The inaugural year of the Visiting Scholars in HIV Implementation Science Program is underway as of May 1! The mentorship program matched Sponsors from eight ISCI Hubs with early- to mid-career Scholars who are working in HIV research or implementation science and focused on the LGBTQ+ community.
We would like to formally welcome the eight Scholars: Chenglin Hong (University of California Los Angeles), Higinio Fernandez-Sanchez (University of Texas Health Science Center Houston), Angel Algarin (Arizona State University), Carlos Saldana (Emory University), Maddie Goldstein (Emory University), Bryan Kutner (Albert Einstein College of Medicine), Nicholas Metheny (Emory University), and Chadwick Campbell (University of California San Diego).
Scholar/Sponsor Matches
| Scholar | Hub Name | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Chenglin Hong | UCLA 3R IS | Alison Hamilton |
| Higinio Fernandez-Sanchez | UAB CFAR IS | Michael Mugavero |
| Angel Algarin | SD CFAR | Cathleen Willging and Laramie Smith |
| Carlos Saldana | TN CFAR | Amna Osman and Lauren Brown |
| Maddie Goldstein | Emory CFAR IS | Sophia Hussen |
| Bryan Kutner | UW RAISE | Tim Menza |
| Nicholas Metheny | Texas IS | Irene Tami-Maury |
| Chadwick Campbell | MACC+ | Stefan Baral |
Scholars, in collaboration with a community partner from an organization within an EHE priority jurisdiction, are now working with their Sponsors to achieve goals tailored to their individual and community partner needs. These goals vary depending on the scholar’s topic focus and background, but generally fall into three categories: professional development and networking, enhancing understanding and application of implementation science frameworks, and supporting their community partners.
For example, one Scholar hopes to implement rapid qualitative analysis procedures in the context of quality improvement for their community partner organization, while another wants to learn how to identify and select implementation science outcomes and how they can be measured.
Scholar Goals
| Goal Theme | Proportion of Scholars Who Designated Goal Theme | Goal Example |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Development in IS | 26.1% | Directed teachings about the different implementation science research methodologies and frameworks and how/when to apply them |
| Professional Networking | 26.1% | Meet scholars/researchers conducting research focused on health, social justice, and community |
| Grant Writing Assistance | 13.0% | Focus on R01 study design and implementation science models/frameworks |
| Applying IS to Community Partnership Activities | 17.4% | Create two Implementation Science Logic Models for programs/interventions at community partner’s organization |
| Participation in Hub-Specific Activities | 8.7% | Attend and complete the four-session Hub Workshop for early and mid-career investigators in Fall-Winter 2024-2025 |
| Manuscript or Presentation Development | 8.7% | Continue developing PrEP among people with criminal justice involvement manuscript as a deliverable |
The Scholars’ community partners are all Community-Based Organizations or Federally Qualified Health Centers. They include Latino LinQ, Survivors’ Pathway, CHOICES: Center for Reproductive Health, Spectrum Medical, DAP Health, Los Angeles LGBT Center, Fundación Latino Americana de Acción Social, and This Is Your Moment (TIYM) Network.
Throughout the program, Scholars will engage in various activities and events to enhance their expertise, including attending the National LGBTQ Health Conference and its pre-conference workshop on implementation science. Most Scholars will participate in this event, providing them with invaluable opportunities to network with fellow Scholars, as well as scientists, public health professionals, and healthcare providers dedicated to LGBTQ health and wellbeing. Additionally, a program-specific networking dinner during the conference will foster further connections among the Scholars and their community partners.
Other program activities include finalizing a Sponsor/Scholar agreement outlining each Scholar’s individualized goals, a visit to their Sponsor’s home institution, and regular meetings between Scholar and Sponsor pairs. Scholars will also have access to implementation science resources tailored to their goals, and will participate in three virtual meetings of the entire Scholar/Sponsor network with agendas centered on the specific interests and needs of the Scholars.
Stay tuned for more information about this year’s cohort over the upcoming months.