Building the Network of Minority Health Research Investigators: A Novel Program to Enhance Leadership and Success of Underrepresented Minorities in Biomedical Research

Abstract

Background: To address the myriad of health problems and disparities that affect the United States (US) population, the mix of health care professionals and researchers must reflect the full diversity of the nation. There continues to be discrepancy between the number of trained scientists and bio­medical researchers from underrepresented populations relative to the overall popula­tion. A scarcity of formal and informal net­working opportunities for minority research­ers and health care providers contribute to this lack of diversity.Objective: The purpose of this article is to report the outcomes of an established junior minority faculty mentoring program. The Network of Minority Health Research Investigators (NMRI) was established by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) in 2002. We present outcome data from 2008 to the present.Methods: The Oversight and Planning Committees of the NMRI developed an 18-question survey. The NMRI program analyst conducted a pilot test of the survey and made modifications to ensure readabil­ity and understanding. From 2008 – 2018, we administered the survey in both paper and electronic versions to junior and senior members of NMRI. Descriptive results identified the participants. We used open coding to extrapolate recurring statements, words, and themes that were organized into four final categories: reasons for attending NMRI; mentoring; career development; and social support.Results: Participants were primarily post-doctoral researchers or assistant professors seeking promotion to instructor or associ­ate professor with tenure (64%). Consistent reasons for participating in the Network included: career development; emotional support; mentorship for research; devel­oping or refining skills for grant writing; lab management; poster presentations; and applying for tenure. Areas of research interest included diabetes, kidney diseases, nutrition, obesity, and bioinformatics.Conclusions: While the number of respons­es to the survey varied annually, the qualita­tive results suggest that career development and social support provided through the Network were the largest motivators for participation. Ethn Dis. 2019;29(Suppl 1):119-122; doi:10.18865/ed.29.S1.119.

Leadership in PhD (LeaP): a longitudinal leadership skill building program for underrepresented biomedical research trainees

“…LeaP tackles these issues by providing a space for underrepresented biomedical research trainees to build community, self-reflect, learn new leadership skills, and to progressively practice and refine those skills in a safe and supportive environment. To that end, LeaP joins a growing number of programs aiming to modernize biomedical education and training by providing early-stage leadership development opportunities (26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31). What sets LeaP apart from many of these programs, however, is that LeaP 1) promotes skills development early on in biomedical training, 2) intentionally weaves diversity, equity and inclusion topics into the curriculum, 3) cultivates social interactions via a cohort model that supports trainee persistence and retention (32), and 4) promotes not only the acquisition of new skills, but skill perdurance via coaching and longitudinal (four year) engagement.…”