NEWS & EVENTS

NHLBI Workshop On Enhancing Opportunities for Training and Retention of a Diverse Biomedical Workforce

NIH
Bethesda, MD

Description

Committed to its mission of conducting and supporting research that addresses the health needs of all sectors of the nation’s population, the Division of Lung Diseases, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NHLBI/NIH) seeks  to identify issues that impact the training and retention of underrepresented individuals in the biomedical research workforce, assess the effectiveness of its current approaches, and subsequently improve its strategies toward achieving this goal.

Recap

Recommendations

The factors influencing the participation of underrepresentedminorities in the biomedical workforce are complex and span several continuous or overlapping stages in the professional

development of scientists from these groups. Therefore, a multipronged approach is needed to enable the professional development and retention of underrepresented minorities in biomedical research. This approach should address both individual and social factors and should involve funding agencies, academic institutions, mentoring teams, professional societies, and peer

collaboration. Implementation of some of the recommendations, such as access to child care, institutional support and health benefits for trainees, teaching and entrepreneurial opportunities, grant-writing webinars, and pre-NIH career development (Pre-K) pilot programs would not only benefit biomedical scientists from underrepresented groups but also improve the situation of nondiverse junior scientists. However, other issues, such as opportunities for early exposure to

science of disadvantaged/minority groups, and identifying mentors/ life coaches/peer mentors who come from similar cultural backgrounds and vantage points, are unique to this group.

Workshop Co-Chairs

  • Xenia T. Tigno, Ph.D., Porgram Officer, DLD, NHLBI, NIH
  • David S. Wilkes, M.D.,Dean, UVA School of Medicine
  • Sonia Flores, Ph.D., Professor, UCDenver-Anschutz

Workshop Participants

  • Sharilyn Almodovar, Ph.D., University of Colorado Anschutz
  • Ramon Jose Ayon, Ph.D. University of Arizona
  • LaMonta L. Beard, Ph.D. University of Southern California
  • Ruth M. Castellanos Rivera, Ph.D. University of North Carolina
  • Gregg Duncan, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
  • Jose L Gomez-Villalobos, MD., MS, Yale University
  • Dayna A. Johnson, Ph.D.,M.P.H., M.S.W., M.S. Harvard University
  • Angelia Lockett, PhD, Indiana University
  • Bob Lubamba, Ph.D. University of North Carolina
  • Hector Marquez, M.D. Boston University
  • Yvette N. Martin, M.D., Ph.D. Mayo Clinic
  • Maria Cristina D. Picardo, Ph.D. College of William and Mary
  • Shalina Taylor, Ph.D. Stanford University
  • Carmen Taype, M.D., Ph.D. University of California San Diego
  • Giraldina Trevejo, M.D. University of Pittsburgh
  • Arlener D. Turner, Ph.D. Rush University
  • Leah Villegas, Ph.D.,University of Colorado Anschutz
  • Marquitta J. White, Ph.D. University of California San Francisco
  • Zulma Yunt, M.D. National Jewish Health

NHLBI Staff

  • Sandra Colombini Hatch, M.D. NHLBI
  • Nara Gavini, Ph.D. NHLBI
  • Stephanie Constant, Ph.D. NHLBI
  • Andrea Harabin, Ph.D. NHLBI
  • Thomas L. Croxton, Ph.D., M.D. NHLBI
  • James P. Kiley, Ph.D. NHLBI
  • Michelle Freemer, M.D. NHLBI
  • Aaron Laposky, M.D. NHLBI
  • Lora Reineck, M.D. NHLBI
  • Ann Rothgeb, NHLBI
  • Robert Smith, Ph.D. NHLBI
  • Lei Xiao, M.D. NHLBI