Methods-and-Mentors Experience in Research-Data Science Skills in Rehabilitation and Whole Health for Aging Veterans (SUMMERDSSRWHAV)

Baltimore Va Medical Center, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Abstract

The Veteran's Administration (VA) Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) Summer Research Program (SRP), called the SUMMERDSSRWHAV Program, will advance three complementary priorities: to put VA data to work for Veterans, address underrepresentation in the research workforce, and support interprofessional collaboration and community. The next generation of VA healthcare providers and researchers will care for over nine million Veterans and make scientific breakthroughs by mining one of the VA's most critical resources—data. These data, utilized by a diverse workforce that is reflective of the population it serves, have the potential to transform clinical care and improve the health and well-being of Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. Developing this diverse and inclusive scientific workforce is a mission-critical objective. Therefore, the VAMHCS SUMMERDSSRWHAV Program aims to increase trainee competence in the ethical conduct of research, proficiency, and confidence in managing various aspects of data-driven science (from research question conception to project presentation), and core competency in the areas of Roles and Responsibilities, Ethics and Values, Communication, and Teamwork as defined by the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC). For eight weeks, program participants will engage with an empowering curriculum that introduces geriatric, rehabilitative, and whole health principles woven together by core skills in research methods and data science. All student participants will be paired with scientific mentors and data science co-mentors to foster a culture of innovative scientific expression, professional identity, and personal confidence. Site visits across the Veterans Integrated Services Network 5 (VISN 5), and with academic affiliates, will enable participants to palpably connect healthcare research with its impact on patient outcomes and service delivery, and to visualize the diversity of roles they might adopt in future careers. The SUMMERDSSRWHAV Program will also stimulate relationship building and collaborative problem solving through unique program features including our partnership with another SRP and a “Data Science Hack-a-Thon.” Program learning outcomes and impact will be measured through both formative and summative evaluation processes. Formative assessments will help improve the project components, while summative assessments will examine the achievement of project objectives including proficiency in Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies. Our program strategy is to expose students from underserved populations, who may have previously faced barriers to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research opportunities, to critical quantitative skills; while placing trainees in a strong supportive environment featuring data management support, tutorial support, and strong co-mentorship teams. Our interprofessional leadership team consists of experienced clinicians and researchers from diverse backgrounds, some of whom have faced similar barriers in their own careers. Together these experiences will help mentees see the impact data science can have on research, the health of Veterans, and help them gain confidence and a sense of belonging in the STEM and healthcare fields; while also strengthening and building capacity at VAMHCS, our academic affiliates, and with other SRP partners.