Diversity in Academic Medicine
Arizona Biomedical Scientist Training Program
The National Institutes of Health awarded the Arizona Hispanic Center of Excellence in the College of Medicine a grant to fund the Arizona Biomedical Scientist Training Program. This grant is funded by the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) Endowment Program for Increasing Research and Training Capacity in Section 736 Health Professions Schools. Keith A. Joiner, MD, MBA, Dean of the College of Medicine, is the Principal Investigator. The training program is the creation of Francisco A. R. García, MD, MPH, Associate Professor and Director, Division of Gynecology and General Obstetrics; Director, Arizona Hispanic Center of Excellence; and Director, UA National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health.
The mission of the Arizona Biomedical Scientist Training Program is to increase the number and success of under-represented faculty and graduate students at The University of Arizona College of Medicine through the expansion of a structured program of support and professional development that promotes academic achievement and productivity in order to enhance the pool of high quality and diverse academicians and biomedical scientists to serve the unique needs of the American Southwest. This effort builds on the considerable experience and infrastructure already developed by the Arizona Hispanic Center of Excellence to support faculty and graduate students. These efforts will act synergistically to improve the promote diversity of the academic biomedical workforce.
This will be accomplished by achieving the following objectives:
- Develop a structured research skills building program for minority faculty.
- Provide technical consultation services that support academic productivity.
- Expand a start-up/bridge funding process that targets minority investigators.
- Develop a structured professional development and support program for minority graduate students.
The endowment income will be utilized to support and expand a successfully-implemented and very promising program designed to increase the pool of diverse and high-quality academicians and scientists. The approach taken is unique and may serve as a national model for increasing diversity in the healthcare and academic workforce. The model relies on academic skills building and providing a supportive environment that maximizes the likelihood of success. This program builds on existing College of Medicine and AHCOE infrastructure and is a critical missing component in the health professions pipeline. |
