The Health, Humanism, and Society Scholars program (HHASS) provides Rice undergraduates the opportunity to assist in research at various institutions within the Texas Medical Center, giving them valuable experience in a variety of medical and public health settings, research institutes and centers. The program identifies faculty and researchers in the Texas Medical Center who are interested in mentoring undergraduates and are currently researching topics of social science, education, and/or medical humanities. Students are matched with projects then spend a full academic year assisting with research. Students will earn 6 credits for the academic year (MDHM 402 & MDHM 403). This practicum counts toward the Medical Humanities minor.
The deadline to apply has been extended to Monday, April 07, by 11:59 pm
Once you have been matched with a project, MDHM faculty will be in touch to submit the registration override so that you may register for MDHM 402 or MDHM 430.
Students can use a single form to apply for multiple projects, including both one-semester practicum projects and yer-long HHASS projects.
Project Sponsor(s): Aanand Naik, MD, Professor of Medicine and Public Health, UTHealth Houston
Project Title: Patient Priorities Care: Improving Clinical Outcomes in Primary Care
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine/Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center- Center for Innovation, Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt) – 2450 Holcombe Blvd., Suite 01Y, Houston, TX 77021
Project Description: Patient Priorities Care (PPC) is a novel approach to caring for older adults with multiple chronic conditions. Heralded in 2018 as a “revolutionary change in health care delivery” by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (2018), Patient Priorities Care has become a standard of age-friendly care over the last several years in geriatric care settings. PPC deftly addresses the inherent complexity of patients with multiple chronic conditions without sacrificing quality of care. Publications over the last few years have demonstrated feasibility of implementation of the PPC approach.
The current research study is a randomized clinical trial evaluating the adaptation of the Patient Priorities Care approach to VA primary care settings. Students will participate as part of an interprofessional research team on data analysis and scholarship preparations from the clinical trial for the Patient Priorities Care approach in 2 VA primary care sites (Houston and West Haven, Connecticut).
Expected Tasks:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project.
Students with the following interests/experience might consider this project, although anyone interested in chronic disease and biopsychosocial model of medical care would be a reasonable fit: psychology or social science majors (sociology), communication (health communication), or philosophy (applied). Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible and adaptable, and have excellent communication skills.
Project timeframe: 1 or 2 semesters – 1 semester minimum
Project Sponsor(s): Amy McGuire, JD, PhD
Project Title: Ethical Legal Implications of Psychedelics in Society
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
Project Description: Psychedelic medicines could profoundly and positively transform healthcare by providing breakthrough therapies to meet the growing mental health and suicide crisis among Veterans and civilians alike. Studies have found that psychedelic therapy improves the debilitating effects of various psychiatric conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder). In 2017 and 2019, the U.S. FDA designated psilocybin and MDMA “breakthrough therapies” for depression and PTSD, respectively. In 2024 Lykos Therapeutics submitted the first New Drug Application for MDMA-assisted therapy, which was not approved by the FDA. Meanwhile, states are getting involved. From 2019-2022, 25 states considered 74 bills to either reform existing laws and/or conduct further research on psychedelics. Many believe we are in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance, and there is an urgent need to address ethical and legal issues related to psychedelic research and use. The Ethical Legal Implications of pSychedelics in Society (ELIPSIS) Program is part of the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine. As part of this program, we will be conducting interviews with psychedelic clinical trialists (1) to understand their experiences interacting with their institutional review boards (IRBs) and (2) to explore their perspectives about the appropriate role of healthcare gatekeeping and physician readiness for FDA approval of psychedelic medicines.
Expected Tasks:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project.
Project timeframe (1 or 2 semesters): 2 semesters
Project Sponsor(s): Amy McGuire, JD, PhD
Project Title: Engaging community Members to Plan for Dissemination Of Wastewater Epidemiology Results (EMPOWER)
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
Project Description: Wastewater research and surveillance can provide early warning of the spread of known diseases of public health importance and inform public health responses. It can also provide highly sensitive and potentially stigmatizing information, raising ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI). ELSI considerations include how to manage return of results in a way that maximizes the benefits of wastewater research and public health surveillance and builds public trust while protecting privacy and avoiding the exacerbation of health inequities. Our overarching goal is to develop ethical guidelines for the dissemination of results from wastewater research and surveillance programs. The Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine will be collaborating with the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI) Wastewater Consortium (TWC) on this project. As part of this project, we will be conducting a literature review to inform the development of study materials or interpretation of results, including interviews conducted with key stakeholders about perceived and anticipated ELSI issues and barriers and facilitators to disclosing the results of wastewater surveillance to the public, focus group discussion guide and results, and a state-wide public survey.
