Promoting Diversity in Research Training for Health Professionals (PDRT)

About the Program: The racial and ethnic minority population in Texas surpassed the Anglo population in 2004, and is projected to increase substantially in the coming years. Projections for educational attainment for minorities, historically low because of socioeconomic and other factors, suggest continued disparity for college, graduate and professional school enrollment. Admission of minority students into doctoral study in biomedical sciences in Texas, and indeed in the nation, remains low despite population changes in Texas, the second most populous in the country. Thus, there is a critical need to train a large number of health professionals to serve minority populations, not only in Texas but also at the national level.

To address this critical need, we propose the “Promoting Diversity in Research Training for Health Professionals (PDRT)” program. University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) is a leader among the health science centers in Texas in training minority biomedical scientists. We have developed an integrated plan to increase the number of minorities in biomedical research, incorporating education at the K-12, undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral levels. The overall goal of PDRT is to provide underrepresented minority individuals, who are enrolled in a health professional program, a challenging and focused research experience in health disparities related to cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic and sleep disorders.

Eligibility:

• Student currently enrolled in a medical, pharmacy, health professions or public health program; TCOM, SPH, SHP, and SCOP
• Individuals from groups underrepresented in health professional programs

OR

• Individuals with interest in diversity and health disparity research
• Commitment to careers in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic and sleep disorders research
• Only US Citizens are eligible for this training program

Program Benefits include:

• Stipend of $7,550 for 10 weeks
• Paid tuition and or student health insurance up to $1,000
• $1,000 to attend a national conference to present their research results
• Mentor’s laboratory will receive $3,000 to cover the cost of supplies

The following materials must be submitted by April 15, 2022

Application Packet

• Apply Here
• FAQ
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty members

*All application materials become the property of UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth and cannot be returned.

Send application materials to:

UNT Health Science Center
Institute for Health Disparities
Attn: Pat Baker, Senior Administrative Coordinator
3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard
Fort Worth, TX 76107
pat.baker@unthsc.edu
817-735-0642