Workshop on Recruitment and Retention of African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans in Scientific Research Careers Relevant to Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Disorders: Workshop Summary

GATEWAYS TO THE LABORATORY SUMMER PROGRAM

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SLIDE 1: GATEWAYS TO THE LABORATORY SUMMER PROGRAM
Ruth Gotian, MS
Program Manager
Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering
Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program
New York, NY

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SLIDE 2: BACKGROUND

• Initiated as a means of increasing the pool of qualified underrepresented minority (URM) applicants to MD-PhD Programs.
• Program started with 4 students in 1993, and is now up to 15 students.

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SLIDE 3: MD-PHD TRAINING

• The mission of MD-PhD programs is to educate and train physician-scientists, who can bridge the (widening) gap between clinical medicine and laboratory research, which is brought about by technological developments and specialization in both fields.
  
  RESEARCH:
  Basic Research
  Disease-Oriented Research
  Patient-Oriented Research
  Population-Oriented Research
  
  TEACHING:
  Basic Science
  Clinical Disciplines

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SLIDE 4: MD-PHD TRAINING
The mission of the physician-scientist is to promote better health and enhance the quality of life by reducing disability and death from disease.

In order to promote health, it is necessary to understand not only normal body function but also how, and why, disease develops.

How do our genes (and gene products) interact among each other and with the environment?

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SLIDE 5: PROGRAM GOALS

• To prepare URM students for the challenges associated with applying to and successfully completing MD-PhD Programs.

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SLIDE 6: PROGRAM OVERVIEW

• Freshman and sophomores only.
• 10 week program.
• On campus housing.
• $3,900 stipend.
• Travel reimbursement.

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SLIDE 7: PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Independent research projects - Weill Medical College, The Rockefeller University or the Sloan-Kettering Institute.
• Weekly Journal Club.
• Laboratory Techniques Workshop.
• Clinical Skills Workshop.
• Clinical Rounds – Department of Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital.
• Specialty Rounds.
• Gross Anatomy – lecture and tour.
• Final Presentations
  • Written paper;
  • Oral presentation;
  • Poster presentation.

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SLIDE 8: Map of Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Tri-Institutional Campus

• This slide represents the closeness in proximity of our three institutions: Weill Cornell Medical College and Graduate School, The Rockefeller University and the Sloan-Kettering Institute. All institutions are across the street from one another, centered around the corner of York Avenue and 68th Street, along the Upper East Side of New York City.

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SLIDE 9: CAREER GUIDANCE

• Mock MCAT exam and strategy session.
• Writing a Scientific CV Workshop.
• Interview Workshop.
• Mock MD-PhD Interview.
• ABC’s of applying to medical, graduate and MD-PhD Programs.
• How to present your research in an oral, written and poster format.

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SLIDE 10: SOCIAL EVENTS

• New York Yankees Baseball Game
• Late Show with David Letterman
• Apollo Theatre
• uerto Rican Day Parade
• New York Liberty Basketball Game
• BBQ
• Much, much more!!

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SLIDE 11: BIG BROTHER/BIG SISTER PROGRAM

• Each Gateways student is assigned a Big Brother/Sister who is a current URM MD-PhD student.
  • Serve as advisors;
  • Answer research and career related questions.
  • Organize educational, social and cultural events.

SLIDE 12: PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

• Need to educate parents about the career options for MD-PhD’s.
  • Continuous communication throughout the summer regarding planned Gateways activities.

• Invite parents to final presentations:
  • Stay in local hotel as our guest;
  • Complimentary airline tickets (in progress).

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SLIDE 13: RESULTS

• Attendance at national conferences
  • SACNAS (Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science) Atlanta, GA
    • In 2000, 13 out of 14 Gateways students applied, all 13 had their abstracts chosen for poster presentations, and four were awarded with the Best Student Poster Award (awarded to only 26 out of 315 posters presented).
  • NMRS (National Minority Research Symposium), Washington, DC
  • MTRF (Minority Trainee Research Forum), San Diego, CA

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SLIDE 14: RESULTS (Continued)

• Research positions
  • Gateways students get top research positions upon their return to their undergraduate institution.
  • For following summers, Gateways students accepted into most competitive summer programs.

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SLIDE 15: RESULTS (Continued)

• Alumni
  • 73 alumni (1993-2000)
    • 8 pursuing/pursued a MD degree;
    • 1 pursuing a PhD degree;
    • 5 in MD-PhD Programs (including Harvard, Johns Hopkins and UCSF);
    • 25 still in college;
    • 5 pursuing other careers;
    • 9 unknown.

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SLIDE 16: IDEAS FOR FUTURE SUCCESS

• Increase educational initiatives about the existence and importance of combined MD-PhD programs.
  • Fund additional summer programs to be run by MD-PhD Programs;
  • Promote attendance/presentations at national conferences.
  • Encourage parental involvement.

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