Expected Tasks:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project.
Project timeframe (1 or 2 semesters): 2 semesters
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete to begin work (i.e. badging, HIPAA training, background check, etc.):
Project Sponsor(s): Jennifer Blumenthal-Barby, PhD, MA
Project Title: Philosophical Bioethics Web Hub
Institution and Location: Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy (virtual)
Project Description: The Philosophical Bioethics Web Hub (“PbHub”) found at www.philosophicalbioethics.com is an active web platform for resources and content in philosophical bioethics. The “hub,” which launched in January 2023, is the first of its kind. We have begun working with bioethics.net (AJOB) to turn the Hub into one of their “toolkits” and link to on their site. The Center for ELSI Resources and Analysis (CERA) featured the hub in their newsletter, writing that, “We were excited to hear about the new Philosophical Bioethics Hub that you are leading…We believe much of our audience (~3000 newsletter subscribers) would find the Philosophical Bioethics Hub to be an incredibly helpful resource.” This is an opportunity for student involvement to migrate the site over to a free platform (Wordpress) as well as to help update and promote the site.
Expected Tasks: Migration of current website content to Wordpress or another free platform. Brainstorm ways to promote the site and broaden its use and impact. Students will not work directly with patients or caregivers.
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project.
Project timeframe: 1 semester could work, but open to 2.
Project Sponsor(s): Daniel P. Mahoney, MD and Amanda Ruth, MD
Project Title: Examining the Role of Narrative Medicine in the Care of Children with Complex Illness
Institution and Location: Texas Children’s Hospital, 6621 Fannin St W1990, Houston, TX 77030
Project Description: Dr. Ruth and Dr. Mahoney are working on several educational initiatives with pediatric residency and fellowship trainees involving the use of narrative medicine. Narrative medicine practice confers a skill set to clinicians that strengthens their ability to recognize, absorb, interpret, and be moved by the stories of their patients. This skill set has been shown to improve clinician resiliency in the face of burnout, increase clinician empathy, and improve attention to nonverbal cues. Ongoing projects include: •
Expected Tasks:. Students will be asked to contribute to a variety of tasks involved in translating educational activities into research projects. These may include literature reviews, contributing to drafting of IRB research proposals, participation in consenting and enrolling patients, caregivers and/or trainees in IRB-approved projects, and (when applicable based on training and expertise) contribute to qualitative data collection and analysis.
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project. Students with a focus in medical humanities, pre-medical studies, adult education, or scientific writing/health communication would likely find this opportunity beneficial and interesting. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, self-motivated, adaptable, professional, and have strong writing skills.
Project timeframe (1 or 2 semesters): 2 semester preferred, 1 semester also works for us
Project Sponsor(s): Ali Asghar-Ali, M.D., Jennifer Bryan Ph.D.
Project Title: Mental Health Research and Education
Institution and Location: Houston Center for Innovations in Quality, Safety, and Effectiveness (IQuEST) 2450 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, Texas 77021
Project Description: The Veterans Administration (VA) has a strong commitment to improving Veterans’ mental health while supporting mental health clinicians. The South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers (SC MIRECC) focuses on promoting equity in engagement, access, and quality of mental health care for Veterans facing barriers to care, especially rural and underserved Veterans. The SC MIRECC’s mission works synergistically with the VA’s commitment to improve mental health care by developing and disseminating evidence based educational material, tools and interventions that focus on improving mental health care. This research opportunity is specifically with the education core of the SC MIRECC. Examples of recent projects with undergraduate interns include: creation of the Veterans Wellness Guide, A Veteran's Guide to Discussing STORES: Secure Storage to Reduce Suicide Risk and development of a cultural humility geriatric education module. The interprofessional education team has members from: Psychiatry, Social Psychology, and Clinical Psychology. The student would be involved in the development of educational materials along with their dissemination and evaluation. There are ample opportunities for students to write mentored manuscripts and poster presentations. Students can learn more about the educational efforts of the SC MIRECC by visiting the site, http://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn16/education.asp
Expected Tasks:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project. There are no formal prerequisites; this project is open to every Rice student beyond their first year of studies. Preference will be given to students who have an interest in mental health, education, evaluation, and dissemination, are team and detail oriented, and write well. Health science, education, psychology, and communication students are especially encouraged to apply.
