Research Training to Promote Scientist Diversity & Health Equity in Cardiovascular & Lung Disease

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This T32 renewal application aligns with the mission and values of The University of Texas at Austin’s (UT Austin) Steve Hicks School of Social Work (SSW) and Dell Medical School (DMS) by providing a mechanism by which to enhance the pathways of future leaders historically underrepresented in the sciences toward careers dedicated to eliminating social and health inequities in cardiovascular and lung disease. The specific aims of the program are to: 1) recruit and provide rigorous scientific training to a cadre of developing scientists from under-represented groups in order to increase diversity in the pool of highly-trained scientists prepared for a career in cardiovascular and lung research focused on health equity, and; 2) foster an environment at UT Austin for inter-professional development in cardiovascular and lung research. This renewal application proposes to continue to train 10 postdoctoral fellows from under-represented groups for two years in the SSW and DMS. In addition, it proposes to expand the program to train 2 predoctoral fellows from under- represented groups in the SSW. With involvement from 34 mentors in the Schools of Social Work, Medicine, and Nursing, the Population Research Center, and the College of Pharmacy, fellows will be trained in community-based participatory research methods and population health science. They will implement evidence-based interventions and/or produce scientific evidence with the ultimate goal of increasing health equity in heart and lung diseases and their behavioral risk factors (e.g., dietary habits, physical activity, adherence, tobacco use/exposure, metabolic syndrome, obesity, sleep). Key innovations include recruitment and mentoring activities firmly grounded in the reality that cultural and racial/ethnic diversity in the scientific workforce is critical to the production of innovative scientific knowledge, a team-based mentoring approach with a near-peer mentoring component, the cross-fertilization of social work and medical trainees. The DMS is uniquely designed to promote population health and the SSW is rooted in an equity lens and has a strong community-based focus. Furthermore, the Schools have established a very successful and close partnership. Fellows will further their research training through formal mentorship, formal coursework, seminars, conferences, and other career development activities. Each fellow will have a primary mentor assisted by other mentors in a team-based approach, and a network of near-peers (postdoctoral fellows for predoctoral fellows and assistant professors for postdoctoral fellows) who will also contribute to mentoring. The Principal Investigators/Program Directors, Drs. Yessenia Castro, Catherine Cubbin, and Elizabeth Matsui will provide overall management of the program. An Advisory Committee, including external members, will assist them in the administration and evaluation of the program and its outcomes.