DBMI Grand Rounds: Lessons Learned from the VUMC Biomedical Informatics Summer Program (Kim Unertl)

Title: "Broadening Pathways into Informatics: Lessons Learned from the Vanderbilt Biomedical Informatics Summer Program" Featuring Kim Unertl, PhD, ACHIP, FACMI, FAMIA, Associate Professor & Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at VUMC.

This DBMI Grand Rounds was presented on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 12:00 pm CT. Visit here for more VUMC DBMI events: https://www.vumc.org/dbmi/vumc-dbmi-e...

Abstract:
Early exposure to research opportunities can increase engagement with science, help students develop a sense of belonging in scientific fields, and broaden participation in scientific career paths. Since 2008, through the Vanderbilt Biomedical Informatics Summer Program (VBISP), Vanderbilt’s Department of Biomedical Informatics has engaged over 150 high school, undergraduate, professional, and graduate students in 8-10 week summer research internships. During their time in VBISP, students conduct meaningful and innovative informatics research with mentorship from faculty, trainees, and research staff. Additional program components support learning about the breadth of informatics and building peer connections, strengthening the student experience in VBISP. Applying an experimental approach to program design allows us to rapidly try out new learning approaches, enabling us to identify best practices for engaging students new to informatics. Lessons learned from VBISP have informed new features for our graduate program, and VBISP student projects have helped faculty pursue novel directions in informatics research.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the conceptual model underlying our summer program.
2. Categorize benefits for students from participating in summer research experiences.
3. Apply lessons from our experience with VBISP to development and refinement of educational outreach programs.