2005-2006 PREP Scholars
(From left to right - bottom to top)
Jala Daniels, Melanie Harrison, Kirsten Hefner, Jennifer Staten, Andrita Casterlow, Daya Stridiron, Kandis Ingram, LaTonya Mills, Katrice Shannon, Naila Frye, Steven Newton
2006 PREP Poster Symposium
Funded by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP Scholars) was initiated at WFUSM. The program for minority students who had completed the undergraduate degree was for those interested in obtaining a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences. The goal was to provide a transition of 1 - 2 years between undergraduate and graduate school. Trainees participated in a journal club in addition to individualized coursework and a poster symposium was held each summer with an invited prominent minority scientist as speaker. Applicants worked with mentors of their choice as post-baccalaureate program students acquiring research, academic and standardized testing experience.
Since August of 2001, thirty-six trainees have participated in the program. By the end of the fifth year (August 2006), 34 completed the program and 2 are continuing for the 2006-2007 academic year. Twenty-six of the 36 participants entered graduate or professional programs directly from PREP. Fourteen students were offered positions and eleven entered programs at WFUSM (8 PhD, 1 MD and 2 Master’s), six entered PhD programs elsewhere (NC State, University of Houston, University of North Texas, University of South Carolina, Emory), one completed a master’s of biomedical engineering program (Georgia Tech) and three entered Master’s programs elsewhere (Jefferson University, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, University of Maryland-Baltimore Campus). All but three (one Master’s, two PhD) of the above (88%) are still in their respective programs. Professional schools attended include Franklin School of Podiatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Palmer School of Chiropractics and Meharry School of Medicine. The remaining former participants are teaching (7), obtained technical positions (2) or are self employed (1). To summarize the success of the program, a total of 36 trainees participated during the 5 years of the program. Twenty-two former trainees have entered graduate programs (15 PhD and 7 Master’s) with ten of those in graduate programs at WFUSM. Seven former trainees are teaching math or science. Nine students from our summer program entered the PREP.
We hope to be taking applications for the program for Fall 2008. If you have any questions or want further information, please contact me at (336) 716-2150 or by email (ddiz@wfubmc.edu) or my assistant, Ms. Nobie Sarver at (336) 716-1080 or (nsarver@wfubmc.edu).
Debra I. Diz, Ph.D.
Professor, The Hypertension & Vascular Research Center
PREP Scholars, Director