Project timeframe (2 semesters is standard): 2 semesters
Project Sponsor(s): Amy Waterman, PhD, FAST
Project Title: Living Donation Digital Storytelling Project
Institution and Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Waterman Lab for Patient Engagement Research
Project Description:
The Waterman Lab is a national consortium of esteemed experts in the field of transplant and health literacy with a mission to empower transplant patients and living donors by providing them with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed treatment choices.
The Living Donation Story telling Project, an online digital library, includes over 200 culturally diverse stories from people sharing their living kidney donation and living donor transplant experiences. Students may conduct ethical reviews to ensure collected stories follow guidelines to project patients' confidentiality, edit collected stories for online storytelling libraries and YouTube uploads, create promotional blogs and videos, assist in the management of our digital storytelling websites and social media accounts, develop strategies to grow and improve recruitment of storytellers, help build patient educational opportunities, assist with publishing the lessons learned about digital story telling for health education and promotion.
Expected Tasks:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project.
Students should have experience or interest in digital marketing, running social media campaigns, website management, video editing and/or applying health promotion strategies to raise awareness.
Project timeframe: 1 or 2 semesters
Project Sponsor(s): Ali Asghar-Ali, M.D., Jennifer Bryan Ph.D.
Project Title: Mental Health Research and Education
Institution and Location:
Houston Center for Innovations in Quality, Safety, and Effectiveness (IQuEST)
2450 Holcombe Blvd,
Houston, Texas 77021
Project Description: The Veterans Administration (VA) has a strong commitment to improving Veterans’ mental health while supporting mental health clinicians. The South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers (SC MIRECC) focuses on promoting equity in engagement, access, and quality of mental health care for Veterans facing barriers to care, especially rural and underserved Veterans. The SC MIRECC’s mission works synergistically with the VA’s commitment to improve mental health care by developing and disseminating evidence based educational material, tools and interventions that focus on improving mental health care.This research opportunity is specifically with the education core of the SC MIRECC. Examples of recent projects with undergraduate interns include: creation of the Veterans Wellness Guide, A Veteran's Guide to Discussing STORES: Secure Storage to Reduce Suicide Risk and development of a cultural humility geriatric education module. The interprofessional education team has members from: Psychiatry, Social Psychology, and Clinical Psychology. The student would be involved in the development of educational materials along with their dissemination and evaluation. There are ample opportunities for students to write mentored manuscripts and poster presentations. Students can learn more about the educational efforts of the SC MIRECC by visiting the site, http://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn16/education.asp
Project Sponsor(s): Melanie Jeske, PhD, MS
Project Title: Responsibility and the Pursuit of Health in the Age of Wearable Health Technologies
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
Project Description: Hosted in the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine, this project is a sociological analysis of wearable health technologies. Wearable health technologies–like smart watches, smart rings, and continuous glucose monitors–have proliferated over the last two decades. Since the early 2000s, wearable health devices have moved from technologies primarily concerned with tracking movement (like FitBit) toward technologies that continuously and passively monitor various biometrics such as heart rate, body temperature, glucose levels, and respiration. These devices prompt engagement through apps that aggregate and interpret this data to offer health insights to their users, encourage lifestyle changes to encourage health and, increasingly, are seen as valuable tools for providing data to biomedical researchers and clinicians. Wearable devices promise to provide continuous, granular, biometric insights into individual health from the privileged standpoint of—and claim to authority through—quantification. Health wearables have established a large consumer market and increasingly biotechnology and health services companies and institutions are interested in the potential of wearables to manage chronic conditions as well as become a site of behavioral health data. The global market for health wearables in 2024 was $45 billion, and is anticipated to be $151.8 billion in 2029 (BCC Research, 2024). Indeed, more people seem to be interested in engaging with health wearable technologies: the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) shows those who have used wearables in the last 12 months increased from 26.7% in 2019 to 36.7% in 2022 alone (NCI HINTS, n.d.).This project examines how wearable devices work and the health insights they promise to their users, interrogating how wearables are constructed. Drawing on content analysis of wearable device marketing, reviews, and scientific publications, and in-depth interviews with device developers and users, the project interrogates how health wearables have emerged as meaningful tools to signal, measure, and analyze health, and the values built into their design. Students interested in the health technologies, social determinants of health, social medicine, health disparities, and behavioral health may be interested in this project.
