research management, balance of independence, role clarity, resource provision, research application and quality, scholar development, organizational support, and policy and procedure alignment. Findings reveal that effective mentorship, organizational alignment, and resource availability are critical enablers of program success, while misaligned expectations, limited institutional support, and insufficient scholar integration into clinical environments are barriers. Conclusion Evaluating specific components of embedded scholar programs can uncover best practices and innovation opportunities in the LHS. These provide a great opportunity to enhance the mentorship mechanisms between clinical mentors and embedded researchers. As research on embedded scholars in a LHS progresses, fostering structured mentoring relationships may serve as an impetus to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. Further study is needed to operationalize these relationships effectively.https://doi.org/10.1002/lrh2.10481embedded scholarlearning health systemsorganizational theoryresearch collaborationresearch policy
spellingShingle Windsor Westbrook Sherrill
Luke Hall
Lawrence Fredendall
Janet Hoffman Evatt
Bridging research and practice in a learning health system: Developing and refining an embedded scholars program through insights from scholars and clinical mentors
Learning Health Systems
embedded scholar
learning health systems
organizational theory
research collaboration
research policy
title Bridging research and practice in a learning health system: Developing and refining an embedded scholars program through insights from scholars and clinical mentors
title_full Bridging research and practice in a learning health system: Developing and refining an embedded scholars program through insights from scholars and clinical mentors
title_fullStr Bridging research and practice in a learning health system: Developing and refining an embedded scholars program through insights from scholars and clinical mentors
title_full_unstemmed Bridging research and practice in a learning health system: Developing and refining an embedded scholars program through insights from scholars and clinical mentors
title_short Bridging research and practice in a learning health system: Developing and refining an embedded scholars program through insights from scholars and clinical mentors
title_sort bridging research and practice in a learning health system developing and refining an embedded scholars program through insights from scholars and clinical mentors
topic embedded scholar
learning health systems
organizational theory
research collaboration
research policy
url https://doi.org/10.1002/lrh2.10481
work_keys_str_mv AT windsorwestbrooksherrill bridgingresearchandpracticeinalearninghealthsystemdevelopingandrefininganembeddedscholarsprogramthroughinsightsfromscholarsandclinicalmentors
AT lukehall bridgingresearchandpracticeinalearninghealthsystemdevelopingandrefininganembeddedscholarsprogramthroughinsightsfromscholarsandclinicalmentors
AT lawrencefredendall bridgingresearchandpracticeinalearninghealthsystemdevelopingandrefininganembeddedscholarsprogramthroughinsightsfromscholarsandclinicalmentors
AT janethoffmanevatt bridgingresearchandpracticeinalearninghealthsystemdevelopingandrefininganembeddedscholarsprogramthroughinsightsfromscholarsandclinicalmentors