Inside the SMHP Research Academy: How Practitioners Can Turn Real-World Results Into Published Science

When the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners (SMHP) launched the Journal of Metabolic Health in late 2023, one question quickly rose to the surface: How do we help frontline clinicians, many of whom have never conducted research, learn to design, run, and publish high-quality studies?

Enter Dr. Melanie Tidman.

A professor, researcher, and longtime SMHP member, Melanie recognized a gap, and built a solution. The result is the SMHP Research Academy, a fully supported, step-by-step pathway that teaches practitioners how to take research ideas from concept to publication. In this podcast episode, she walks listeners through what the Academy offers, why it exists, and how it's already helping clinicians produce peer-reviewed science.

Below is a summary of what you'll hear, but the full interview is worth every minute.

A One-of-a-Kind Resource for Practitioners

Melanie created the Academy in early 2024 with a clear mission: make research accessible to clinicians working in the real world.

"I had the vision back then to create an academy where our members who have never done research before could learn all of the ins and outs… of how to do research, how to collect data, how to analyze that data and how to publish a research article."

Over nine months she built a 10-module, self-paced research curriculum, complete with video lessons, customizable learning formats, downloadable notes, and direct faculty support. Members can take the modules in order or revisit individual sections as needed.

Each module, she notes, is "completely comprehensive and customizable for your own learning style."

IRB Support—Including Up to $3,000 in Savings

One of the biggest hurdles for new researchers is the IRB (Institutional Review Board) process. It's required for human studies in the U.S., but few practitioners know how to navigate it, and few are aware that approval often costs between $1,500 and $3,000.

Melanie explains the differences between exempt, expedited, and full-board studies and then shares the Academy's unique advantage:

"Two of us on the academy faculty are also faculty for universities having access to university IRBs… we become the primary investigator for the purpose of the IRB application… and there is no cost."

For members, that alone is a major benefit—one of many.

Faculty-Guided Support From Design to Publication

The Academy pairs each participant with a research mentor and faculty team specializing in study design, data analysis, manuscript writing, and qualitative methods. Projects now include case reports, retrospective analyses, literature reviews, mixed-methods studies, and more.

As Melanie notes, the Academy already has 16 projects underway, including "three articles in peer review right now."

She emphasizes that no project is too small: "Say you just have one patient who had an incredible result, and you want to publish… I'm your man."

Up to $10,000 in Total Value—Free for SMHP Members

When Melanie adds up the typical costs—IRB fees, data-analysis consultation, manuscript editing, and open-access publication fees—she estimates that members receive between $9,000 and $10,000 worth of services at no charge.

"If you publish with the Journal of Metabolic Health and you are a member of the SMHP, the SMHP will pay your open-access publishing fees," she explains. "There's another three to four thousand dollars worth of savings."

Why This Matters

The Academy empowers clinicians, from solo practitioners to large-system physicians, to turn real-world metabolic health outcomes into peer-reviewed evidence. And as Melanie reminds listeners:

"I can't say enough about my gratitude… It's there for your benefit. If you are a member, you have an entire Academy worth of information at your fingertips."

Learn more about The SMHP™ and join here.