• Application Submission: Accepting submissions from October 21, 2024 - November 22, 2024
• Funding Decisions: Early December 2024 
• Fellowship Start Date: January 1, 2025
• Fellowship End Date: June 30, 2026

• Current first-year medical students enrolled at the University of Kentucky in good academic standing are welcome to apply. 
• The 18-month fellowship will start January 1, 2025 (spring of the student’s 1^st year of medical school) and will end on June 30, 2026 (end of the student’s 2^nd year).
• A competitive applicant will have:
  • a long-standing interest and passion for the care of historically excluded and underserved populations.
  • the time and effort required to develop and conduct a mentored research project.
• Fellowship awardees will be required to take one course on health disparities during the Spring of their first year (see details below).

• Stipend award for personal use in the amount of $5,000; the stipend will be dispersed across two installments ($2,500 in June 2025, $2,500 in January 2026).
• A research award of up to $2,000; IRB or other regulatory approvals (if required for the project) must be obtained in order for the research funds to be released.

1. The application requires a one-page description of a research project (in the form of a Specific Aims page, see application instructions below). The research project should focus on an aspect of alleviating health disparities, decreasing bias, or enhancing contributions to the health and well-being of historically excluded and underserved patient populations. Clinical science, basic science, community-engagement, health humanities, or educational intervention projects will be considered.
2. Behavioral Science Mentor:  The applicant is required to work with a research mentor from the UK Dept. of Behavioral Science (current list: Behavioral Science Faculty).  This mentor will assist the student in developing the application and conducting the proposed research.  The mentor’s research focus can be outside of the applicant’s research focus; the student/mentor may develop a new project based upon the mentor’s established expertise that can be translated to address health disparities. Applicants are advised to contact potential mentors early in the application process to discuss potential research ideas and their willingness to serve as a mentor. If applicants are having difficulty identifying a mentor, please email Dr. Raven Piercey (Raven.Piercey@uky.edu) for assistance.

1. January – March 2025: Development of detailed research proposal.  After the applicant receives the notice of the research fellowship award, they will spend the first several months of their fellowship fully refining the details of the research project and develop a full, detailed research protocol (along with their Behavioral Science mentor).
2. April 1, 2025: Deadline for submission of full research proposal and 3-month check-in. The final detailed research protocol is submitted to the Fellowship Committee for review and feedback.The fellow must provide a 3-month check-in, preferably in person to receive feedback on their research proposal.
3. August 2025: Deadline for research project initiation.  The project should be initiated by August 2025; the project should have received regulatory approval (if needed) and project start up activities should begin. The project and analyses should remain active through Spring 2026. 
4. November 2025: Submission of a 1-page progress report.  The fellow should submit a brief summary reporting on their research activities and progress. 
5. March 2026: Project completed by end of March or the start of dedicated study for STEP. 
6. May/June 2026: Research presentation.  The fellow will create a 15-20 minute presentation to describe the background, methods, and data obtained from their research project.  This will be an open forum open to the campus community; friends and family of the applicant are welcome.
7. Summer 2026: Brief exit interview. 30-min Zoom meeting to offer thoughts/suggestions.

• **Fellowship awardees are required to enroll in the following elective course during the Spring of their 1^st year of medical school – please note that enrollment will be required shortly after fellowship awards are granted. 
  • Spring 2025: MD 825: Race, Racism and Health Disparities among African Americans in the U.S
• All abstracts, posters, presentations and publications that result from this fellowship should acknowledge the support of the Health Disparities Research & Training Fellowship. 

The primary research mentor must be a Department of Behavioral Science faculty member. However, faculty members outside of the department may serve on the applicant's mentorship team (although these additional mentors are not required). Each mentor will assume the responsibility of overseeing the applicant’s research and progress. 

The primary mentor is expected to assist the applicant with the following activities: 

• Development of the fellowship application and research plan
• Project implementation, including overseeing data collection and completion of the project
• Development of full project proposal (due April 1, 2025)
• Completion of progress reports describing the fellow’s progress (written by the fellow with mentor’s input and guidance)
• Preparation of a brief final presentation of the fellow’s project (May/June 2026)
• Completion of a final evaluation of fellow’s progress/exit interview (Summer 2026)

1. Application Form: Complete and sign the application form: HDRT Fellowship Application

2. Personal Statement: Provide a personal statement of no more than 600 words that describes: 
   1. any previous experience related to service or leadership as it relates to underserved populations
   2. commitment to addressing health disparities and/or healthcare inequities 
   3. describe why the Behavioral Science faculty mentor was selected for this project
   4. how the HDRT Fellowship will benefit the applicant in their training as a future physician

3. Research Proposal: Submit a 2-page research proposal that includes the following elements: 
   1. Specific aims page (1 page) (examples and general guidance if needed: NIH SA Page)
   2. Project timeline (approx. ½ page) using the research timeline above as a general guide
   3. Itemized budget justification (approx. ½ page); $2,000 maximum budget for the duration of the project 
   4. Questions regarding allowable costs should be directed to:  Alicia Colliver (ajduna0@uky.edu) 

4. Resume or CV: Include educational history, previous/current research activities (if any), employment, and extracurricular activities, and awards/recognitions

5. Two letters of recommendation: 
   1. One letter from a previous or current mentor or supervisor who can speak to the applicant’s involvement working with underserved communities and interest in health disparities research 
   2. One letter from the applicant’s Behavioral Science faculty mentor
   3. Letters should be submitted on official letterhead and include a signature 
   4. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly to BSCConcert@uky.edu
       by the letter’s author. Letters should have the applicant’s name as part of the file name and in the subject line of the email. 

The Department of Behavioral Science Council on Community, Education, Research and Training (CONCERT) will review all applications. The Council will prioritize candidates who express a commitment to working toward serving historically excluded and underserved populations as a future physician. 

Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Applicant’s potential to carry out a project that aims to address health disparities and healthcare inequities of underserved patient populations 
• Faculty mentor(s) ability to provide adequate mentorship for the proposed project
• Project feasibility (timeline, scope of data collection, applicant’s previous research experience as it pertains to feasibility)
• Strength of proposed research idea 

For questions regarding the HDRT Fellowship, please contact Dr. Raven Piercey (Raven.Piercey@uky.edu).