Future scientists and researchers of color participate in expanded AHA programs
Two AHA programs are aimed at helping students who are aspiring to careers in biomedical and health care.
More than 80 students attending Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) and Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) will be at ISC this year as part of an expanded American Heart Association (AHA) program.
Building on the success of its HBCU Scholars Program, the AHA has launched a program aimed at HSI. The current HBCU scholars class has 51 scholars from 24 schools, while the HSI class consists of 30 students.
Mitzi Cardona, the American Heart Association’s portfolio advisor of collegiate diversity partnerships with hispanic serving institutions, said the Hispanic Serving Institutions Scholars Program will use the existing relationships developed by the AHA in its HBCU program to help students who are aspiring to careers in biomedical and health care sciences.
“The program will develop a pipeline of diverse researchers and health care professionals by providing HSI undergraduate students with academic and career-enriching resources, including scholarships and mentoring,” she said. “It will provide the support needed to help students interested in pursuing careers in the health care field. The goal is to increase health care provider and researcher diversity.”
Samantha Bonilla, a senior majoring in community health at California State University in Dominguez Hills, said she appreciates the opportunities the HSI program is bringing to her and other students like her.
“Attending an HSI is important because it gives me the opportunity to understand the health disparities in my community,” she said. “It allows me to understand the issues in-depth, and the various platforms that we can use to address the rising medical complexities affecting the Hispanic community.”
Saphhire Holston, senior biology and pre-med major at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, said the HBCU program has been beneficial for her on several levels.
“I feel like the HBCU Scholars Program is a great opportunity for students like me to gain exposure not only to opportunities to get into medical school, but also to build resumes and networking skills,” she said. “I am very grateful to be one of the few who were accepted into the program.”
The programs feature three main components:
Mentorship: Scholars will participate in an academic year of career mentorship to increase their awareness of their potential impact on the understanding and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Each student will be assigned a mentor researcher and will develop a research project, which will then be shared at HSI Scholars Program Research Symposium in Houston and the HBCU Scholars Program Research Symposium in Nashville. Both events will be held in April 2022. Those interested in becoming a mentor can reach out to Cardona at [email protected], or to Charlene Walton, director of the HBCU program, at [email protected].
Leadership: Scholars will engage in a virtual leadership and professional development series that will help enhance the critical skill sets needed to position them for success beyond graduation. They will also develop an e-portfolio.
Annual Convenings: In addition to attending this week’s International Stroke Conference and the upcoming April events, the scholars will attend AHA’s Scientific Sessions in November. These events provide the students with opportunities for further career sampling, soft skills training and professional networking.
To be eligible for the new program, Cardona said students must attend an HSI within selected regions, including Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Puerto Rico. Students must be sophomore grade level or higher with a 3.0 science GPA and an interest in community engagement and impact. Students will be awarded a $7,000 stipend to cover costs for tuition, fees and other expenses related to school.
Scholars from both the HSI and HBCU programs will take part in a variety of activities at #ISC22.
