Bridges to the Doctorate: A Partnership Between Towson University and University of Maryland School of Medicine

代表性不足的少数民族（URM）是美国增长最快的人口，但只占美国人口的一小部分。 生物医学研究人员的百分比。这种脱节在生物医学研究生中尤为严重 在过去十年中，URM学生仅占博士学位的7%。此外，委员会认为， 显著更多的URM学生完成硕士学位（MS）的途中，他们的博士学位比非URM， 将URM MS项目确定为招募少数族裔博士候选人的重要人才库。一致 随着这些国家的趋势，陶森大学（TU）和马里兰州学校的自我评估 医学（UMSOM），MS-和博士授予合作伙伴机构在这个桥梁博士学位（B2 D） 计划，显示只有17%的论文-MS学生在TU谁先进的博士课程是URM， 尽管URM有所增加，但UMSOM博士课程的少数民族入学率一直保持在13%， 应用.这些数据突出了培训的必要性，这将使URM学生能够竞争 进入顶级博士课程，并成功地从MS过渡到博士课程，以完成 博士学位为了实现这一目标，TU-UMSOM B2 D将整合强大的TU MS计划和丰富的研究 在UMSOM的资源与B2 D的具体活动在一个创新的课程，以少数民族为重点的培训 和指导，分为四个组成部分。1)MS论文研究在TU进行， 在UMSOM跨学科课程和尖端技术，为B2 D学者提供博士水平 课堂和实验室经验。2)基本的研究相关技能，如书面和口头科学 交流是在工作坊、研讨会和学者的研究报告中发展起来的， 会议. 3)通过各种活动，为博士课程的学术发展提供各方面的指导 包括GRE培训和模拟面试。TU和UMSOM教师委员会指导学者在 编制个人发展计划，以监测实现里程碑和职业目标的进展情况。4)B2d 学者与学员密切互动，在B2 D合作伙伴的URM培训计划的强大管道中， 附属机构。研究论坛和专业发展研讨会的特点是讨论 由URM教师领导的劳动力多样性和医疗保健差异。同侪指导和统一记录管理的榜样 在这个独特的培训管道提供B2 D学者与少数民族为重点的角度来看，通往职业生涯的道路 在生物医学专业。TU和UMSOM校园的接近促进了 广泛的联合训练活动。B2 D学者将积极从强大的地方和国家招募 URM培训计划和本科院校通过互联网，社交媒体，邮件和人 接近。B2 D学者的专业发展，因为他们从MS进展到博士课程， 将作为项目成功的一个重要指标进行跟踪。B2 D的所有方面都将是至关重要的 通过内部和外部审查进行评估。因此，B2 D培训将增强生物医学劳动力的多样性。

Underrepresented minorities (URM) are the fastest growing populations in the US but make up only a small percentage of the biomedical research workforce. This disconnect is particularly acute in biomedical graduate programs where URM students accounted for just 7% of PhD degrees over the past decade. Furthermore, significantly more URM students complete a master’s degree (MS) en route to their doctorate than non-URMs, identifying URM MS programs as an important pool from which to recruit minority PhD candidates. Consistent with these national trends, self assessments at Towson University (TU) and the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), the MS- and PhD-granting partner institutions in this Bridges to the Doctorate (B2D) program, revealed that just 17% of thesis-MS students at TU who advanced to PhD programs are URMs, and that minority enrollment in UMSOM PhD programs has been constant at 13% despite increases in URM applications. These data highlight the need for training that will prepare URM students to compete for admission into top doctoral programs, and succeed in transitioning from MS to PhD programs to complete the doctorate. Towards this goal, the TU-UMSOM B2D will integrate the strong TU MS program and rich research resources at the UMSOM with B2D-specific activities in an innovative curriculum of minority-focused training and mentoring that is organized into four components. 1) MS thesis research is conducted at TU in conjunction with interdisciplinary courses and cutting edge technologies at UMSOM to provide B2D scholars with PhD-level classroom and laboratory experience. 2) Essential research-related skills such as written and oral scientific communication are developed in workshops, seminars and scholars’ research presentations at professional meetings. 3) Guidance in all facets of academic advancement into PhD programs is provided through activities including GRE training and mock interviews. TU and UMSOM faculty committees mentor scholars in the preparation of individual development plans to monitor progress towards milestones and career goals. 4) B2D scholars closely interact with trainees in a robust pipeline of URM training programs at B2D partner and affiliated institutions. Research forums and professional development workshops feature discussions on workforce diversity and healthcare disparities led by URM faculty. Near-peer mentoring and URM role models in this unique training pipeline provide B2D scholars with a minority-focused perspective of the path to a career in the biomedical profession. The proximity of TU and UMSOM campuses facilitates implementation of the broad array of joint training activities. B2D scholars will be actively recruited from strong local and national URM training programs and undergraduate institutions through internet, social media, mail and in person approaches. The professional development of B2D scholars as they progress from MS to PhD programs and beyond will be tracked as an important metric of program success. All aspects of the B2D will be critically evaluated by internal and external review. B2D training will thus enhance diversity in the biomedical workforce.