Making it real: Authentic scenario-based tools to improve DEIA mentorship of biomedical trainees

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Project Summary/Abstract Population-specific differences in the presence of disease, health outcomes, or access to healthcare are termed “health disparities” and they are a significant concern in our society. Lack of representation of the underserved groups, such as racial and ethnic minorities, in the biomedical research and healthcare workforce is a critical factor underlying health disparities. Indeed, disparities in the demographics of individuals entering careers in biomedical research are well documented, with Black, Latinx, American Indian, and Pacific Islander populations (among others) being historically underrepresented. Inclusive research teams benefit society by having broader perspectives in setting research agendas, more effectively recruiting diverse subjects into clinical research studies, and more effectively delivering healthcare and thus reducing health disparities. Experiential learning by active engagement in research is an effective way to nurture the next generation of biomedical researchers; this is the purpose of the parent grant, which supports the Biomedical Research for University Students in Health Science (BRUSH) Summer Research Program at Michigan State University (MSU). The BRUSH program gives undergraduate and veterinary students from historically underrepresented populations the opportunity to participate in high-quality mentored research in a supportive environment designed to increase their intention to and success in pursing research-related careers. One key factor in providing an inclusive and supportive environment is effective mentoring. Such mentoring needs to be intentional in terms of fostering environments in which students from historically underrepresented populations can thrive. However, even in spaces where mentors are truly eager to be inclusive, barriers to participation and persistence in the sciences are commonly faced by historically underrepresented students. Furthermore, these barriers are reinforced by often well-intended individuals in the form of implicit biases, incomplete knowledge, and discomfort with the work of being a good ally. To address these challenges, we have assembled a team of experts and devised a plan to improve the research training environment by focusing on mentors and mentoring. We plan to build a mentor training tool that is based on the authentic experiences of historically underrepresented students in the BRUSH program. The proposed mentor training initiative involves a new partnership between MSU, Howard University, and the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Research Experiences (CIMER) based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The objective of this proposal is to increase mentors’ skills to fully support students and avoid unintended discouragement. The strategy to meet this objective involves 1) gathering survey and interview data from BRUSH alumni to serve as the foundation on which we will build a mentor training tool, 2) creating content for a mentor training tool that is informed by survey and interview data, 3) validating and beta testing the tool, and 4) piloting the mentor training tool at MSU. The product will be authentic training materials for mentors in cross-race/ethnicity mentoring relationships.