Bridges to Biomedicine

描述(由申请人提供)：拟议的生物医学桥梁(B2BP)计划将通过德克萨斯州立大学-圣马科斯(德克萨斯州立大学)、圣安东尼奥学院(SAC)和西北维斯塔学院(NVC)的合作执行。开发B2BP的目的是：(1)提高未被充分代表的少数族裔(URM)学生在生物医学课程中的坚持性，增加从SAC和NVC到生物医学科学高级学士学位课程的成功率，并减少完成学士学位的平均时间；(2)促进实际和自我感知的课程准备工作的显著改善，从而获得生物医学学士学位；以及(3)增加学生和家庭对生物医学研究、其与生活的相关性、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年美国国家科学院关于扩大少数群体参与科学的报告一致，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；以及学生指导。为了促进顺利过渡到高级理科学士学位课程，我们将制定修订后的理科课程作业建议，使学生能够按轨道和顺序过渡到学士学位课程。SAC和NVC教职员工将更新一门核心社会学课程，将重点放在少数族裔健康差异方面，这将与生物医学少数族裔健康研究研讨会系列同时提供。这一创新的机构方法预计将增加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，来自“推广”的演示)，以增加家庭对生物医学职业的支持。B2BP的学生将在学年和暑假期间参与实践研究体验。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。所有三所合作机构都是指定的拉美裔服务机构，两所社区学院都有以URM为主的学生团体；因此，拟议的计划将直接影响至少50名URM生物医学学生。B2BP项目带来的制度变革将带来系统性的改善，直接影响到生物医学职业生涯中的所有学生。该计划支持公共卫生，因为它旨在通过提高科学教育中的URM持久性来增加少数群体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，对卫生保健造成文化障碍，并为弱势群体造成卫生保健差距。通往生物医学的桥梁计划将增加城市管理人员继续教育的数量，以获得博士学位并从事生物医学研究。

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.