“PVAHCS Nutrition-Focused Summer Research Practicum”

Phoenix Va Health Care System, Phoenix AZ

Investigators

Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract Registered Dietitians (RDs) as a profession are not representative of the communities they serve. This is due in part to obstacles for minority groups to join the profession. Nutrition research is also lagging behind other medical research in terms of funding, quality, and scope. Part of the reason for this is a lack of nutrition professionals who are research prepared. Exceptionally few research learning programs exist with a nutrition focus. The Phoenix VA Nutrition-focused Summer Research Practicum (PVAHCS SRP) aims to help remedy these gaps by recruiting students from under-represented communities in science and providing training and career preparation in nutrition research. We have developed a rigorous and flexible program for PVAHCS SRP Scholars with the aims of improving Scholar confidence and self-identification as a researcher, increasing the diversity of the VA workforce, and cultivating interest and participation in nutrition research. The PVAHCS SRP prepares Scholars for success and helps to overcome barriers that often preclude success for some students from marginalized communities. We accomplish this by (a) a progressive design that encourages Scholars to return for up to 3 years to the program and build on their previous work and learning, (b) individualized goals and learning to meet unique Scholar needs and interests, (c) alternative learning models that primarily teach through doing, “failing up” and peer-to-peer instruction, and (d) comprehensive mentoring plans intended to lay the ground-work for life-long mentorship for Scholars. Because we understand the barriers that students from nontraditional backgrounds may face, we offer flexibility for virtual and telework as much as possible while still accomplishing the program goals. We pay Scholars competitively and provide professional develop and career counseling through our comprehensive mentorship program, thereby setting them up for success in their chosen field. The PVAHCS SRP accepted 4 Scholars into the Practicum the first year, and six the following year, with a total of eight Scholars in total. Results to date show subjective and objective improvements in confidence by 1.9 points on average each summer. To date, 38% of Scholars who have completed 1 year of the Practicum, have applied to, and been accepted into a subsequent year of the Practicum. Another 38% percent were accepted into VHA training program. Scholars belonging to one or more under-represented group in science have ranged from 67-100% each year. Our Scholars presented four poster presentations at The Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) in 2023. Lessons learned from the first two years of the Practicum have better prepared the program for success. These include more stream-lined administrative processes for onboarding and starting onboarding early with collaboration and support from central office and other sites. Our curriculum is under continuous process improvement based on feedback from faculty and Scholars. The Practicum was a heavier administrative load than we had originally anticipated. Because of this, we are hiring a coordinator that will support this program and our other nutrition research programs. Overall, the Practicum has had tremendous buy-in and support from PVAHCS leadership, research staff, nutrition staff, and Scholars. Scholars have met and exceeded expectations and grown myriad ways. As stated by one Scholar: “Before I wanted to be able to understand research to be able to read and understand literature. Now I want to participate in research. I didn’t know anything about the VA. Now I have a good perception of the VA.”