Health Equity StARR (Stimulating Access to Research in Residency) Program
The CUMIC Health Equity StARR Program offers residents a dedicated research year during which they can allocate at least 80 percent of their time to research and research-related training.
The CUIMC NHLBI Health Equity StARR Program aims to identify, train, and retain the next generation of diverse physician-scientists to advance health equity through health services, learning health systems, translational, basic science, and clinical research, focused on heart, lung, blood and sleep diseases across the lifespan. The program is open to residents in all residency programs at VP&S.
Before the Research Year
In the spring before the research year, accepted resident investigators will participate in a mentor-mentee training session as well as Columbia University’s Individual Development Plan (IDP) Didactic Program.
During the Research Year
At the beginning of the research year, scholars will take part in a five-week intensive, didactic research training program (Columbia Summer Research Institute Training Program).
Scholars will participate in a 24-month rolling curriculum, which includes sessions and courses on the following topics:
- Foundations for a Successful Career in Academic Medicine
- Health Equity Research Methods
- Human Subject & Responsible Conduct of Research
- Scientific Writing & Communication
Mentorship Throughout the Program
Individualized mentor teams will be established during the application phase and extend beyond the program.
Resident investigators will participate in ASPIRE! Peer Mentoring Program offered.
Scholars will receive longitudinal support to ensure that trainees have the necessary preliminary data, mentoring relationships, and writing skills necessary to apply for loan repayment programs, fellowships, and career development awards. Learn more about the StARR mentors here.
Benefits
StARR scholars will have:
- Fully-funded financial support for health equity research and training
- Program is very flexible to accommodate the goals and needs of each scholar
- StARR scholars will have a competitive edge when applying for clinical fellowships, research fellowships, and future NIH funding opportunities, such as T32s, KL2s, K38s, and more
- A commitment by all program leadership and mentors to longitudinal career and research support, not only during the residents’ training years but also before and for at least two years following program completion
Eligibility
The program is open to CUIMC residents who are PGY2 and beyond and who aspire to be equity-focused physician-scientists. (Departments must commit to cost share.) Departments that have already committed include Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Surgery. Please discuss your interest in the Health Equity StARR Program with your residency program director before applying.
- Applicants must have taken at least one year of calculus
- Year depends on the program and the resident’s needs
StARR Program Principal Investigator
Jacquelyn Taylor PhD, PNP-BC, RN, FAHA, FAAN
Dr. Taylor is the Helen F. Petit Professor of Nursing; Founding Executive Director, Center for Research on People of Color (CRPC); Founding Executive Director, Kathleen Hickey Endowed Lectureship; and Senior Advisor to Chief of Division of Cardiology at CUIMC
Current StARR Scholars
Olivia Maguire, MD, PGY3, Pediatrics
Research Interests
- Mechanisms that link obesity, especially childhood obesity, with comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer
- Basic and translational approaches to investigate these mechanisms using cell lines, genetically modified mouse models, and patient samples from a diverse population of individuals with obesity
Marcus Mosley, MD, PGY3, Pediatrics
Research Interests
- Reducing disparities in infant morbidity and mortality
- Policies and social structures on the neurodevelopment of premature infants, especially minoritized infants, to improve outcomes
- Mixed-methods, community-led research approach
