TY - JOUR
T1 - Training underrepresented early-career faculty in cardiovascular health research during COVID -19
T2 - Structural inequities and health disparity
AU - Diallo, Ana F.
AU - Alabi, Olamide
AU - Groves, Angela
AU - Johnson, Amber E.
AU - Okoro, Florence
AU - Ramos, S. Raquel
AU - Nelson, Rochelle K.
AU - Boutjdir, Mohamed
N1 - Funding Information:
This research and the PRIDE-CVD pro gram has received funding and support from: R25HL105446 Programs to Increase Diversity Among Individuals Engaged in Cardiovascular Health-Related Research (PRIDE-CVD) (PI: M. Boutjdir); R25HL105446 Small Research project PIs: A. Diallo, SR. Ramos, O. Alabi, A. Groves, A. Johnson, F. Okoro, R. Nelson; K01HL145580 LEveraging A viRtual eNvironment (LEARN) to Enhance Prevention of HIV-related Comor- bidities in at-risk Minority MSM (PI: SR. Ramos); L30HL149001 Innovative Strategies to Address Health Disparities in Sexual Minority Men of Color Living with HIV; AD is supported by the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Inclusion, Inquiry and Innovation (iCubed).
Funding Information:
Numerous benefits and chal lenges arose from delivering and at tending the PRIDE-CVD virtually. The authors conducted a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis (Figure 1). A SWOT Analysis is a strategic evaluation framework for identify ing internal and external organization and environmental factors that can enhance or hinder a project.10 Per ceived benefits of the virtual program included the ability to participate remotely while maintaining physical distancing and reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19, especially since New York City was the epicenter for COVID-19 during the summer of 2020. The virtual platform provided the opportunity for scholars to gain content knowledge in health disparities, especially in CVD, meet experts located in different parts of the country, the majority of whom are URM themselves, and build a network of peers from diverse disciplines and institutions of higher education. Program participants reported gaining confidence in their ability to present and implement their research projects and to pursue grant opportunities at the NIH and elsewhere.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Ethnicity and Disease, Inc.. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted race-based health disparities and structural racism in the United States. Enhancing the training of early-career academic and health scientists from underrepresented minority groups (URM) is critical to reduce disparities affecting underserved population groups. A dedicated training program that has been proven to support URM can facilitate career development for junior faculty during the pandemic. This critical support ensures the retention of talented, racially diverse junior faculty who are poised to mitigate structural racism, rather than perpetuate it. We describe how the Cardiovascular Disease Programs to Increase Diversity Among Individuals Engaged in Health-Related Research (PRIDE-CVD) summer institute successfully transitioned from a face-to-face format to a virtual format during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, early-career faculty continued to receive the PRIDE-CVD training on research methodology, grantsmanship, career development, and CVD health disparities, especially as related to the pandemic. In addition, the virtual format facilitated networking, promoted mental wellness, and allowed continual mentorship. Collectively, the program provided timely and relevant career development in the COVID-19 era and helped participants navigate the psychosocial challenges of being a URM in cardiovascular health research.
AB - The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted race-based health disparities and structural racism in the United States. Enhancing the training of early-career academic and health scientists from underrepresented minority groups (URM) is critical to reduce disparities affecting underserved population groups. A dedicated training program that has been proven to support URM can facilitate career development for junior faculty during the pandemic. This critical support ensures the retention of talented, racially diverse junior faculty who are poised to mitigate structural racism, rather than perpetuate it. We describe how the Cardiovascular Disease Programs to Increase Diversity Among Individuals Engaged in Health-Related Research (PRIDE-CVD) summer institute successfully transitioned from a face-to-face format to a virtual format during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, early-career faculty continued to receive the PRIDE-CVD training on research methodology, grantsmanship, career development, and CVD health disparities, especially as related to the pandemic. In addition, the virtual format facilitated networking, promoted mental wellness, and allowed continual mentorship. Collectively, the program provided timely and relevant career development in the COVID-19 era and helped participants navigate the psychosocial challenges of being a URM in cardiovascular health research.
KW - Biomedical research
KW - Health services research
KW - Junior faculty development
KW - Mentoring
KW - NHLBI
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85111612318&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85111612318&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.18865/ed.31.3.411
DO - 10.18865/ed.31.3.411
M3 - Article
C2 - 34295128
AN - SCOPUS:85111612318
SN - 1049-510X
VL - 31
SP - 411
EP - 416
JO - Ethnicity and Disease
JF - Ethnicity and Disease
IS - 3
ER -