About the Program
Learn about our history, mission, and the comprehensive training environment we provide to aspiring pediatric researchers at every stage of their career.
Mission, Vision & Values
Mission
To train and empower the next generation of pediatric researchers to revolutionize child health through cutting-edge research, compassionate care, and innovative discovery.
Vision
A thriving, inclusive research community at Cook Children's where every trainee — regardless of background or level — has the mentorship, resources, and opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to pediatric medicine.
Values
Excellence, integrity, collaboration, diversity, and a steadfast commitment to improving outcomes for children and families across North Texas and beyond.
How the PRTP Works
The PRTP is not a single program — it is a coordinated pipeline of training tracks, each designed for a specific stage of a researcher's development.
Origins & Formal Establishment
What began in 2013 as an informal medical student placement effort — connecting roughly 25 students per year with physician-scientists at Cook Children's, an independent academic pediatric health care system — has grown into one of the most structured pediatric research training ecosystems in the Southwest. For over a decade, the program operated through individual faculty relationships and departmental goodwill, producing peer-reviewed publications, national award winners, and a steady stream of physician-scientists who credit Cook Children's as the place their research identity was formed.
In December 2024, that informal network was formally recognized and elevated: the Pediatric Research Training Program was established as its own division within Cook Children's Division of Research Administration. This structural change was not cosmetic — it came with dedicated leadership, a governance framework, a formal strategic plan, and the institutional mandate to scale.
Today, the PRTP operates with a clear organizational identity, a defined curriculum, and a 2025–2029 Strategic Plan that charts a course from roughly 100 active trainees to 500–750 annually by 2030 — without sacrificing the individualized mentorship that has always defined the program's culture.
A True Pipeline: Training at Every Level
Unlike programs that serve a single learner population, the PRTP is intentionally designed to reach aspiring researchers at every stage — creating continuity from first exposure through independent scholarship.
RISE Program (Launching 2027)
Immersive summer research experiences introducing high school students to hypothesis-driven science in a real clinical research environment. Designed to spark early interest and build foundational scientific literacy.
Undergraduate Research Track
Structured placements pairing undergraduate students from 7+ partner universities with faculty mentors. Students contribute to active research projects, develop technical skills, and build their academic portfolios.
Graduate Research Track
Mentored research and administrative experiences for graduate-level students pursuing advanced degrees in clinical research management, public health, and health administration. PRTP partners with UNT Health and is actively expanding to additional graduate programs.
Medical Student Research Program
The program's longest-running track, placing 75+ medical students annually with physician-scientist mentors. Students complete original research projects, submit manuscripts, and present at regional and national conferences.
Post-Graduate Research Track
Mentored research experiences building foundational skills in study design, data analysis, and scholarly communication. Prepares residents for competitive research opportunities and future academic or clinical research roles.
Research Disciplines
Trainees are matched with mentors across a wide spectrum of pediatric subspecialties, ensuring that research interests — not just availability — drive placement decisions. Active research areas include:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery
- Pulmonology & Respiratory
- Neurology & Neuroscience
- Infectious Disease
- Neonatology
- Health Services Research
- Endocrinology & Metabolism
- Gastroenterology
- Orthopedics & Rehabilitation
- Behavioral Health
- AI & Data Science in Medicine
The Mentorship Model
Mentorship at the PRTP is not incidental — it is the program's structural backbone. Every trainee is assigned both a Physician Mentor (a physician-scientist with active research) and a Research Scientist Mentor (a masters or doctoral-prepared research scientist), creating a layered support system that strengthens both the clinical and scientific dimensions of a trainee's development.
The program targets a 1:2 mentor-to-trainee ratio — a standard that distinguishes PRTP from larger, less personalized programs. In return, mentors gain dedicated support for their own lingering research ideas and receive recognition within the PRTP and the broader Cook Children's research community.
Trainee satisfaction data consistently reflects this investment: more than 95% of surveyed trainees report satisfaction with their mentorship experience — a metric the program tracks rigorously and takes seriously.
Five Strategic Goals
Our five-year strategic plan represents an ambitious but carefully phased expansion, ensuring quality is never sacrificed for growth.
Sustain Strong Institutional Support
Formalize governance, expand the team, and secure long-term program infrastructure.
Enhance Research Skills & Productivity
Deliver a comprehensive, evidence-based core curriculum across all trainee levels.
Foster a Robust Research Environment
Build a cross-specialty mentorship network, regular seminars, and resource access.
Foster Collaboration & Interdisciplinary Research
Create cross-institutional partnerships and fund interdisciplinary research projects.
Support Long-Term Career Development
Equip trainees with grant-writing, leadership, and dissemination skills for lifelong impact.
Program Features
Real Research Experience
Trainees formulate hypotheses, design and execute studies, analyze data, prepare manuscripts, and present findings at scientific meetings.
Individualized Mentorship
Pediatric physicians and scientists across specialties serve as primary and secondary research mentors, with a target 1:2 mentor-to-trainee ratio.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
Access to advanced research cores including genomics, biostatistics, imaging, and biorepository services at Cook Children's Medical Center.
National Network
Connections to national pediatric research consortia and 7+ university and medical school partners.
Grant Writing Support
Dedicated workshops and one-on-one coaching for grant applications, with a target of obtaining intramural seed funding.
Conference Participation
Funding and support for presenting research at local, regional, and national pediatric conferences.
Program Milestones
Medical student research training program launched at Cook Children's; ~25 students placed annually
Trainees earn 1st Place E-Poster Award at Texas Society of Pediatrics
Expanded university partnerships to include UTA and additional regional institutions
Launch of diversity and inclusion initiatives; cross-specialty mentorship network formalized
PRTP officially established as its own division within Cook Children's Division of Research Administration (December 2024)
2025–2029 Strategic Plan launched; governance structure formalized; grant-writing workshops initiated
RISE high school immersion program launches (25 students/year); AI/data science curriculum integrated
Target: 500–750 annual trainees; Cook Children's Scholarly Journal established
Accreditation & Affiliations
Our program maintains the highest standards of research training through affiliations with leading academic institutions and professional organizations.
Meet Our Mentors
The PRTP's greatest asset is its people. Our faculty are physician-scientists, research scientists, and clinical specialists who bring deep expertise — and genuine enthusiasm for teaching — to every mentorship relationship.
Every trainee is paired with both a Physician Mentor and a Research Scientist Mentor, creating a layered support system that strengthens both the clinical and scientific dimensions of their development.