Working towards increasing diversity in Cardiovascular Medicine
Achieving Diversity in Cardiovascular Medicine
The path to becoming a cardiologist is not a mystery, but achieving accomplishments to get through the competitiveness of the process can be…..
Thanks to a generous award from the Edna Kynett Foundation, our Collaborative for Cardiovascular Equity in North Philadelphia will sponsor a pilot program to bridge some of the gap, by sponsoring 4th year medical students and 2nd or 3rd year medical residents interested in pursuing a career in cardiovascular medicine in our Collaboration for Cardiovascular Equity in Research Award.

According to national data, the top 3 criteria considered when ranking applicants for Cardiology Fellowship positions are:
- Clinical skills development
- Ability to work on a team
- Research productivity
However, many future cardiology trainees from URM groups do not have the opportunity to receive the mentorship they need to build their dossiers. In the course of their training, they never meet other URM physicians in their chosen field, they do not have the opportunity to produce meaningful research which can start their academic careers and advance their career goals.
The Collaborative for Cardiovascular Equity in North Philadelphia Scholars Pilot Program (COVE-NP Scholars)
The project will provide experiences for medical trainees in research with our Temple-AHA COVID-19 working group. The Temple-AHA COVID-19 Working group is a collaboration between Temple Heart and Vascular Institute and the College of Public Health focused on investigating pressing questions in COVID-19. This collaboration will work on a prioritized research agenda for COVID-19 developed from the community stakeholders participating in the recently funded PCORI project, Building Capacity for a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Agenda on Racial and Sex-Specific Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease in COVID-19
The working group is supported by investigators from the Temple Heart and Vascular Institute (THVI) and the Office of Community Engaged Research and Practice (CERP) at Temple University. The COVD-NP scholars program will promote health equity and increase opportunities for medical trainees from under-represented minority groups to pursue a career in cardiovascular medicine. This award will support medical trainees from URM groups to build competitive dossiers and support their efforts to pursue a career in Cardiovascular Medicine. This pilot grant will provide opportunities for trainees to participate in community outreach, develop research skills and contribute to the COVID-19 research activities as stakeholder partners. Therefore, the program goals are:
- To provide 4th year medical students and 2nd or 3rd year postdoctoral medical trainees from under-represented minority groups research training and practice.
- To support 4th year medical students and 2nd and 3rd year postdoctoral trainees from under-represented minority groups in building competitive dossiers for a career in cardiovascular medicine.
- To provide opportunities for 4th year medical students and 2nd or 3rd year postdoctoral medical trainees from under-represented minority groups to engage in community outreach on COVID-19.
Temple AHA COVID-19 Working Group Members and Mentors
Faculty:
Deborah L. Crabbe, MD, FACC, FAHA, Professor of Medicine, Temple Heart and Vascular Institute
Sabrina Islam, MD, FACC, FAHA, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Temple Heart and Vascular Institute
Heather Gardiner, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Social and Behavior Sciences
Krys Johnson, Ph.D, Assistant of Professor of Instruction
Gabriel Tajeu, Ph.D, Assistant Professor
Temple Women in Cardiology Group Faculty:
Deborah L. Crabbe, MD, FACC, FAHA, Professor of Medicine, Temple Heart and Vascular Institute
Sabrina Islam, MD, FACC, FAHA, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Temple Heart and Vascular Institute
Estefania Oliveros, MD, FACC, Assistant Professor of Medicine
Eman Hamad, MD, FACC, Associate Professor of Medicine
Anjali Vaidy, MD, FACC, FAHA, Associate Professor of Medicine