UIC Center for Clinical And Translational Science: Advancing Health Training for All (K12)

University Of Illinois At Chicago, Chicago IL

Investigators

Abstract

The K12 program at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) program will focus on the development of scholars in clinical and translational sciences, with the overarching goal of bridging the divide between clinical scholar development and the needs of our research and external community. Our current faculty development effort is strongly linked to the core UIC mission of expanding health for all communities and uses the successful Clinical and Translational Sciences (CATS) Scholar development program and education core curriculum. This program benefits from a curriculum enhanced by our excellence in clinical and translational research across a full complement of clinical health sciences disciplines at UIC and strong interconnectedness to the CCTS (UM1) activities. At UIC, the CCTS CATS Scholars Program weaves together the collected resources and expertise of the UIC clinical and translational research enterprise into this training. Our goal is to build a community of K12 CATS Scholars prepared to engage in careers that advance science and health access to all communities and contribute to the generation of foundational knowledge in seven core translational scientist competencies. More importantly, we will deliver a program with full immersion in training principles of belonging, communication, and self-efficacy so that our scholars will become leaders in translating findings into practice. The specific aims are to: 1) Provide a mentored career development program that facilitates the long-term success of early career K12 faculty community engaged in clinical and translational science research across the clinical health sciences disciplines; 2) Support K12 scholars, regardless of discipline, to integrate individualized health experiences and translational science into their research via a multidisciplinary training program integrated with our career development workshops; 3) Facilitate K12 Scholars’ career development with unique training opportunities that will drive collaboration using innovative cross-discipline team science; and 4) Systematically evaluate the Program and provide for continuous improvement and alignment with the competency domains of clinical and translational scientists to better address the research needs of the communities we serve. The program is supported by more than 25 core mentors and more than 75 total mentors who maintain vibrant and relevant research programs along with a commitment to mentoring. Innovative components of the program include an institutional commitment to a 3rd year of support and strong institutional support of research, a focus on community health access and artificial intelligence and data sciences, institutional support for external experiences to enrich Scholar training, an “Affiliate” CATS Scholars that enhances the depth and breadth of the CCTS research community, engagement of former Scholars as mentors and advisors to the program through formal (peer review mentoring) and informal (networking) events, and a strong interactive career development program that interacts regularly with the three Chicago CTSA career development hubs. Further, UIC is a research-intensive institution with students and faculty from all backgrounds and a strong connection to our community through engagement, research, and healthcare delivery, and the scholars all benefit and collaborate within this community.