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OHDSI/OMOP Train-the-Trainer

A hands-on, multi-session curriculum for analysts, researchers, and trainers building expertise in the OHDSI ecosystem — from data model fundamentals to advanced analytics.

New here? Start with Feasibility First — is my question even answerable?

A 30-minute exemplar that takes the position of a researcher with a real question but no idea who to contact, what to ask, or whether the data can answer it. It walks from zero to a go/no-go decision on the public ATLAS demo, and it comes with a slide deck, an importable ATLAS cohort, a data-steward worksheet, and a checks-to-tools appendix.

Start Feasibility First Go straight to the go/no-go checklist

Start with Environment Setup Jump to Syllabus Find Your Learning Path

Program at a Glance

  • 6 Core Sessions + 2 Optional

    Build from OMOP CDM fundamentals through cohort building, data extraction, treatment pathways, and HADES analytics.

    View full syllabus

  • Hands-On Labs

    Every session includes guided SQL exercises, Atlas walkthroughs, and Colab-ready Python notebooks with synthetic data.

    Browse exercises

  • Community & Support

    Weekly community meetings, open office hours, and a growing FAQ to support learners and trainers alike.

    Join the community

  • All Materials Included

    Slide kits, Jupyter notebooks, SQL cheat sheets, environment templates, and ALS TDI branded PowerPoint decks.

    Downloads & Resources

The Curriculum

The program is organized in a deliberate sequence. Each session builds on the previous one — start at Day 0 (environment) and progress through the core four, then continue with the optional advanced sessions.

Core Track (Required)

Session Focus Module Exercise
Feasibility First — Is my question answerable? 30-min exemplar: from a raw question to a go/no-go decision Module Walkthrough · Checklist
Module 0 — Environment Setup Verify access to all tools and data Module Handout
Day 1 — OMOP Common Data Model CDM structure, tables, Athena vocabularies Module Exercise · SQL Snippets
Day 2 — Vocabulary & Data Quality Concept sets in Atlas, DQD, SQL validation Module Exercise
Day 3 — Cohort Definition Building and characterizing cohorts in ATLAS Module Exercise
Day 4 — Data Extraction Site-specific extraction and validation Module Exercise

Optional / Advanced Track

Session Focus Module Exercise
Day 5 — Treatment Pathways Sequence-of-care analysis in ATLAS Module Exercise
Day 6 — HADES R-based analytics: characterization, estimation, prediction Module Exercise

How to Use This Site

For Participants

  1. Complete Module 0 before anything else — verify your tool access at least 48 hours before Day 1.
  2. Follow the core track in order. Each day's module has an agenda, objectives, slides, and a matching exercise.
  3. Use the Common Artifacts for cheat sheets, SQL templates, and the environment checklist.
  4. Notebooks are always available. Each exercise page has a Colab badge — run it with synthetic data even without CDM access.

For Trainers

  1. Fork this repository and fill in site-specific details (warehouse, SQL client, ATLAS URL) in the Day 4 module and Environment pages.
  2. Use the branded templates from the Downloads & Resources page for any new decks.
  3. Instructor notes are embedded (collapsed) in each exercise page — expand them before your session.
  4. Host community meetings using the Community pages as a template.

Sample Schedule

This schedule reflects one delivery of the program. Sessions run approximately 3.5 hours each.

Session Suggested Date Focus
Environment Walk-through Fri, Oct 31 · 12:00–1:00 Access check for data and tools
Day 1 — OMOP Common Data Model Fri, Nov 7 · 9:30–1:00 Schema, key tables, Athena
Day 2 — Vocabulary & Data Quality Fri, Nov 14 · 9:30–1:00 Concept sets, DQD principles
Day 3 — Cohort Definition w/ ATLAS Fri, Nov 21 · 9:30–1:00 Cohorts and characterization
Day 4 — Data Extraction Tools Mon, Dec 1 · 9:30–1:00 Build analytic datasets
Post-training Q&A Fri, Dec 12 · 11:30–1:00 Q&A, next steps
Day 5 (Optional) — Treatment Pathways Fri, Jan 9 · 9:30–1:00 Sequences of care
Day 6 (Optional) — HADES Fri, Jan 16 · 9:30–1:00 R-based analytics framework

Common Artifacts

These shared resources are used across multiple sessions:

  • Environment Setup Handout

    One-page pre-session participant checklist.

    View handout

  • OMOP Vocabulary & SQL Cheat Sheet

    Key queries for concepts, ancestors, cohort counts, and more.

    View cheat sheet

  • SQL Validation Mini Lab

    Step-by-step guide: export Atlas SQL, validate in your client, compare outputs.

    Open lab

  • Environment Checklist Template

    Trainer-ready checklist to track participant readiness per tool.

    Download template

All content in docs/ is version-controlled. Updates and new contributions are tracked automatically via the GitHub repository.