Summer VA CINCCH-Academic (VACA) Research Program

Edward Hines Jr Va Hospital, Hines IL

Investigators

Abstract

This application will expand our successful pilot program located in Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare (CINCCH), called the Summer VA CINCCH-Academic (VACA) Program. This summer program, also known as the Summer VACA Research Program, will provide the opportunity for undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds to obtain hands-on research experience in health systems research (HSR) and team-based science to reinforce goals for pursuing a scientific research career. Minorities are underrepresented in the collegiate and thus scientific environment in the United States; where only 13% of master's degrees and 9% of doctorates are awarded to minority students (Hispanics, African Americans, and Native Americans). These disparities highlight the need to increase access to scientific learning and research opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. CINCCH is the HSR Center of Innovation (COIN) located in the Chicago metropolitan area and based at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital (Hines) and Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (JBVAMC). CINCCH has been a VA HSR Center for over 40 years with focus areas in disability and polytrauma, patient-centered outcomes, and implementation science. During the 8-week Summer VACA Research Program, students will engage in research activities customized to address their HSR interests and needs. Interns will work on their assigned mentors' research projects, complete weekly assignments that will assist them in preparing their own research abstract and presentation, participate in workshops, and review online trainings. Throughout the summer, interns will receive additional programming through participation in public health, HSR, health equity, implementation science, and professional development seminars each week, and career path conversations with academic and government scientists (termed “lunch and learns”). Additionally, interns will participate in a journal club in which they will discuss various HSR topics with CINCCH investigators and project staff. The Summer VACA Research Program is also aligned with VA Office of Research and Development (ORD) goals of `actively promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI),' `building community through VA research,' and the Quintuple Aim of `ensuring equity' and `supporting the workforce'. The overall objectives/aims of the Program are: Aim 1: Provide a summer research experience to undergraduate students on VA topics and methods in HSR and the learning health system and how it relates to improving the health care of Veterans. We will recruit students from academic affiliates, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions each year to participate in the Program. Aim 2: Prepare students for a future career in the health sciences. We will provide a comprehensive curriculum of professional skill building, research design and methodology, and development and effective dissemination of research products (proposal, abstract, manuscripts, literature reviews, and presentations) to prepare students for future, post-undergraduate plans. The expected outcomes of this program are to increase diversity in the health sciences including HSR and enhance opportunities for future talented leaders from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in health sciences. This program is innovative in that we will expand our pilot program with new components, including hands-on experience workshops, student professional development seminars, and a journal club. This program will have impact as it will create a pipeline for developing healthcare scientists from diverse backgrounds. The long- term goal is to promote careers in health sciences and the VA for the next generation of young scientists.