Training and Development

Project Summary The Training and Development (TD) component supports CIRCLE’s main themes of commitment to a multi-system, multi-disciplinary, and bi-directional approach to translational science between academia and Indigenous communities. The TD component consists of four primary functions, including providing opportunities for maternal health research education, support for mentorship, training and transitioning maternal health researchers to be independent investigators, and developing and nurturing early career scholars. The primary goal of the TD component is to support the research infrastructure required for discovering sources of Indigenous MMM and translating science into solutions that promote Indigenous maternal health. The TD is responsible for achieving aims two and three of the CIRCLE, which are to: (2) cultivate and support a multidisciplinary team of independent experts focused on discovering the bases for, and solutions to, Indigenous MMM and (3) establish the foundation and initial processes necessary to enable translational research and interventions focused on promoting Indigenous maternal health. These aims will be achieved by accomplishing four specific corresponding aims, each representing a major function of the TD. These include: 1) Launch an Indigenous maternal health education and training online toolkit that provides a unified site to disseminate training opportunities, videos and presentations, tip sheets and curated clinical evidence repository for patients, practitioners, investigators, and research staff; 2) Ensure comprehensive support for the professional development and mentorship of maternal heath investigators and practitioners; 3) Prepare early career investigators to be capable and committed to community-engaged and translational research on Indigenous maternal health; and 4) Locate, support, and nurture individuals from varying disciplines to engage in maternal health research. Achieving these aims is significant because they contribute to the development and sustainability of a research center focused on Indigenous maternal health in the Southern Plains. There are no other research centers in the U.S. with this focus; consequently, achieving our aims will fill a critical research gap for advancing public health and clinical care. The TD component is also innovative as it will integrate personnel, resources, and activities across multiple academic institutions spanning the state of Oklahoma, a comprehensive academic healthcare system of hospitals, clinics, and centers of excellence, and close partnership with the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board, the liaison between the National Indian Health Board and the 43 federally recognized tribes in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, to achieve CIRCLE’s aims.