Pediatric Scientist Development Program

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Project Summary This application seeks bridge support for the Pediatric Scientist Development Program (PSDP), a career development pathway for pediatric fellows from which 222 physician-scientists have graduated since 1987. The program remains committed to building the next generation of pediatrician scientists leaders, including: (a) to recruit diverse pediatric fellows whose outstanding potential for a successful investigative career can be developed in an intensively mentored setting and (b) to expand and diversify the pipeline of superbly trained pediatric physician-scientists, who will catalyze cutting-edge discoveries in child health and lead the pediatric departments of the future. Unique aspects of the PSDP include its North American scope for recruitment of fellows and mentors, its intensive focus on career development during fellowship, its supra-institutional governance under the aegis of the Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs (AMSPDC), its emphasis on research environments outside pediatrics, and its approach to mentoring that encompasses multiple and diverse research mentors, diverse PSDP advisory committees, and networking with pediatric department chairs. Advisory Committees include a strong Steering Committee, which sets programmatic policy; a subset of whom fill the Selection Committee to interview PSDP candidates; and an independent Program Evaluation Committee measures the program’s effectiveness in ensuring fellows’ success. A centerpiece of the PSDP is the annual career development curriculum that convenes PSDP fellows virtually and in-person with mentors and advisory committees, and all US and Canadian pediatric department chairs at the AMSPDC meeting. Goals for the Bridge Funding Period include: 1) Continue the current fellow stipend and research funding strategy ; 2) Recruit a diverse applicant and fellow pool with at least 30% Underrepresented in Medicine (URiMs) for the next application cycle and beyond; 3) Network with other NIH-funded training programs focused on diversifying the pediatric pipeline; 4) Network with organizations focused on diversity of the physician workforce; 5) Apply the update of our personal statement section in the PSDP application to capture life experiences; 6) Partner with organizations focused on funding research that addresses health inequities; and 7) Continue to enhance the research breadth and diversity of the PSDP Steering Committee. We project to train 24 PSDP Scholars in subspecialty fellowships. Out of the 24 Scholars, 17 Scholars will be funded by the NIH (this includes one slot for HIV related work co-funded by the Office of AIDS Research). We will have one intramural slot funded separately by the NICHD Division of Intramural Research. The PSDP will build on lessons of more than 38 years to strengthen our national network, evolve career development emphases and novel educational approaches, diversify the pediatrics research workforce pipeline, and nurture the next generation of diverse pediatric physician-scientists during this bridge funding period.