Enhancing Workforce Diversity in the Bone, Mineral, and Musculoskeletal Field

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PROJECT SUMMARY In the US, African Americans (or Blacks), American Indians and Alaska Natives, Latinx, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders are underrepresented at all career stages in biomedical research. Factors contributing to these disparities include decreased financial support, decreased peer and community support, and biased promotion and grant funding review processes. Thus, the scientific community, including institutions and professional societies, is called upon to respond to these disparities by recruiting, supporting, training, and retraining underrepresented minorities (URMs). A diverse representation that reflects the US population leads to more creative, innovative, and rigorous science. This proposal recognizes that the academic hurdles faced by URM scientists/clinicians are related to the lack of access, training, and support as well as cultural biases within institutions. The American Society of Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) is committed to addressing this goal by offering the Excellence in Scientific Training and Professional Development (EXCEL) program, which will deliver state-of-the-art research techniques and high-quality professional development to early-career scientists/clinicians who identify as URM and who have research interests in fields related to the missions of the ASBMR and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). In this R25 project, a series of initiatives are proposed to attract talented early-career scientists from underrepresented backgrounds with ASBMR- and NIDDK-relevant research interests and prepare them to serve as future leaders by offering professional, scientific, and technical skill development and networking opportunities. The EXCEL cohorts will undergo advanced education and instruction crucial for their success through the ASBMR Leadership Education for Advancement (LEAD) Program. The ASBMR LEAD program will provide opportunities for the EXCEL cohort to access leadership development training over the course of 10 months, culminating in a networking reception at the annual ASBMR meeting. The training program will be led by professional leadership educators and senior ASBMR members, and further supported by peer networking groups and discussions. In addition, early-career scientists will be provided with grant funding to use for scientific or technical skill development activities, along with 1:1 mentorship by a senior ASBMR member. Finally, we aim to improve the culture of ASBMR to be more inclusive of URM by offering: 1) culturally aware mentorship training to society leadership and 2) offering all ASBMR members to attend a workshop intended to eliminate bias in the peer-review process. Successful completion of these Aims will provide critical access to networking opportunities, future scientific and professional collaborations, and career development for URM biomedical researchers. Of equal importance, the success of these Aims will create a shift in the cultural climate within the ASBMR, fostering inclusivity and creating and sustaining a work environment supportive of all members.