On Thursday, October 12, the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) proudly convened Research Day 2023 for the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training Grant (MHRT), supported by the prestigious National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The highlight of the event was the presentation of research findings by 11 MHRT mentees who embarked on transformative research internships abroad over the summer. These budding scholars unveiled the results of their extensive research projects conducted in diverse countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, and Peru. The event showcased the tremendous strides made in understanding and addressing health disparities on a global scale.
“The MHRT program not only provides an exceptional educational experience but also fosters a deep sense of global citizenship among our students,” remarked Dr. Johis Ortega, SONHS Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and principal investigator of the MHRT program. “This event reflects our commitment to preparing future health care leaders who can effectively address health disparities, irrespective of geographical boundaries.”
A key highlight of Research Day was the keynote address delivered by Dalmacio Dennis Flores, PhD, ACRN, FAAN, an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Flores captivated the audience with his presentation on “Florida Nurses at a Crossroad: Advancing Ethical Family Nursing for Sexual and Gender Diverse Adolescent Health.” His thought-provoking insights into ethical family nursing for sexual and gender diverse adolescent health resonated strongly with attendees and sparked meaningful discussions.
“The presentation was very well-received by attendees,” remarked Dr. Ortega. “Dr. Flores’s expertise added an invaluable dimension to our event, further emphasizing the importance of compassionate and inclusive health care practices.”
The following day, the MHRT Advisory Board convened to assess the achievements of the 2022-2023 cohort of trainees and strategize ways to enhance the program for the next generation of scholars. The evaluations from the students were overwhelmingly positive, underscoring the value of international research experiences in shaping their personal and professional growth.
“It was rewarding to work with the psycho-oncology unit at the Mexican Cancer Institute,” said 2022-2023 MHRT grantee Heidy N. Medina, PhD MPH, a UM alumna and postdoctoral scholar at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center studying intersection between epidemiology and cancer survivorship with a focus on disparities among special populations. “As an epidemiologist, we see trends on a population-level but do not always get to see the day-to-day experiences at the individual level. Witnessing the whole patient experience allowed me to put my research into perspective.”
The MHRT experience gave Dr. Medina, a first-generation Colombian-American, her first teaching opportunity. “I had to learn epidemiological and statistical concepts in Spanish and learn how to convey this to students in a different field of study,” she said. “This training program also challenged me to be an independent thinker and come up with my own research questions and apply the appropriate methodology.”
During Research Day, she presented her study on the association between infertility and psychological distress among adolescents and young adults with cancer in Mexico. “I received very positive feedback about the importance of oncofertility in adolescents and young adult cancer survivors, a vulnerable and understudied population,” she said. “I also received comments regarding the contextual significance of our findings given the cultural differences inherent in Mexican culture.”
In candid conversations with their mentors and advisory board members, Dr. Medina and the 10 other MHRT scholars expressed gratitude for the life-changing experiences and insights gained during their international research journeys. The event served as a platform for them to share how these experiences had enriched their academic pursuits and deepened their understanding of minority health disparities.
“On a personal and professional level, the MHRT research experience challenged me to step beyond my comfort zone,” explained Dr. Medina. “Being abroad in Mexico provided me with a different perspective in terms of applying what we learn in a class setting and adapting it to resource-limited settings. It taught me that research is not ‘one size fits all,’ and it is very important to be adaptable and think about who your population of interest is.”
For more information about the Minority Health Research Training Grant program and its impactful initiatives, please visit the MHRT website at https://mhrt.sonhs.miami.edu.
