HP-STAR: Health Professions - Student Training in Aging Research Program

Program Summary

The Office of Student Research (OSR) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) offers an inter-professional research training program in aging-related research for health professional predoctoral students in dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, and osteopathic medicine. The Program provides a mentored research practicum during the summer in aging-related research that may be basic, translational, or clinical in nature to health professional students, early in their training. Under the mentorship of UMB research faculty in the field, students explore an enriching experience in aging-related research. The Program introduces students to biomedical research and academic experiences that extends and enhances their health profession education.

The Program trains and guides health professionals-in-training in their pursuit of academic careers in aging that ranges from basic science to clinical research to health services research in a wide range of research fields including epidemiology, neurology, medicine, cardiology, robotics, and many more. The Program aims to encourage and inspire these students to join the growing cadre of health professionals and scientists whose specialized knowledge and skills are in great demand as our population ages.

Supported by:
The University of Maryland School of Medicine and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) - The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) training grant 5T35AG036679.

Administered by:
The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM)/Office of Student Research (OSR).

Associated with: 

• University of Maryland Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center 
• Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Centers (GRECC) at the Baltimore VAMC 
• Geriatrics and Gerontology Education and Research Program (GGEAR) at UMB 

Program Details

• Location
  University of Maryland health professional schools and associated medical centers: University of Maryland Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing, and Dental School; Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).
• Research Mentor
  University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) faculty researchers. See Research Mentors section. Trainees will be matched with an HP-STAR Research Mentor. Trainees have the opportunity to work with a Research Mentor in a different health profession.
• Research Topic
  Aging-related research topic determined according to Trainee's research interest and the Research Mentor
• Time and Duration
  Summer Research - approximately 10-12 weeks between late May and early August. For the 2013 program, May 28 - August 2, 2013.
  Career Mentoring - continued throughout the student's academic program.
• Stipend
  $5,508
• Number of Positions
  20
• Program Activities
  Trainees will participate in the full range of summer research training activities sponsored by Office of Student Research of UM SOM, including Orientation, research-related training, lecture and seminar series related to biomedical research, and Student Research Forum. Seminars will include a wide range of aging-related research topics. Multiple clinical shadowing opportunities will be provided in various clinical environment involving geriatric patients.
• Travel Funding
  Funding for travel to present at National or International conferences may be available for limited number of Trainees who will present their research conducted through the program. Contact the Program for specific questions.  

Research Mentors

See HP-STAR Research Mentors List for the list of HP-STAR faculty members and their projects.

Faculty members interested in becoming an HP-STAR Research Mentor can contact the Program for further information. .

Eligibility

1. Degree Program and Year of Study
   First year health professional students in a 3-4 year doctoral degree (e.g., MD, PharmD, DDS, DNP, DPT, DO) or combined degree program (e.g., MD/PhD, MD/MS, PharmD/MPH). In addition to the students enrolled at University of Maryland health professional schools, the Program is also open to students from health professional schools at other universities.
2. Academic Requirement
   In good academic standing and will have successfully completed one year of professional school by May of the program year.
3. Citizenship Status
   U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Individuals not eligible for the program:

1. Prior Doctoral Degrees
   Individuals holding Ph.D. or other doctoral degrees in the health sciences or professions.
2. Concurrent Other Funding
   Individuals receiving a stipend or salary support from another federal source, or from another research award or participate in another research program concurrently with this Program. Annual scholarship funds for tuition or subsistence do not apply.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) and UMB have strong interests in continuing to diversify the research workforce committed to advancing the fields of aging and geriatric research. All interested students, including those who are members of ethnic or racial groups underrepresented in these fields, students with disabilities, and students whose backgrounds and experience are likely to diversify personnel, approaches, delivery and impact in these fields, are encouraged to apply.

Application Information

Application Deadline: March 31, 2013, 11:59 p.m. 

Application Documents

• Application Instructions  
• Application Form 
• Biosketch CV Template 
• Recommendation Form  (recently updated 3/12/2013)

Non-UM students should see Home Institution Faculty Sponsor section.

Anticipated Notification of Award: April 19, 2013.

Home Institution Faculty Sponsor

If the student is from an institution other than UMB, the student must have a Home Institution Faculty Sponsor (HIFS). The sponsor, who is a health professional clinical practitioner working with the aging population or conducting research in aging, will act as a mentor to the student throughout the remainder of the student's academic program at the student's home institution. The sponsor will meet at least twice each year with the student to discuss progress and assist the student in developing an academic geriatric career or focus. The HIFS must be a faculty member of the student's Home Institution and whose work is relevant to geriatrics or gerontology.

The arrangement for the HIFS should be approved by the Program prior to the acceptance of the student into the Program.

The HIFS should submit:

1. NIH biographical sketch. 
2. Letter declaring that the faculty member will a) serve as a HIFS to the student and b) work with the Program to provide continual mentorship.
3. Mentoring plan designed to continue and further develop the student's interest in academic geriatrics upon completion of the summer research portion of the Program. The mentoring plan should define the faculty member's role as HIFS and, at a minimum, commit to ongoing meetings with the student through October of the final year of the student's degree program. The mentoring plan can be included in the letter or as an attachment.