Nathaniel tran, ABD

(PhD Vanderbilt University Department of Health Policy)

Matthew Facciani, phd

Notre Dame University

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Harry barbee, phd

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Department of Health, Behavior, and Society

Steven houang

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Gillings School of Global Public Health

sociologist. EDUCATOR.thought leader.

graduate trainees

TARA MCKAY

postdoctoral trainees

kristin smith, MA '23

Vanderbilt University

I invest in trainees.

Since my degree, I have provided professional mentorship to 106 mentees, 81 of whom were research active. Over half have gone on to pursue health professions. I intentionally prioritize engagement with women, individuals from underrepresented racial/ethnic and low-income backgrounds, and LGBTQ+ research trainees. 80% of my mentees and 71% of my research active trainees meet at least one NIH Diversity criterion. I train students to be effective researchers who appreciate the value of diverse teams. I have coauthored with 32 trainees, including 22 who meet at least one NIH Diversity criterion and 15 undergraduates.

Beyond training, the retention and support of diverse undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees is a key area where I have invested my time. To improve the stability and training opportunities for LGBTQ+ researchers and people who research LGBTQ+ topics, I applied for and was awarded the first ever NIH Diversity Supplement granted on the basis of sexual or gender minority status (R01AG063771-02S1). I also led as PI an NIH Diversity Mentoring Supplement (R01AG063771-04S2), which supported a ladder of three trainees who all met NIH Diversity criteria and who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to focus on research.

An additional goal of the NIH Diversity Mentoring Supplement is to provide professional development activities around grantspersonship for trainees. These efforts have contributed to two funded LRP applications (Barbee, Lampe), a funded R36 award (Tran) that received an initial Impact Score of 17, a funded 3-year research fellowship award from the Alzheimer’s Association (Lampe), funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a junior faculty Diversity Supplement (Akré), an F31 in award (Gaedecke; initial Impact Score of 20), and one pending K01 application (initial Impact Acore of 27).

Skyler Bastow

Florida State University

Tyler Gaedecke, BSN, RN

Columbia University

School of Nursing