Abstract: FR-PO001
The Duke Paired Undergraduate Mentoring Program in Uronephrology: PUMPing Up the Research Workforce
Session Information
- Classroom to Bedside: Transforming Medical Education
October 25, 2024 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Educational Research
- 1000 Educational Research
Authors
- Varner, Jennifer Drucker, Duke Children's Hospital and Health Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Dass, Loryn Wilson, Duke Children's Hospital and Health Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Sparks, Matthew A., Duke Health, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Williams, Anna Elisabeth, Duke Children's Hospital and Health Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Gbadegesin, Rasheed A., Duke Children's Hospital and Health Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States
Background
There is a looming nephrology clinical and research and urology research workforce crisis. Attrition is high in the STEM career pipeline, especially among students from underrepresented minority backgrounds and women. Feelings of self-efficacy are important determinants for motivating a student for a career in science, and scientic identify formation is important for persistence in the field. We developed a pipeline program designed to instill feelings of self-efficacy and demonstrate the potential for students to become scientists in STEM fields through triangular mentorship. We describe short term outcomes from Duke PUMP in uronephrology.
Methods
PUMP is an R25 funded by the NIDDK that uses a triangular mentorship model with a named junior mentor providing day-to-day oversight coupled to a senior investigator providing overall mentorship. After the summer in person research, participants have professional development and networking sessions throughout the year and are invited to return for a second summer for project continuation. We used anonymously collected pre and post surveys to assess feelings of self-efficacy, identification as a scientist, and mentor support among the first set of participants. We conducted structured interviews to add additional insight to survey responses.
Results
We recruited students through partnership with STEM undergraduate and minority-serving institutions throughout the Southeastern U.S. Eleven students applied and four were invited to participate. All four participants are female, three are from underrepresented groups, and two are from HBCUs. The most common reasons for choosing to participate were “to gain practical experience for a future career” and “it sounded interesting.” The largest positive change was seen in “I have a strong sense of belonging to the community of scientists.” The largest decline in confidence was seen in “I am able to work through obstacles or challenges.” The areas of largest reported benefit gain were in learning laboratory techniques and understanding how scientist work on real problems.
Conclusion
Short-term data from the inaugural cohort of Duke PUMP participants exhibited an increase in participant feelings of belonging to the scientific community which is predictive of persistence in scientific research.
Funding
- NIDDK Support