Fostering the development of population-based LGBT research: The National Mentoring Program of The Center for Population Research in LGBT Health

In 2007, The Fenway Institute of Fenway Health was awarded a Population Research Infrastructure Grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The result is the Center for Population Research in LGBT Health, a collaborative initiative to facilitate the growth and development of population-based LGBT research. The growth of the field of LGBT population research faces a number of challenges—one of which is in training and mentoring the next generation of LGBT health scholars in the methods and perspectives of population research. With support and the participation of several academic centers and community organizations and drawing from a network of participating scientists from institutions across the country, the Center has implemented a national mentoring program for pre-doctoral students in LGBT population health research. The program launched in 2008 with a national call for applications for pre-doctoral mentorship. Scientists affiliated with the Center volunteer to participate in the program and serve as mentors to students whose are pursuing LGBT health-related research at their home institutions and lack advisors with expertise in population-based research and/or research with sexual minority population groups.