Introducing the Health Equity/Health Disparities Research Scholars Program

Approximately a 3-minute read.

Key takeaways:

• HEHD Research Scholars Program: A new initiative to help early-career faculty integrate health equity and disparities research into their work.
• Program Structure: Yearlong, in-person seminars covering various research topics, with mentorship and project development.
• Application and Eligibility: Open to interested faculty with department support; no fee; deadline May 15, 2023.

The Michigan Medicine Office for Health Equity and Inclusion (OHEI) and the Office of Faculty Affairs & Faculty Development are excited to introduce the Health Equity/Health Disparities (HEHD) Research Scholars Program! Applications are now available for the inaugural cohort of Scholars for the 2023-2024 academic year. 

This program is designed to assist early-career faculty in incorporating HEHD research into their professional work. If you have an interest in disparities and inequities but little to no research background, this program could be an excellent opportunity to gain basic exposure to the knowledge and skills to get started.  

Scholars will also be individually paired with a research mentor for the duration of the program.

HEHD research is designed to examine whether patients are being treated differently by the health system based on specific attributes such as gender, race/ethnicity, ability status, income gradient and sexual orientation. Additionally, this research explores the association of social determinants of health with specific outcomes or utilization of care. 

The purpose of the HEHD Scholars Program is to provide participants with a background in these topics, an overview of research methods,and an introduction to the processes required to conduct research at U-M.

The HEHD Research Scholars Program is a year-long program designed around monthly 90-minute in-person seminars facilitated by research experts from across the university. Matriculants into the program will be required to participate in all seminars and to develop a research plan or proposal over the course of the year. The program includes didactic seminars covering a range of topics such as embedding a racial and ethnic perspective in research, basic research methods and statistical analysis, study design and analytical methods, qualitative and mixed methods, and quality improvement methods to put data into action.

Through active participation in the HEHD Research Scholars Program, participants will learn how to access clinical data at Michigan Medicine that may be useful in HEHD research and quality improvement techniques to support changes in practice. At the end of the program, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion.

All faculty with an interest in HEHD research, the ability and commitment to attend at least 80% of the seminars in person, and support from their department Chair are eligible to apply. There is no fee to participate. 

To apply, please complete the application by May 15, 2023. Applicants will be notified of acceptance into the program by July 1, 2023, and the program will launch on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023.

If you have additional questions about the HEHD Research Scholars Program, please contact the course director and Director of Research at the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion: Gary L. Freed M.D., M.P.H. (gfreed@umich.edu).

We look forward to receiving your application.