Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Targeted Research Training: Developing Minority Psychiatric Investigators

  • Empirical Report
  • Published:
Academic Psychiatry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The primary purpose of this article is to review the career outcomes of a research training program specifically targeted to young psychiatric researchers from minority populations underrepresented in psychiatry. The aims of the program were (1) to support psychiatric investigators from under-represented populations in the development and maintenance of research careers and (2) to identify the factors which influence successful research career development.

Method

Demographic data from 99 program participants were collected from an online survey as part of a systematic program evaluation, and through a follow-up internet search. Outcome measures included current academic position, number and types of post-training grants received, number of peer-reviewed publications, and comparison of post-training career outcomes with those from other highly regarded research training programs.

Results

Of the 99 psychiatrists accepted into the program, 55 responded to the online survey; additional information on non-responders was obtained through a follow-up internet search. Results indicated that 64 % of program trainees identified their primary employment setting as academic/research; 70 % reported publication of their research findings, and 64 % reported the award of post-training research grants. The percentage of program graduates appointed to academic faculty positions and their receipt of R01 and/or K awards, exceeded that of two highly regarded national training programs. The study further identified major factors influencing successful research career development.

Conclusion

Findings from this study strongly suggest that research training programs targeted to young minority psychiatrists can be successful in supporting the development and maintenance of their research careers. The decline in the availability of such programs does not portend well for increasing the numbers of underrepresented minority psychiatric researchers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Nickens HW, Ready TP, Petersdorf RG. Project 3000 by 2000: racial and ethnic diversity in U.S. medical schools. New Engl J Med. 1994;331(7):472–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Cohen JJ. Finishing the bridge to diversity. Acad Med. 1997;72:103–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. The Pew health professions report: recreating health professions practice for a new century. Washington, DC, December 1998.

  4. Barzansky B, Jonas HS, Etzel SI. Educational programs in US medical schools, 1998–1999. JAMA. 1999;282:840–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Pincus HA, Haviland MG, Dial TH, Hendryz MS. The relationship of postdoctoral research training to current research activities of faculty in academic departments of psychiatry. Am J Psychiatry. 1995;152:596–601.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Balon R, Singh S. Status of research training in psychiatry. Acad Psychiatr Spring. 2001;25(1):34–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Lieberman JA. Starting a career in psychiatric research. Acad Psychiatr Spring. 2001;25(1):28–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. National residency data book, 2012, American Psychiatric Association.

  9. Research project success rates by NIH Institute for 2012, NIH Online Report.

  10. Burke JD, Pincus HA, Pardes H. The clinician researcher in psychiatry. Am J Psychiatry. 1986;143:8.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Research training in psychiatry residency. In: Abrams MT, Patchan KM, Boat TF, editors. Strategies for reform institute of medicine. Washington: National Academies Press; 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Ginther DK, Schaffer W, Schnell J, et al. Race, ethnicity and NIH research awards. Science. 2011;333(6045):1015–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Fang D, Meyer R. Effect of two Howard Hughes medical institute research training programs for medical students on the likelihood of pursuing research careers. Acad Med. 2003;78(12):1271–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. National residency data book, 2013, American Psychiatric Association

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the following members of the PMRTP Advisory Committee:

Francisco Xavier Castellanos, M.D.

Dennis S. Charney, M.D.

Karon Dawkins, M.D.

John Gaston, M.D.

John Christian Gillin, M.D.*

Grant Norman Ko, M.D.

Keh-Ming Lin, M.D., M.P.H.

Isabel Lagomasino, M.D.

Ronald O. Rieder, M.D.

James William Thompson, M.D., M.P.H.

Nora Volkow, M.D.

Tana Grady-Weliky, M.D.*

Harry H. Wright, M.D.

Carlos A. Zarate, M.D.

*Deceased

The Program for Minority Research Training in Psychiatry was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health: Grant number T32MH19126

Disclosure

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education/American Psychiatric Foundation, Arlington, VA, USA

    Harold Goldstein, Ernesto Guerra & Darrel Regier

Authors
  1. Harold Goldstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ernesto Guerra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Darrel Regier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Harold Goldstein.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Goldstein, H., Guerra, E. & Regier, D. Targeted Research Training: Developing Minority Psychiatric Investigators. Acad Psychiatry 38, 191–197 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-014-0036-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-014-0036-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation