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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORE

In the Professional Development Core, we provide skills training and professional development curricula to the trainees. One of our goals through this core is to have our trainees experience shared educational experiences through things such as interdisciplinary research, leadership and entrepreneurship opportunities, and more. We want to expose them to innovative technologies by way of lab tours and other research organizations. We also want to provide tailored guidance for each trainee. We do this through trainee individual development plans, and by trying to cultivate mentor connections and professional networking, across both KUH and across institutions.

Individual Development Plans

Individual development plans (IDPs) are a powerful tool to assist trainees with their research, career and personal development. We use the IDP to identify trainees’ strengths and areas in need of further development and guide trainees toward program activities that will be most important for progressing toward their individualized plan.

Grant Writing

TRIO offers grant writing groups that include our trainees as they apply to fellowships (e.g., NIH F31 or F32) and career development awards (e.g., NIH K Awards). Led by TL1 PI Dr. Susan Hogan, the goal is to talk through sections and encourage timelines and outlines, understanding that trainees will develop and write aims and the research plan with mentors. These dedicated writing groups will allow feedback from experienced faculty on the application components as they are written.

Biweekly Town Halls

TRIO holds biweekly Town Halls for peer- and near-peer multidisciplinary interactions. These Town Halls provide the TRIO family with a core set of tools for professional growth, including communication skills, exposure to other research fields and careers, building of mentor-trainee relationships, career planning, clinical translation and commercialization/entrepreneurship, and emerging and senior mentor training. Core activities will serve as a sounding board and launch point to provide opportunities for the continuum of TRIO members to identify and partake of our rich menu of progressional growth opportunities that best fit individual career goals and ambitions.

Overall, this interactive, real-world experience allows for the development of both trainees and mentors into champions of change and leadership that will improve our care for patients with KUH disease.

"This is an exciting and innovative opportunity that brings trainees across different disciplines and institutions together to foster academic and professional development."
- Dr. Thomas Ortel -