PreDoctoral Training Programs at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine: Enhancing the Pipeline and Rete

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Pre-Doctoral Training Programs at the Mount Sinai
School of Medicine Enhancing the Pipeline and
Retention of Excellent Under-Represented Minority
StudentsTerry Ann Krulwich, C. Gita Bosch, Luz
Claudio and Gary ButtsGraduate School of
Biological Sciences, Mount Sinai School of
Medicine

• Mount Sinai School of Medicine has developed an
  array of on-campus programs that are designed to
  foster science interest and competence among URM
  high school students. These are overseen by the
  Office of Multicultural and Community Affairs and
  include the Secondary Education Through Health
  program and a more targeted Mount Sinai Scholars
  program, both of which provide skills
  development, biomedical sciences enrichment,
  mentoring, and some opportunities for research
  experiences. In addition Mount Sinai provides
  curriculum support and development, teacher
  enrichment, and tutorial services for two public
  High Schools founded in collaboration with Mount
  Sinai. Mount Sinai's campus-based efforts to
  enhance the research interest and experience of
  talented URM undergraduates have developed in
  both a Graduate School-sponsored, school-wide
  program and in special-topic programs. Recent
  efforts by the Graduate School have successfully
  integrated elements of these programs in ways
  that strongly benefit the total effort. In
  support of the URM students who enter PhD or MSTP
  training, mentoring, pacing and educational
  support modes are being explored to facilitate
  maximal success in challenging pre-doctoral
  programs. Among the central efforts is the more
  extensive use and refinement of a
  post-baccalaureate program which will provide
  optimal pacing for students whose commitment,
  sophistication or didactic background requires
  additional development for them to reach their
  potential within a pre-doctoral program.

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Gateway to Higher Education

• MSSM Gateway Schools
• (Grades 7 through 12)
• The Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary
  School
• The Mount Sinai Life Sciences Secondary School
• Successful Initiatives at the Schools
• MSSM Basic Science Faculty lecture/conduct
  scientific demonstrations
• on-site curriculum and teacher development
• PhD and MSTP students tutor and mentor students
• Teaching and curriculum enrichment
• Teacher Summer Institute
• Lesson plan enrichment
• Planned for next year
• Enrichment programs for the students in grades 9
  through 12
• Supported by The Robert Wood Johnson
  Foundation/Health Professions Partnership
  Initiative Grant
• In collaboration with the Gateway to Higher
  Education Program and the New York City Board of
  Education
• Overseen by the Office of Multicultural and
  Community Affairs

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Secondary Education Through Health (SETH)

• Enrichment programs for High School students and
  teachers
• Academic courses
• Tutoring
• Career counseling
• Summer Programs
• Day with a Scientist
• Intel Science Talent Search
• In cooperation with the Mount Sinai Center for
  Excellence in Youth Education and the New York
  City Board of Education
• Overseen by the Office of Multicultural and
  Community Affairs

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Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)
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The Mount Sinai Short-Term Training Program for
Minority Students

• Undergraduate Programs Post-Baccalaureate
  Research Year
• Total trained 24
• Currently in undergraduate training 03 12.5
• Currently in Graduate School 16 66.6
• Currently working in a research setting 03 12.5
• (academic and industrial)
• Medical School 01 4.2
• Peace Corps 01 4.2

In view of these outcomes, we have planned a more
formal and extensive post-baccalaureate program.
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Mount Sinai Graduate School Support and
Retention

• Office of Multicultural and Community Affairs
• Peer Tutoring
• Optimization of curricular pacing

Our efforts are now having an impact on our URM
applicant and matriculant cohort 1996 2001
PhD Applicants 12 32 PhD Matriculants 02 06
URM of total enrolled 05 11 PhD students
Anticipated numbers are finalized in the Fall.