Medical Student Summer Research Training in Aging Program

Grant Summary

With Foundation support, the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR), Inc. will continue to seek to increase the number of future geriatrics faculty by attracting medical students early in their career development. The project will draw excellent medical students towards such careers by supporting a structured summer experience with outstanding mentors and robust aging research opportunities and clinical exposure. Most students will enroll at one of five national training sites. Modest funds will be available to support students at schools with robust geriatrics programs who prefer to remain there. Ultimately with substantial funding from the National Institute on Aging and various other foundations, this grant will recruit and prepare some 500 students. Management of the Medical Student Geriatric Scholars Program was assumed by AFAR over ten years ago. Initially, the Hartford Foundation was the primary funder, in partnership with several local or regional foundations. More recently, the interest of leadership at the National Institute on Aging has led to the development of this new program which offers the potential for long-term sustainability at a robust level of students.