Accomplishments of a Decade-long Training Support Program for American Indian and Alaska Native Health Researchers

The Native American Research Centers for Health program was  designed to foster research training and skill development for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) trainees.  Increasing the number of AI/AN researchers with advanced training in science is one strategy to help decrease health disparities in native peoples. Our NARCH program provided financial support and mentorship for professional and academic development of AI/AN award recipients described below. We report on an assessment of our NARCH training program that is directed toward increasing the number of qualified AI/AN researchers.  

We performed assessments of progress by self-administered electronic survey by trainees, staff assessments of trainee progress, and systematic reviews of trainee Curriculum Vita (CV). Most trainees demonstrated progress toward their academic goals and development of expertise in AI/AN biomedical and social science research. Progress toward meeting benchmarks was graded with 21% of trainees exceeding expectations, 43% demonstrating progress as expected, 31% making progress slower than expected and 5% failure (n=4). Thirty-one (31) trainees completed their degree programs, while other trainees are expected to complete degree programs by the end of 2014 (n=7) and 2015 (n=11) Two trainees are expected to complete their second degree, one in 2015 and the other in 2016.  Twenty-one (21) trainees were funded to gain research experience. Trainees reported 151 oral abstract presentations, 105 poster abstract presentations at national conferences, 46 authored book chapters or co-authored in peer reviewed journal, and 61 were first or second authors in peer reviewed journals. Trainees reported 90 foundation or government-funded grant awards.