The Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) NHLBI Health Equity StARR Program

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The Columbia University Irving Medical Center NHLBI Health Equity StARR Program will identify, train, and provide longitudinal support to expand the next generation of diverse, interdisciplinary physician scientists to advance outcomes and reduce disparities for patients with heart, lung, blood, and sleep-related diseases across the lifespan. We recognize the declining fraction of the scientific workforce represented by physician-scientists. We recognize the particular dearth of women, under-represented minorities, and those from other traditionally marginalized backgrounds, both in the physician-scientist pipeline and as mentors. We also recognize that there is robust science that underlies our understanding of equity, disparities, and the transformation of both. The goal of this program is to identify, train, and retain a next generation of diverse physician scientists to advance science related to heart, lung, blood and sleep diseases, with focus on working across disciplines to advance health equity. This will be accomplished through the following Aims: 1) Identify promising, resident physicians across Surgery, Cardiovascular Surgery, Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine, with a particular focus on inclusion of women, under-represented minorities, and physicians scientists from other traditionally disadvantaged and backgrounds; 2) Implement rigorous didactic and applied learning with a focus on working across disciplines to advancing health equity; and 3) Pair these resident scientists with interdisciplinary, diverse mentors, committed to rigorous research methodology and mentorship, before, during, and at least 2 years beyond the CUIMC NHLBI Health Equity StARR Program, to ensure retention of well-trained, diverse, and fulfilled physician scientists. To support this training, we bring together not only three different clinical departments focused on heart lung, blood and sleep diseases and Columbia University’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA; the Irving Institute), but also Columbia University’s School of Medicine, School of Nursing, Mailman School of Public Health,and the Columbia University Center for Research on People of Color. This Program will consist of three tracks: 1) Health Services & Learning Health Systems, 2) Basic & Translational, and 3) Clinical Science. Completion of these aims will recruit, train, and provide longitudinal support for diverse, interdisciplinary resident investigators, prepared to apply for early career and career development research awards and to embark on methodologically rigorous careers to advance health equity.