Overview
Students enrolled in the MSTAR program benefit from an enriching experience in aging-related research and geriatrics with the mentorship of top experts in the field. Participation in the program has led many physicians-in-training to pursue academic careers in aging, ranging from basic science to clinical and health sciences research. The long-term goal of the program is to increase the number of established physician investigators and clinicians who pursue research in high-priority areas related to aging.
Requirements
Candidates:1st-year medical students interested in aging research
Duration:Intensive 8 weeks over Summer break
Stipends:$4,400 total for 8 weeks
Project PI: Erin Hommel, MD
Trainees gain:
- individualized research experience under a sponsoring mentor
- a structured didactic experience that is directly linked to student research projects
- opportunities to interact with potential role models and peers efforts to build a sense of identity and membership for participants
- a positive and rewarding experience in aging research
- a chance to obtain research credits for their participation
Expectations:
During the summer experience, trainees are expected to spend the majority of their time at UTMB on their research project, attend weekly meetings, where didactic applications and career issues are discussed, and attend local geriatrics seminars. They also attend kickoff and capstone group sessions.
Faculty Mentors
Mentor Name
Area of Interest
Funding
Erin Hommel, MD, MSc
Geriatric syndromes, health care quality
NIA R33
Abbey Berenson, MD, PhD
Health of women throughout the life-span
NICHD K12
Phillip Cantu, PhD
Caregiving in Hispanics with dementia
NIA P30, NICHD K12
Brian Downer, PhD
Dementia, cognitive aging, post-acute care
NIA R01, P30
Steven Fisher, PT, PhD, GCS
Physical functioning in older adults
NIA R21, R01, P30
James S. Goodwin, MD
Comparative effectiveness, functional recovery
NIA R01, P30, R56, PCORI
Yong-Fang Kuo, PhD
Pharmacoepidemiology, treatment outcomes
NIA R01, R61, P30, AHRQ T32, R01, NIDA R01
Alan Landay, PhD
Geroscience and HIV
NIA R33, NIDDK R01
Elizabeth Lorenzo, RN, PhD
Health promotion among ethnic minority women
NIA K23
Kyriakos Markides, PhD
Hispanic health, aging, and physical function
NIA R01, P30
Meredith Masel, PhD
Health communication in multi-morbidity
PCORI, NIA R01
Neil Mehta, PhD
Epidemiology of chronic diseases and survival
NIA R01, P30, NIDDK R01
Sadaf Milani, PhD
Epidemiology of cognition, pain, and gender
NIA K01
Melissa Morrow, PhD
Mobility and physical function in aging
NICHD R01
Monique Pappadis, PhD MEd
Disparities in rehabilitation post-brain injury
NIA K01, R61
Michael P. Sheetz, PhD
Geroscience and sarcopenia
Giulio Taglialatela, PhD
Molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration
NIA R01
Elizabeth Vaughan, DO, RN
Disparities in primary and preventive care
NIDDK R01