2022 Duke REACH Equity Center Summer Undergraduate Research Program
01/26/2022
2022 Duke REACH Equity Center Summer Undergraduate Research Program (RESURP)
Application Deadline: 5:00 pm, February 14, 2022
The Duke Center for Research to Advance Healthcare Equity (REACH Equity) is now accepting applications for the 2022 summer undergraduate research program.
Background: Compared to Whites, African Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities are less likely to receive necessary procedures or medications for many conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and HIV. As a result, these groups experience poorer health and are more likely to die from many of these conditions than Whites.
The overall goal of REACH Equity is to develop and test ways to improve the quality of care that racial and ethnic minorities receive from health care providers and hospitals. The Center offers a number of research, education, and training opportunities for students, trainees, and faculty interested in racial and ethnic disparities in health.
RESURP is an 8-week summer program for rising junior and senior undergraduate students. The overall goals of the program are to: increase students’ knowledge of the causes and consequences of racial and ethnic disparities in health; introduce students to basic skills in clinical research and provide an opportunity to conduct a health disparities research project; provide an opportunity for students to shadow Duke faculty in a clinical setting*
• Program topics and activities include:
• Introduction to racial and ethnic disparities in health and their causes, including: social determinants of health (education, income, insurance, housing), the make-up of the healthcare system, and provider beliefs and behaviors related to implicit (unconscious) bias
• Community tour (virtual or in-person) examining the impact of social determinants on health and disparities
• Introduction to clinical research methods, data collection and database creation, statistical analysis, Institutional Review Boards, medical ethics, and minority participation in research
• Participation in a community Racial Equity Training Workshop
• Informal sessions with Duke faculty, trainees, and students to learn about different career paths
• Professional development workshops and lectures on presentation skills, professionalism, and teamwork
• Completion of a small group, mentored health disparities research project through collecting data, creating a REDCap database, exporting data for statistical analysis, and creating and delivering a PowerPoint presentation at a special symposium
• Where: The program is currently planned to include both virtual (Zoom) and in-person activities on the Duke campus. In-person activities will be confirmed closer to the program start date and subject to Duke University policies. Participants will be required to provide proof of COVID vaccine and booster in compliance with Duke policy for any on-campus activities.)
• When: June 6 – July 28. Students are expected to be available from 9:00-5:00, Monday-Friday.
• Who is eligible: Students who will be junior or senior undergraduates in Fall 2022 are eligible. The competitive program will provide up to four selected students with a $3,200 stipend. NOTE: The program does not provide additional support for any housing and travel expenses.
• How to apply: Visit the REACH Equity website for details and to download the application (Word document):
https://sites.duke.edu/reachequity/for-students/summer-undergraduate-health-disparities-research-program
Send the application requirements below by 5pm, Monday, February 14, and address questions to Cheryl Miller, Cheryl.j.miller@duke.edu:
• Completed application form (including employment, volunteer, community, and scholarly activities)
• Letters of recommendation from two non-family members (emailed by letter writers directly to Ms. Miller or Ms. Mitchell)
• Unofficial school transcript
• Essay (instructions are included in the application form)