Cultivating Health & Aging Researchers by Intergrating Science, Medicine and Aging (CHARISMA)
University of Chicago - Biological Sciences
CHARISMA is a program that prepares undergraduate students from populations underrepresented in medicine and the sciences to become clinical research leaders to address the health needs of an aging America. A diverse medical and scientific workforce is critical to ensuring that the knowledge available to future health care providers, researchers, and policymakers is informed by diverse individuals who are most familiar with the needs of an equally diverse older population.
Program Components
Primary Areas of Focus
- Recruitment (i.e. increasing awareness of and/or stimulating interest in health profession careers and degree programs
- Retention or completion of health professions degree programs (support for those currently enrolled)
Desired Outcomes
To increase diversity in medicine, science, and the aging-related clinical research workforce, CHARISMA offers eligible students a variety of research training and clinical shadowing opportunities, including: A didactic curriculum focused on aging-related conditions and diseases across the lifespan, and the methodological approaches to studying these conditions and diseases, A clinical research experience where students learn to recruit, consent, and interview patients to collect data as a part of a team studying issues relevant to hospitalized older adults, A faculty mentored, aging-related research project, and A clinical mentorship and shadowing program.
Program Location
Settings: Virtual
Timing
Duration: Fellows can participate for at least 1 year, but are highly encourage to complete the total 3 year program
Time periods: None
Program Components
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Health career exploration (e.g. job shadowing, career fairs)
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Mentoring (e.g. pairing with current health profession student)
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Research experience (e.g. summer program)
Program Information
Education Levels
Health Professions
Eligibility Criteria and How to Apply
Eligibility Criteria
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Underrepresented racial and/or ethnic background
Participants must belong to an identified underrepresented groups outline on the National Science Foundation.