Intramural Training and Scientific Workforce Outreach Operations

National Institute On Minority Health And Health Disparities

Investigators

Abstract

OTD serves trainees in Maryland, including postdoctoral fellows, visiting fellows, medical students, postbaccalaureate fellows, graduate students, and summer interns. CAPT Anthony Johnson, PhD, FACHE, United States Public Health Service is the Scientific Advisor and Training Director who executes the charge to expand vast scientific fellowship and internship outreach and builds a robust training and mentoring program within the Office of the Scientific Director that provides outstanding training opportunities and monitoring of progress for DIR staff and trainees. During FY25, NIMHD DIR served as the prominent site for health disparities research training for a total of 35 trainees: 9 post-doctoral fellows, 1 pre-doctoral fellow, 24 post-baccalaureate fellows, and 1 medical research scholar program fellow. Two of the post-doctoral fellows were hosted in Dr. Shannon Zenk's lab whose research program is hosted by NIMHD DIR. The overwhelming majority of these trainees were from underrepresented groups in science, and most were women. Demand for traineeship opportunities within DIR has always exceeded capacity. Continued growth in the number of DIR investigators will help meet this demand. Trainees’ development as young scientists are continual and presenting their work is one of the most important skills to develop. NIMHD/DIR Works in Progress meetings were held affording trainees’ opportunity to present projects, and conduct talks in virtual and in-person settings and receive constructive feedback to enhance presentation excellence at NIH sessions and national research conferences. The research preparedness sessions evinced 14 postbac poster day presentations and 15 research presentations at multiple conferences: American Public Health Association, the Society for Epidemiologic Research, and Academy Health Research Meeting. The inaugural Leadership Development Series commencing in FY23 continued expanding in year three FY25. The FY24 segment centered on practical application of research in understanding community and population science from a human-centered perspective. The FY25 cycle concentrated on trainees’ vast skill development with sessions including professional agility, LinkedIn tools for career strategic planning, statistical analysis via multiple data platforms, and the start of post-doctoral fellow teaching segments. The OTD is dedicated to continual program development and operational excellence. All actions serve to increase the visibility of NIMHD DIR research and to advance the scientific workforce through outreach, trainee and intramural lab program efficiency, and NIMHD DIR operational effectiveness. As such the following OTD program implementations occurred FY25: Administration, Training and Program development activities: 1) CAPT Johnson served as Co-Chair for the NIH-wide Training Directors’ Committee facilitating an integral role in training program policy review and development of training program governance aligned with unionization requirements, staff engagement strategies, career resilience approaches, and training components prioritization specific to current NIH and industry operational needs. 2) Coordinated a Scientific Career and Networking Talk Session - To expand fellows’ approach in career development through networking and understanding varied career opportunities in research, industry, academia, and in federal and state agencies. 3) Expanded trainees’ Orientation Resource Guide with new NIH-wide resources associated with unionization policies and procedures to enhance their awareness and efficient program operation. 4) CAPT Johnson served as the co-content writer to develop the inaugural NIMHD Postbac and Postdoc Fellow of the Year Award. 5) Continued bi-monthly Training Director and Trainees operational meetings to expand communication, internal lab and cross-lab collaboration and team effectiveness. 6) Continued Trainees’ Feedback sessions and Exit Interviews via written exchange and through in-person meetings to capture data of program successes and gaps for conducting training and mentoring program enhancements. OTD briefed results to PI/Scientists regularly to enhance lab efficiency and mentoring effectiveness. 7) Coordinated Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC) preparation sessions to assist principal investigators to effectively prepare for review including presentation of lab research operations and delineation of accomplishments in advancing NIH research and impacting health outcomes. 8) Coordinated with the DIR Operations Team the third annual DIR Team Gathering of PI/Scientists and Fellows with focus on enhancing team building, collaboration, and mentoring effectiveness. Outreach and Recruitment activities: 9) CAPT Johnson served as a panelist speaker on “Strengthening Mentorship and Funding Pathways to Broaden Participation in Biomedical Research” at the University of North Texas Health Science Center Biomedical Conference January 2025 in Denton, TX to expand insight of researchers, industry and academia officials on building networks to advance science and public health. 10) CAPT Johnson served as a speaker on “Professional Wellness: A career fit for leadership, success, and impact” at the Student National Medical Association (SNMA-AMEC) 2025 Conference in St. Louis, MO to expand insight of young scientists in strategy planning for effective career and leadership success. 11) CAPT Johnson served as a NIMHD program exhibitor at the following scientific conferences to promote awareness of Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) opportunities: a. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS): 11/13-16/2024: Pittsburgh, PA (over 300 professional interactions) b. Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS): 10/31-11/2/2024: Phoenix, AZ (over 200 professional interactions) NIMHD DIR also supported clinical training fellowships. MSRP: During FY 25, NIMHD DIR supported a Medical Scholar Research Program fellow, Ms. Daem Celestin, who successfully completed her training in Dr. Sherine El-Toukhy Digital Health and Health Disparities Lab. Ms. Celestin led two first authored manuscripts. Ms. Celestin presented her work on patient portals at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Preventive Medicine in Seattle, WA in May 2025. IETP: NIMHD DIR continued the partnership supporting the Inter-Institute Endocrinology Training Program (IETP). It is a three-year training program that seeks to train internal medicine physicians to become first-rate endocrinologists dedicated to investigative careers. NIMHD DIR assisted with interviews and selection and provided funding for one 3-year spot in the program for a fellow focused on health disparities research.