Career Advancement for Research in Health Equity (CARE T37)

Training the future generation of health equity and global health researchers

The Weill Cornell Medicine Career Advancement for Research in Health Equity (CARE T37) program, which is made possible (in part) by 1T37MD014220 from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, is intended to provide early exposure to health equity research and global health for pre-doc and post-doctoral trainees. The long-term goal of this program is to increase the diversity and number of scientists working across disciplines to improve health equity and global health. In no particular order, components of the CARE program include an intensive 2-month summer didactic session that provides a general introduction to healthcare/scientific research fundamentals; project—based mentoring for research experience; and opportunities for global health experience at NIH-funded global health research sites in developing countries such as Haiti, Brazil, Tanzania, and Ghana.

About the Program

The CARE T37 program aims to identify talented URM pre- and post-doctoral trainees across the health sciences who are considering careers in health equity and global health research. Regardless of their ultimate career objectives, it is essential that all trainees receive a well-grounded exposure to research fundamentals and experience. Selected trainees of the program will engage in a mentored research experience tailored to their individual career and research goals. Personalized research experiences may include: a) participating in our intensive summer research training session, b) engaging in a mentored research project, and c) participating in a mentored global health experience. For eligible trainees the program provides stipend support to help defray living expenses in NYC during the intensive summer didactic session and/or to support trainees during the mentored research experience at NIH-funded select global health sites.

Eligibility

The program is open to qualified candidates from Weill Cornell Medicine as well as other colleges and institutions. Medical students, Terminal PhD students, Residents, and Post-doctoral students/Medical fellows who are from underrepresented populations (individuals from African American, Hispanic, Native/American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Island populations, individuals from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, sexual and gender minorities (SGMs), and those with disabilities) should consider applying to the program. Although the program will consider trainees at any stage of the academic healthcare training continuum (from medical student, to resident, to fellowship/post-doc), post-doctoral students/medical fellows with a strong interest to pursue a career in scientific research and health equity and/or global health are strongly encouraged to apply.

Eligible candidates must be:

• A citizen or a noncitizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time of appointment.
• Predoctoral trainees must be enrolled in a program leading to a PhD or in an equivalent health sciences research doctoral degree program. (e.g. medical school student or terminal PhD student in the health sciences)
• Postdoctoral trainees must have received, as of the beginning date of the appointment, a Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., or comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution.
• An under-represented minority in medicine (URiM), or from underrepresented populations, and/or have a strong and demonstrated academic interest in health equity/disparities focused research.
• Not currently participating in any NIH funded training program such as T32.

How to Apply

Candidates interested in applying to the CARE T37 Program must submit an application package via email. The application package must include the following components:

• 1 page proposal that includes the name of your mentor, a description of your research interests and career plans, and a brief summary of a potential health equity/global health project you would like to develop further.
• Proposals should also include contingency plans to describe how the potential project can be performed under the supervision of a mentor remotely, in the event we are still faced with travel restrictions and institutional limits to the number of trainees/faculty on campus or in labs.

• Please note: It is paramount that Weill Cornell Medicine ensures a safe environment for faculty, staff, students, and patients. Due to the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic and current travel policy restrictions, projects that require domestic and/or international travel will not be permitted.

• Current curriculum vitae (CV)
• Letter of support from your mentor
• Application Cover Page and Checklist for minimal eligibility (2 pages)
  

Program Leadership

The CARE T37 is co-directed by Said Ibrahim, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.; Mary Charlson, M.D.; and Linnie Golightly, M.D.. All are experts in healthcare research, health equity/global health, and have track records in mentoring trainees and junior faculty. Additionally, trainees have access to world-renowned and accomplished program mentors committed to engaging trainees in their ongoing federally funded studies and facilitating access to data and state-of-the art research laboratories.

All accepted trainees must commit to participate in this full-time mentored research/training experience for a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks. All trainees receive 10 weeks of stipend support. Trainees who elect Option A (Full Participation) also receive an additional 8 weeks of stipend support during the global health experience.

* Please note: Trainees choosing to participate in a Global Health or Partnered Research Experience may begin their appointment at anytime during the calendar year, provided they participate in that experience for 10 consecutive weeks.

Contact Information

For more information, please contact any of the following individuals:

Heather L. Johnson, MS, PMP®
Heather.Johnson3@jefferson.edu 
Director, Dean’s Office of Special Initiatives
Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Thomas Jefferson University

Robin Andrews, DSW
rra2004@med.cornell.edu
Senior Education Manager
Masters in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research