Next Generation KUH Researchers (GENERATOR)

Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester MN

Investigators

Abstract

Our Networking Core (NC) will function synergistically with the Professional Development (PDC) and Training Cores (TC) to foster community and collaboration among trainees. Our leadership team has worked to ensure that networking mechanisms, including those led by trainees, underlie and are infused into the curricula of both Cores. Our NC will create infrastructure to support a bridge that joins trainees of this Program with others in the KUH research space, including the Collaborating for the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology (CAIRIBU) Community, a multi-institutional, multi-center collaborative of Urology O’Brien Centers, P20 Centers, and K12 Career Development Programs directed by Dr. Penniston (GENERATOR NC co-director) (Table N1). Our GENERATOR Program is unique since both institutions have currently-funded CAIRIBU Centers and Programs. Collectively, these Centers and Programs afford this NC a unique ability to directly leverage existing outreach programs and promote new interactions and research opportunities among GENERATOR Program urology trainees. To serve all of our KUH trainees we will also build relationships with leaders of the Cooperative Centers of Excellence in Hematology (CCEH)1 and its central coordinating center (University Utah) and the National Coordinating Center for the George M. O'Brien Kidney National Resource Centers (University of Alabama at Birmingham). To accomplish these goals our GENERATOR Networking Core Specific Aims are: AIM 1. Complement the training of 21st century collaboration and communication skills with practicum environments. Our primary objective is to develop opportunities for trainees to operationalize, practice, and sharpen the collaboration and communication skills learned in our Program. AIM 2. Encourage and foster a virtual trainee-led “community of practice” and other forums that afford trainees an unsupervised forum to relate to one another and interact. Our primary objective is to provide a forum to enhance trainees’ relatedness and communication. AIM 3. Share metrics of successes, best practices, and opportunities for improvement. Our primary objective is to comprehensively evaluate all elements and outcomes of our initiatives. Our Networking Core (NC) will function synergistically with the Professional Development (PDC) and Training Cores (TC) to foster community and collaboration among trainees. Our leadership team has worked to ensure that networking mechanisms, including those led by trainees, underlie and are infused into the curricula of both Cores. Our NC will create infrastructure to support a bridge that joins trainees of this Program with others in the KUH research space, including the Collaborating for the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology (CAIRIBU) Community, a multi-institutional, multi-center collaborative of Urology O’Brien Centers, P20 Centers, and K12 Career Development Programs directed by Dr. Penniston (GENERATOR NC co-director) (Table N1). Our GENERATOR Program is unique since both institutions have currently-funded CAIRIBU Centers and Programs. Collectively, these Centers and Programs afford this NC a unique ability to directly leverage existing outreach programs and promote new interactions and research opportunities among GENERATOR Program urology trainees. To serve all of our KUH trainees we will also build relationships with leaders of the Cooperative Centers of Excellence in Hematology (CCEH)1 and its central coordinating center (University Utah) and the National Coordinating Center for the George M. O'Brien Kidney National Resource Centers (University of Alabama at Birmingham). AIM 1. Complement the training of 21st century collaboration and communication skills with practicum environments. Our primary objective is to develop opportunities for trainees to operationalize, practice, and sharpen the collaboration and communication skills learned in our Program. We will create small, structured, and supervised transdisciplinary groups focused on specific research questions, skills-building topics, journal clubs, and collaborative grant-writing groups. Most will be virtual to allow cross-institutional participation. Faculty mentors in our Program will be assigned responsibilities to oversee and lead these activities. Existing CAIRIBU resources and activities will be leveraged to develop resources for all GENEATOR KUH trainees. AIM 2. Encourage and foster a virtual trainee-led “community of practice” and other forums that afford trainees an unsupervised forum to relate to one another and interact. Our primary objective is to provide a forum to enhance trainees’ relatedness and communication. We will encourage trainees to recognize their shared experience, build relationships and networks, and engage in joint activities. We will seed the concept for this “community of practice,” share evidence for its benefits, provide logistical support and coordination, and address needs that trainees identify. Structured, peer-led activities and informal collaboration among trainees can meaningfully impact professional development and the transition to research independence. Such opportunities for trainees to engage in self-directed initiatives and collaborative groups promote a sense of engagement, accountability, and momentum in their learning. Accordingly, we will actively encourage, support, and coordinate trainee-led initiatives that reinforce these goals.. AIM 3. Share metrics of successes, best practices, and opportunities for improvement. Our primary objective is to comprehensively evaluate all elements and outcomes of our initiatives. We will collect data to address high priority questions of the KUH communities. We will evaluate the structured practicum opportunities we create for trainees to practice and sharpen skills (Aim 1) and peer-initiated and led activities to develop trainees’ motivation for learning and success (Aim 2). We will disseminate our findings in manuscripts and presentations.