Minority children will likely outnumber white children by 2020. Unfortunately, pediatric workforce diversity has failed to keep pace, especially in academia. Minorities comprise 47% of US children, but only 24% of US pediatricians, and underrepresented minorities (URMs) make up only 11% of pediatricians and 7% of US medical-school faculty. Despite this substantial mismatch, very little has been published on research educational programs shown to be efficacious in recruitment and retention of diverse individuals pursuing careers in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical, or social sciences. The proposed Academic Pediatric Association (APA) Research in Academic Pediatrics Initiative on Diversity (RAPID) would be the first such research educational program (to our knowledge) targeting faculty diversity in general academic pediatrics.
The aim of RAPID is to design, implement, and evaluate a research educational program with the goal of successful recruitment, retention, and professional advancement of diverse junior faculty in general academic pediatrics pursuing careers in NIDDK mission areas. RAPID has several innovative components: 1) small research grants in NIDDK mission areas using a model shown to be effective in promoting career development of young investigators;2) pairing of the RAPID scholar with a national mentor who is an accomplished senior investigator and seasoned mentor;3) in-person mentoring and networking at an annual breakfast at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting;4) an educational symposium on career development and academic success;and 5) RAPID Scholar telephone conference calls every two months, to provide peer support, peer mentoring, networking, a venue for presenting research in progress, and opportunities for potential research collaborations. The APA has extensive available educational resources, experience, staff, and facilities, all of which will ensure the success of the proposed RAPID program. A clear vision of diversity is demonstrated and communicated throughout the APA by top-level management and leaders. The APA New Century Scholars (NCS) Program, a core APA program which is a lynchpin of the APA's diversity efforts, will link closely to RAPID;NCS is aimed at increasing workforce diversity in academic pediatrics by recruiting and mentoring URM pediatric residents from across the US who are interested in academic careers. If, as anticipated, the proposed hypotheses are confirmed, RAPID will result in: 1) successful recruitment, retention, and professional advancement of diverse junior faculty researchers;2) increased likelihood that RAPID participants will present their project findings at a national professional meeting, publish their project findings, obtain additional research funding, obtain a career development award, maintain their APA membership, and highly rate their commitment to a research career in pediatric academic generalism;and 3) a potential model societal program for enhancing the diversity of young investigators.

Public Health Relevance

Minority children will likely outnumber white children by 2020, but pediatric workforce diversity has failed to keep pace, especially in academia, with minorities comprising 47% of US children, but only 24% of US pediatricians, and underrepresented minorities make up only 11% of pediatricians and 7% of US medical- school faculty. The proposed Academic Pediatric Association (APA) Research in Academic Pediatrics Initiative on Diversity (RAPID) would be the first research educational program targeting faculty diversity in general academic pediatrics;the aim of RAPID is to design, implement, and evaluate a research educational program with the goal of successful recruitment, retention, and professional advancement of diverse junior faculty in general academic pediatrics who are pursuing careers in biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and social sciences consistent with NIDDK mission areas. If, as anticipated, the program is successful, APA RAPID will result in: successful recruitment, retention, and professional advancement of diverse junior faculty researchers;increased likelihood that RAPID participants will present their project findings at a national professional meeting, publish their project findings, obtain additional research funding, maintain their APA membership, and highly rate their commitment to a research career in pediatric academic generalism;and providing a potential model societal program for enhancing the diversity of young investigators.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Education Projects (R25)
Project #
5R25DK096944-03
Application #
8726383
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDK1)
Program Officer
Mcbryde, Kevin D
Project Start
2012-09-01
Project End
2017-08-31
Budget Start
2014-09-01
Budget End
2015-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Academic Pediatric Association
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Mc Lean
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
22101
Walls, Morgan; Broder-Fingert, Sarabeth; Feinberg, Emily et al. (2018) Prevention and Management of Obesity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Primary Care Pediatricians. J Autism Dev Disord 48:2408-2417
Woo Baidal, Jennifer A; Elbel, Erin E; Lavine, Joel E et al. (2018) Associations of Early to Mid-Childhood Adiposity with Elevated Mid-Childhood Alanine Aminotransferase Levels in the Project Viva Cohort. J Pediatr 197:121-127.e1
Woo Baidal, Jennifer A; Cheng, Erika R; Rifas-Shiman, Sheryl L et al. (2018) Association of vitamin E intake at early childhood with alanine aminotransferase levels at mid-childhood. Hepatology 67:1339-1347
Mora, Ana M; Fleisch, Abby F; Rifas-Shiman, Sheryl L et al. (2018) Early life exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and mid-childhood lipid and alanine aminotransferase levels. Environ Int 111:1-13
Phan, Thao-Ly T; Chen, Fang Fang; Pinto, Alison Taggi et al. (2018) Impact of Psychosocial Risk on Outcomes among Families Seeking Treatment for Obesity. J Pediatr 198:110-116
Espinoza, Juan; Chen, Alexander; Orozco, Jazminne et al. (2017) Effect of personal activity trackers on weight loss in families enrolled in a comprehensive behavioral family-lifestyle intervention program in the Federally Qualified Health Center setting: a randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials Commun 7:86-94
Flores, Glenn; Mendoza, Fernando S; Fuentes-Afflick, Elena et al. (2016) Hot topics, urgent priorities, and ensuring success for racial/ethnic minority young investigators in academic pediatrics. Int J Equity Health 15:201
Flores, Glenn; Escala, Michelle K; Hall, Brian G (2015) Dead wrong: the growing list of racial/ethnic disparities in childhood mortality. J Pediatr 166:790-3