Mentoring the next generation of trainees in patient-oriented, community engaged research in obesity and health equity

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Over 42% of adults have obesity, which is more prevalent in under-represented minority (URM) populations. While even modest (3-5%) weight loss improves this risk, Black and Hispanic patients are less likely to lose weight in intervention programs, and we and others have found that Black patients lose less weight with bariatric surgery. To address these disparities and promote health equity, the focus of my patient-oriented research has been to develop and test weight management interventions in underserved patient populations. I am currently PI on 4 behavioral clinical trials funded through the NIH and Veterans affairs and one longitudinal bariatric surgery cohort study. These studies, with approximately 1700 patients enrolled thus far, have supported the training of several students, post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty. I have been passionate about mentoring trainees, especially those from URM populations. NYU Langone Health provides a rich training environment for mentees at all levels to advance their research careers. This K24 award will provide me with additional resources and protected time to increase the impact of my trainees’ and my research. With collaboration and guidance from my K24 Advisory Committee and Community Advisory Board (CAB) members, the K24 will support the following Short-Term Career Objectives 1) To be a primary mentor for 1-2 additional URM junior faculty or fellows per year; 2) To improve my skills in mentoring URM trainees; 3) To increase my expertise and mentorship in social determinants of health (SDOH), health equity, and community engagement; 4) To develop leadership skills in health equity; and 5) To obtain 2 additional R01-level or higher grants to test and implement interventions addressing obesity-related health disparities. Through formal coursework, conferences, and hands-on experiential training, I will enhance my skills and expertise in leadership and mentorship in health equity, social determinants of health, and community-engaged research. The K24 advisory committee, consisting of senior leaders and collaborators in these areas, will advise on my research and training aims and will review a yearly formal evaluation of my mentoring. My mentees and I are interested in how individual and neighborhood level markers of race and weight discrimination impact weight management outcomes in vulnerable populations. For our research aims, we will use existing datasets (n=768) participants in health coaching weight management intervention studies and 207 participants in a bariatric surgery cohort study to evaluate the impact of neighborhood- and individual- level SDOH (including markers of discrimination) on weight management outcomes. We will engage relevant patient and community stakeholders to collaborate on all aspects of the research. The research aims were developed through extensive discussions with each of my current mentees to enhance their training, support their individual research and improve the care of vulnerable patients with obesity.