Abstract
Objective
There is a critical need for new researchers in psychiatry, including subspecialties such as geriatric psychiatry. Many existing research training programs focus on post-doctoral-level trainees and involve several years of hands-on research with experienced mentors at major universities. Although valuable, such programs have some limitations in expanding the pool of investigators in specific areas. In this article, the authors describe several successful short-term research training programs.
Method
The authors, at the University of California, San Diego, coordinate three federally funded programs that take place during the summer and include trainees at different levels from across the United States. These programs are 1) Summer Training on Aging Research Topics—Mental Health (START-MH) for undergraduate, graduate, and medical students; 2) Stein Institute for Research on Aging (SIRA) Medical Student Training In Aging Research (MSTAR); and 3) Summer Research Institute (SRI) in Geriatric Psychiatry for postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty. The authors compare salient characteristics of these programs, illustrating similarities as well as differences.
Results
The authors’ experience to date suggests that these initiatives have been highly successful in attracting talented trainees at various levels, and the participants have found these experiences useful. The available follow-up suggests positive effects on research career development of the trainees, at least in the shorter run.
Conclusions
There are several possible models that seem to have considerable promise for expanding the pool of scientists in a given field. Limitations of this approach as well as plans for the future are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Halpain MC, Harris MJ, McClure FS, et al: Training in geriatric mental health: needs and strategies. Psychiatr Serv 1999; 50: 1205–1208
Jeste DV, Alexopoulos GS, Bartels SJ, et al: Consensus statement on the upcoming crisis in geriatric mental health: research agenda for the next two decades. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999; 56: 848–853
Reynolds CF, Gatz M: Research training in mental health and aging: the harvest is plentiful, the laborers few. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2003; 11: 267–270
Kupfer DJ, Hyman SE, Schatzberg AF, et al: Recruiting and retaining future generations of physician scientists in mental health. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2002; 59: 657–660
Lieff SJ, Warshaw GA, Bragg EJ, et al: Geriatric psychiatry fellowship programs in the United States: findings from the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs’ longitudinal study of training and practice. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2003; 11: 291–299
Rosenberg LE: Physician scientists: endangered and essential. Science 1999; 283: 331–332
Pion GM: The Early Career Progress of NRSA Predoctoral Trainees and Fellows. Bethesda, Md, US Department of Health and Human Services, 2001
Kremer JF, Bringle RG: The effects of an intensive research experience on the careers of talented undergraduates. J Res Develop Educ 1990; 24: 1–5
Halpain MC, Jeste DV, Katz IR, et al: The first summer research institute in geriatric psychiatry. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 1997; 5: 238–246
Halpain MC, Jeste DV, Katz IR, et al: Summer research institute: enhancing research career development in geriatric psychiatry. Acad Psychiatry 2001; 25: 48–56
Halpain MC, Trinidad GI, Wetherell JL, et al: Intensive short-term research training for undergraduate, graduate, and medical students: early experience with a new national-level approach in geriatric mental health. Acad Psychiatry 2005; 29: 58–65
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jeste, D.V., Halpain, M.C., Trinidad, G.I. et al. UCSD’s Short-Term Research Training Programs for Trainees at Different Levels of Career Development. Acad Psychiatry 31, 160–167 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.31.2.160
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.31.2.160