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Dr. Emily Lukacz

M.A.S 2005

Current Position:

Assistant Professor of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, UCSD

Board Certification: OB/GYN

Research Emphasis: Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery

Education

2005    M.A.S., Clinical Research, UCSD

2003    Certificate, Clinical Research
           Enhancement through Supplemental Training, UCSD

2003    Fellow, Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery,
           Dept. of Reproductive Medicine, UCSD

2000    Residency, Dept. of Reproductive Medicine, UCSD

1996    M.D., University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI

1992    B.A., Behavioral Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Winning a career-boosting grant to better deliver treatment protocols

Is “extraordinary” your reaction to the idea of a board-certified M.D. heading back to the classroom to earn a Master’s in clinical research through supplemental training?

Dr. Emily Lukacz is indeed extraordinary—but her strategy is entirely practical.

With extensive clinical experience in the treatment of female pelvic floor disorders, Emily sought to better understand the epidemiology to target potential prevention measures. She and co-investigator Dr. Karl Luber set their sights on obtaining an NIH grant to fund an important part of this work.

Emily learned the vital aspects of grant writing and study design through the M.A.S. program and was successful in drafting a proposal ultimately accepted and funded by the NIH. Here’s how.

Real-world benefits

The program at UCSD delivers unique and relevant benefits for each student. Program highlights for Emily included:

Faculty oversight/mentoring: Developing winning proposals may seem like an art and a science, but there’s a stringent formula for success, as experienced award-winners know. Through the Clinical Research Enhancement through Supplemental Training (CREST) program, Emily developed her grant proposal as part of her coursework, working closely with faculty mentors well versed in the intricacies of the NIH. They helped her develop a proposal not only on-target with NIH requirements but also passing muster with the Institutional Review Board (IRB), charged by the FDA to rigorously review biomedical research on human subjects.

Relationships with practicing researchers:
Emily describes as “invaluable” the opportunity to work closely with fellow student researchers in the program—for consultation, collaborative learning, and the rich reserve of professional contacts this creates down the road.

Skills development and efficacy:
Good study design and processes make research more efficient and cost-effective—and attract funding, thus benefiting the practitioner, the healthcare industry, employers, and most importantly, every patient whose health and well-being depends on it.

Real-world results

New knowledge and tools strengthen our graduates’ roles within their organizations and industries. For Emily, this meant:

Rapid funding of 600K NIH grant, with co-investigator Dr. Karl Luber,

Kaiser Permanente, San Diego.

Prize-winning study “The Effect of Pregnancy and Mode of Delivery on Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: An Epidemiologic Study,” presented at the Annual American Urogynecologic Society Meeting, Atlanta, GA, Sept. 2005. Winner, Clinical Science Prize Paper Award.

Increased professional credibility leading to academic promotion.
Better translation of outcomes into meaningful information and decisions.

More effective study design, identification of funding resources, and attraction of funding.

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