by Kevin Zhang (G4)
The Vanderbilt MSTP Research for All course has officially wrapped up its fifth summer, marking an exciting milestone for the program. After four years of implementing the same foundational curriculum, this summer we piloted an entirely new set of sessions that built on the course’s previous foundation while exploring topics directly relevant to physician-scientists in training. This year also saw the highest attendance in the five-year history of the course, reflecting strong interest from MSTP students.This summer’s four sessions covered a range of timely and important topics. Session 1, facilitated by Dr. Celestial Jones-Paris, examined the historical and structural factors that contribute to differences in health outcomes across communities, providing participants with a foundation for understanding the broader forces that shape health and healthcare. In Session 2, Dr. Carrie Fry led a discussion on the impact of recent federal policy changes, including H.R. 1/OBBBA, on the healthcare system and health research.
Session 3 brought together a panel focused on healthcare and research involving incarcerated and justice-involved individuals, featuring guest speakers from the Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry, Dr. Carrie Fry, and our own MSTP G4 Sharon Fernandez. Together, they shared perspectives on the challenges and considerations surrounding healthcare in carceral settings and led an honest and engaging discussion.
Finally, Session 4, led by Dr. Diana Pontell and Graduate Student Taydi Ray from the Department of Special Education, focused on immigrant and refugee health. The session examined structural and legal barriers affecting these populations, their representation in research, and approaches to providing effective clinical care and conducting research in these communities.The success of this summer’s course would not have been possible without the dedication of the MSTP Community Council members who helped plan, coordinate, and facilitate the program. A special thank you to Stirling Argabright, Anas Reda, and Jailyn Smith for their effort to making this year’s course a success. We also thank the MSTP Leadership Team for its continued support and advocacy of the course over the past five years, especially Drs. Lourdes Estrada, Megan Williams, and Chris Williams.
We look forward to building on this year’s momentum and continuing to strengthen the Research for All curriculum in the years ahead.