Bridges to Biomedicine

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议的生物医学桥梁（B2BP）项目将通过德克萨斯州立大学圣马科斯分校（TxState）、圣安东尼奥学院（SAC）和西北远景学院（NVC）的合作来执行。B2BP的发展目标是：(1)提高未被充分代表的少数民族（URM）学生对生物医学课程的坚持程度，提高从SAC和NVC到生物医学科学高级学士学位课程的成功转学率，并缩短完成学士学位的平均时间；(2)促进生物医学学士学位课程的实际和自我认知的学术准备的可衡量的改善；(3)增加学生和家庭对生物医学研究、其与他们生活的相关性、生物医学教育途径以及生物医学研究职业价值的理解。与2011年美国国家科学院关于扩大少数民族参与科学的报告一致，拟议的B2BP计划纳入了所有推荐和证明的干预措施：丰富的研究经验；专业发展活动；学术支持和社会融合；还有，学生辅导。为了方便学生顺利转入高年级的学士学位课程，我们将制定修订后的科学课程建议，以便学生按顺序转入学士学位课程。SAC和NVC的教师将更新一门核心社会学课程，包括强调少数民族健康差异的课程，该课程将与生物医学少数民族健康研究系列研讨会同时提供。这种创新的机构方法有望提高学生对生物医学的兴趣。由于家庭是教育决策的关键贡献者，该计划包括创新活动（例如，“推广人员”的演讲），以增加家庭对生物医学事业的支持。B2BP的学生将在学年和夏季参加实践研究经验。B2BP还包括学术支持和专业发展活动，以促进社会融入科学界。这三所合作院校都是指定的拉美裔服务机构，两所社区学院的学生群体都以拉美裔为主；因此，拟议的计划将直接影响至少50名URM生物医学专业的学生。B2BP项目带来的制度变化将导致系统的改善，直接影响到所有生物医学专业的学生。该项目支持公共卫生，因为它旨在通过加强URM在科学教育中的坚持来增加少数民族在生物医学研究中的代表性。少数群体在生物医学研究中的代表性不足可能会低估少数群体的观点，对卫生保健造成文化障碍，并造成弱势群体的卫生保健差距。“生物医学之桥”计划将增加urm继续接受博士学位和生物医学研究职业教育的人数。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed Bridges to Biomedicine (B2BP) program will be executed through partnering of Texas State University - San Marcos (TxState), San Antonio College (SAC), and Northwest Vista College (NVC). The B2BP has been developed to: (1) improve underrepresented minority (URM) student persistence in biomedical curricula, increase the rates of successful transfer from SAC and NVC to upper-division baccalaureate programs in the biomedical sciences, and decrease the average time to baccalaureate degree completion; (2) promote measurable improvement in actual and self-perceived academic preparation for coursework leading to baccalaureate degrees in the biomedical sciences; and, (3) increase student and family understanding of biomedical research, its relevance to their lives, the biomedical educational pathway, and the value of a career in biomedical research. Consistent with the 2011 National Academies report on expanding minority participation in the sciences, the proposed B2BP program incorporates all recommended and proven interventions: rich research experiences; professional development activities; academic support and social integration; and, student mentoring. To facilitate a smooth transfer to upper-division BS programs, we will develop revised recommendations for science coursework so that students transfer on-track and in-sequence to baccalaureate programs. SAC and NVC faculty will renovate a core sociology course to include a minority health disparities emphasis that will be offered concurrent with a biomedical minority health research seminar series. This innovative institutional approach is expected to increase student interest in biomedicine. Since families are critical contributors to educational decisions, the program includes innovative activities (e.g., presentations from "promotores") to increase family support for a career in biomedicine. The B2BP students will participate in hands-on research experiences both during the academic year and over the summer. B2BP also includes academic support and professional development activities to foster social integration into science communities. All three partnering institutions are designated Hispanic-serving institutions, and both of the community colleges have majority-URM student bodies; therefore, the proposed program will directly impact at least 50 URM biomedical students. The institutional changes brought about by the B2BP program will result in systemic improvement directly impacting all students in biomedical career tracks. This program supports public health because it is designed to increase minority representation in biomedical research through increasing URM persistence in science education. Underrepresentation of minorities in biomedical research risks undervaluing minority perspectives, presents cultural barriers to health care, and creates health care disparities for vulnerable populations. The Bridges to Biomedicine program will increase the number of URMs continuing education towards a doctorate and a career in biomedical research.