Academic and research training in cardiovascular epidemiology: The Jackson Heart Study

Introduction: The goal of the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) Graduate Training and Education Center (GTEC) is to provide interdisciplinary training in cardiovascular epidemiology research to graduate students currently enrolled in studies at universities in Jackson, Mississippi. The hallmark of the program is mentored cardiovascular research that is orchestrated through a learning community (LC) that provides active-learning experiences to expose students interested in biomedical research and public health to training experiences to accelerate their development in cardiovascular epidemiology. The implementation of the GTEC LC is described here. Methods: Distinguished scientists and researchers who have successfully mentored graduate students and junior faculty in the past have been identified to serve as mentors for this training program.   Mentors for this program are recognized experts in their field and have expansive interests stretching from cardiovascular disease risk estimation, psychosocial biomedical research, behavioral CVD, and genetic epidemiology. Results: LC advisors and instructors share experiences and follow evidence-based practices to facilitate student success, and students benefit from the mentoring sessions as they hone their skills in manuscript development and presentation of research findings while preparing themselves to assume careers in the biomedical professions. Conclusions: Through the LC, the graduate students can successfully engage with public health faculty on collaborative projects to develop skills that would enable them to address issues in cardiovascular health that have plagued the Mississippi communities for some time. Using the LC design, GTEC has been able to provide students with a platform for developing their own research philosophy.