Training Core

The Training Core seeks to improve diversity among health research trainees and build maternal health research capacity via innovative educational programming at multiple levels. The Training Core will develop a robust program of research training, mentoring, and career development to build a cadre of early-career researchers from backgrounds underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce to support innovative solutions to address maternal morbidity and mortality. Each trainee will be matched to a primary mentor, a community mentor, and a senior member of the executive team. Mentors and trainees will develop a full career development plan with benchmarks oriented towards the trainee’s transition towards an independent research career, including developing research skills, community engagement, and classroom education.

Objective: Build maternal health research capacity via innovative educational programming, emphasizing bridging diverse scholars to research positions.

Aim: To develop innovative and transdisciplinary education and training opportunities for early career scholars aimed at developing a research workforce that can reduce maternal morbidity and mortality locally, regionally, and nationally.

Significance: The maternal health research community needs to include more researchers from communities most affected by MM and SMM.

Innovation: The Center’s curriculum will focus on community-engaged and experiential learning, aiming to improve the academic performance of historically marginalized students in STEM fields.

Approach: Early-career researchers from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research will participate in mentored research and career development activities.

Effect on community served: We will develop and strengthen a research workforce that is sustainably positioned to improve maternal health through system-level changes by including diverse perspectives and engaging investigators from communities that have been most affected.