# Post-doctoral Training in Promoting Health Equity in Cardiovascular Disease

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · 2020 · $325,218

## Abstract

Abstract (limited to 30 lines of text):
This application for a new postdoctoral T32 training program at the University of Texas at Austin aims to
increase diversity in behavioral, population, and implementation science research to promote health equity in
cardiovascular disease. The proposed program will take advantage of the recently established UT Austin
Medical School to enhance graduate-level inter-professional education efforts already underway at UT Austin
by training postdoctoral fellows for two years in the Schools of Social Work and Medicine, with involvement
from 32 mentors in the Schools of Social Work, Medicine, and Nursing, the Population Research Center, and
the College of Pharmacy. In each of five years, the program will recruit recent PhD and MD recipients from
underrepresented groups. Postdoctoral fellows (2 in Social Work & 2 in Medicine each year) will be trained in
community-based participatory research methods and population health science. They will implement
evidence-based interventions and/or produce scientific evidence with the ultimate goal of increasing health
equity in behavioral factors related to heart and lung diseases (e.g., dietary habits, physical activity, adherence,
tobacco use/exposure, metabolic syndrome, obesity). Key innovations include a “mentor the mentors”
approach and the cross-fertilization of social work and medical trainees. The Medical School is uniquely
designed from the outset to promote population health and the School of Social Work is rooted in an equity
lens and has a strong community-based focus; furthermore, the Schools have established a successful
partnership. Fellows will further their research training and agendas through formal mentorship, formal
coursework, seminars, conferences, and other career development activities. Each fellow will have a primary
mentor assisted by other mentors in a team approach, and senior mentors on the team will guide the junior
members on the team in a “mentor the mentors” approach. The Program Director and Principal Investigator
(PD/PI), Dr. Catherine Cubbin, will provide overall management of the program, and will be assisted by co-
Program Directors (co-PDs), Drs. Yessenia Castro and Barbara Jones. An Advisory Committee will assist the
PD/PI and co-PDs on administering the program and evaluating the program’s outcomes. The specific aims of
the program are to 1) increase the diversity of the pool of highly-trained researchers prepared for a career in
cardiovascular research focused on health equity and 2) foster an environment at UT Austin for inter-
professional development in cardiovascular research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9988260
- **Project number:** 5T32HL140290-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Catherine Cubbin
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $325,218
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9988260

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9988260, Post-doctoral Training in Promoting Health Equity in Cardiovascular Disease (5T32HL140290-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9988260. Licensed CC0.

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