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    Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR)


    Application Components
    • Applications for Summer 2025 will open in February
    • Send all completed materialsto Amber McIlwain, Science Writer/Editor asmcilwa@utmb.edu .
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    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

    Last updated: October 2024