Bridges to Biomedicine

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议的桥梁生物医学（B2BP）计划将通过得克萨斯州州立大学-圣马科斯（TxState），圣安东尼奥学院（SAC）和西北维斯塔学院（NVC）的合作执行。B2 BP的开发目的是：（1）提高代表性不足的少数族裔（URM）学生对生物医学课程的坚持性，提高从SAC和NVC成功转学到生物医学科学高年级学士学位课程的比例，并减少平均时间学士学位完成;（2）促进在实际和自我感知的学术准备，导致在生物医学学士学位的课程可衡量的改善;以及（3）增加学生和家庭对生物医学研究、其与他们生活的相关性、生物医学教育途径以及生物医学研究职业价值的理解。 与2011年国家科学院关于扩大少数民族参与科学的报告相一致，拟议的B2BP计划纳入了所有建议和经过验证的干预措施：丰富的研究经验;专业发展活动;学术支持和社会融合;以及学生辅导。为了促进顺利转移到上级部门的BS程序，我们将制定科学课程的修订建议，使学生转移的轨道和顺序学士学位课程。SAC和NVC教师将更新核心社会学课程，包括少数民族健康差距的重点，将与生物医学少数民族健康研究研讨会系列同时提供。这种创新的机构方法有望提高学生对生物医学的兴趣。由于家庭是教育决策的关键贡献者，该计划包括创新活动（例如，“promotores”的演讲），以增加家庭对生物医学职业的支持。B2BP学生将在学年和夏季参加实践研究体验。B2BP还包括学术支持和专业发展活动，以促进社会融入科学界。 所有三个合作机构都是指定的西班牙裔服务机构，两所社区学院都有大多数URM学生团体;因此，拟议的计划将直接影响至少50名URM生物医学学生。B2BP计划带来的制度变革将导致系统性的改善，直接影响生物医学职业轨道上的所有学生。该计划支持公共卫生，因为它旨在通过增加URM在科学教育中的持久性来增加少数民族在生物医学研究中的代表性。少数群体在生物医学研究中的代表性不足有可能低估少数群体的观点，对医疗保健构成文化障碍，并为弱势群体造成医疗保健方面的差距。桥梁生物医学计划将增加URM继续教育的数量，以获得博士学位和生物医学研究的职业生涯。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed Bridges to Biomedicine (B2BP) program will be executed through partnering of Texas State University - San Marcos (TxState), San Antonio College (SAC), and Northwest Vista College (NVC). The B2BP has been developed to: (1) improve underrepresented minority (URM) student persistence in biomedical curricula, increase the rates of successful transfer from SAC and NVC to upper-division baccalaureate programs in the biomedical sciences, and decrease the average time to baccalaureate degree completion; (2) promote measurable improvement in actual and self-perceived academic preparation for coursework leading to baccalaureate degrees in the biomedical sciences; and, (3) increase student and family understanding of biomedical research, its relevance to their lives, the biomedical educational pathway, and the value of a career in biomedical research. Consistent with the 2011 National Academies report on expanding minority participation in the sciences, the proposed B2BP program incorporates all recommended and proven interventions: rich research experiences; professional development activities; academic support and social integration; and, student mentoring. To facilitate a smooth transfer to upper-division BS programs, we will develop revised recommendations for science coursework so that students transfer on-track and in-sequence to baccalaureate programs. SAC and NVC faculty will renovate a core sociology course to include a minority health disparities emphasis that will be offered concurrent with a biomedical minority health research seminar series. This innovative institutional approach is expected to increase student interest in biomedicine. Since families are critical contributors to educational decisions, the program includes innovative activities (e.g., presentations from "promotores") to increase family support for a career in biomedicine. The B2BP students will participate in hands-on research experiences both during the academic year and over the summer. B2BP also includes academic support and professional development activities to foster social integration into science communities. All three partnering institutions are designated Hispanic-serving institutions, and both of the community colleges have majority-URM student bodies; therefore, the proposed program will directly impact at least 50 URM biomedical students. The institutional changes brought about by the B2BP program will result in systemic improvement directly impacting all students in biomedical career tracks. This program supports public health because it is designed to increase minority representation in biomedical research through increasing URM persistence in science education. Underrepresentation of minorities in biomedical research risks undervaluing minority perspectives, presents cultural barriers to health care, and creates health care disparities for vulnerable populations. The Bridges to Biomedicine program will increase the number of URMs continuing education towards a doctorate and a career in biomedical research.