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Review
. 2010 Jan;85(1):26-35.
doi: 10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181c482cb.

Programs for developing the pipeline of early-career geriatric mental health researchers: outcomes and implications for other fields

Stephen J Bartels  1 , Barry D Lebowitz, Charles F Reynolds 3rd, Martha L Bruce, Maureen Halpain, Warachal E Faison, Paul D Kirwin
Affiliations
Review

Programs for developing the pipeline of early-career geriatric mental health researchers: outcomes and implications for other fields

Stephen J Bartels et al. Acad Med. 2010 Jan.

Abstract

This report summarizes the findings and recommendations of an expert consensus workgroup that addressed the endangered pipeline of geriatric mental health (GMH) researchers. The workgroup was convened at the Summit on Challenges in Recruitment, Retention, and Career Development in Geriatric Mental Health Research in late 2007. Major identified challenges included attracting and developing early-career investigators into the field of GMH research; a shortfall of geriatric clinical providers and researchers; a disproportionate lack of minority researchers; inadequate mentoring and career development resources; and the loss of promising researchers during the vulnerable period of transition from research training to independent research funding. The field of GMH research has been at the forefront of developing successful programs that address these issues while spanning the spectrum of research career development. These programs serve as a model for other fields and disciplines. Core elements of these multicomponent programs include summer internships to foster early interest in GMH research (Summer Training on Aging Research Topics-Mental Health Program), research sponsorships aimed at recruitment into the field of geriatric psychiatry (Stepping Stones), research training institutes for early career development (Summer Research Institute in Geriatric Psychiatry), mentored intensive programs on developing and obtaining a first research grant (Advanced Research Institute in Geriatric Psychiatry), targeted development of minority researchers (Institute for Research Minority Training on Mental Health and Aging), and a Web-based clearinghouse of mentoring seminars and resources (MedEdMentoring.org). This report discusses implications of and principles for disseminating these programs, including examples of replications in fields besides GMH research.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Multicomponent programs supporting early-career investigator development. The text in bold indicates stages of the career development programs, and the text inside boxes refers to programs offered at each stage of professional advancement to support career development. START-MH indicates Summer Training on Aging Research Topics–Mental Health; SRI, Summer Research Institute in Geriatric Psychiatry; ARI, Advanced Research Institute in Geriatric Psychiatry; IRMMA, Institute for Research Minority Training on Mental Health and Aging. Descriptions of the START-MH, Stepping Stones, SRI, MedEdMentoring.org, IRMMA, and ARI programs can be found in Table 1.
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References

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