Atlanta VA Summer Research Program

This proposal seeks to leverage the strengths of the Atlanta VA and its academic affiliates, Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine, to further enhance the quantity and quality of VA research at our facility by increasing the number of underrepresented persons engaged in research. The proposed Summer Research Program (SRP) will increase opportunities for persons from underrepresented backgrounds to gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform research within the VA Research Enterprise. The SRP will provide hands-on research experience to selected students that reinforces their interest in science and prepares them for careers in research. These experiences will highlight the critical role of health professionals in biomedical research and encourage interest in VA research careers. The overall objective of the Atlanta VA SRP is to attract underrepresented minority students to Veterans Health Administration Research. To achieve this objective, the SRP will provide hands-on experiences in VA Research complemented by exposure to educational and clinical experiences. The proposed program will thereby give participating students from diverse backgrounds unique interdisciplinary learning experiences and enrich their career development and entry into VA research careers. The overall objective of the Atlanta VA SRP will be accomplished through the execution of 3 Specific Aims: Specific Aim 1 will provide a unique hands-on research opportunity at VA for students underrepresented in science. The SRP will establish a 10-week program that promotes stipend- supported summer research opportunities for medical students at MSM and Emory following their completion of the first year of medical school. Selected students will be matched with mentors in their areas of interest and engaged in the appropriate onboarding activities to permit their entry into the SRP shortly after the completion of their academic year. Specific Aim 2 will expose SRP students to a curriculum of research topics through weekly didactic sessions. The presentations will be structured to meet the students’ needs and be presented by program faculty. These presentations and related materials will provide students with foundational learning pertinent to all forms of research. Specific Aim 3 will establish metrics and methods for short- and long- term program evaluation and outcomes analysis. Data will be collected from all SRP participants and their mentors on a yearly basis. Short-term metrics include the number of abstracts, publications and poster presentations. Long-term metrics include entry into research and healthcare careers within the VA system. Collectively, this program will build a pipeline of talented underrepresented minority students who are better prepared for subsequent training and more aware of the remarkable professional opportunities available within VA.