Expected tasks:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project.
Project timeframe: open to 1 or 2 semesters
Project Sponsor(s): Melanie Jeske, PhD, MS
Project Title: Entanglements of Endometriosis
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
Project Description: Hosted in the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine, this research study is a sociological analysis of endometriosis, a disease of the female reproductive system. Students interested in the social determinants of health, social medicine, health disparities, women’s health research, and reproductive justice may be interested in this project. This study asks two questions: 1) How do people living with endometriosis navigate living with this condition? 2) How do biomedical researchers and clinicians create knowledge about endometriosis? Endometriosis is a disease of the female reproductive system in which endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus on fallopian tubes, ovaries, and other local regions, leading to immense pain, cysts, and potentially infertility. The National Institutes of Health estimates that one in ten females has endometriosis, and that 30-50% of people with endometriosis are infertile. Diagnosis of this condition typically takes years; many learn of this diagnosis while trying to achieve pregnancy or upon a ruptured cyst. In the US, endometriosis diagnoses in Black and Latine populations is even longer delayed, reflective of longstanding health inequities and racism in medicine particularly around reproductive health. Despite an increase in awareness about endometriosis over the past decade, little is known about its causes or effective ways to diagnose and treat it. Drawing on in-depth interviews with people living with endometriosis, clinicians, and biomedical researchers, this project weaves together an analysis of the production of biomedical knowledge ("expert knowledge") about endometriosis alongside the experiences of people living with this illness ("lay knowledge").
Expected tasks:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project.
Project timeframe: open to 1 or 2 semesters, however 2 semesters preferred for this project
Project Title: Patient Priorities Care: Improving Clinical Outcomes in Primary Care
Project Sponsor: Aanand Naik, MD, Professor of Medicine and Public Health, UTHealth Houston
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine/Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center; Center for Innovation, Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt) – 2450 Holcombe Blvd., Suite 01Y, Houston, TX 77021
Project Description: Patient Priorities Care (PPC) is a novel approach to caring for older adults with multiple chronic conditions. Heralded in 2018 as a “revolutionary change in health care delivery” by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (2018), Patient Priorities Care has become a standard of age-friendly care over the last several years in geriatric care settings. PPC deftly addresses the inherent complexity of patients with multiple chronic conditions without sacrificing quality of care. Publications over the last few years have demonstrated feasibility of implementation of the PPC approach.
The current research study is a randomized clinical trial evaluating the adaptation of the Patient Priorities Care approach to primary care settings. Students will participate as part of an interprofessional research team on various aspects of the clinical trial for the Patient Priorities Care approach in 2 VA primary care sites (Houston and West Haven, Connecticut).
Possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
Prerequisite skill or training: Students with the following interests/experience might consider this project, although anyone interested in chronic disease and biopsychosocial model of medical care would be a reasonable fit: psychology or social science majors (sociology), communication (health communication), or philosophy (applied). Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible and adaptable, and have excellent communication skills.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: Insight into how interprofessional research teams function, how healthcare research is developed, the day to day work of recruiting and implementing research trials into clinical workflows, stakeholder communication, branding and marketing of novel ideas, working with relational databases, knowledge of the evolution toward patient-centered care specifically in geriatrics/primary care disciplines, including pharmacy, social work, nursing, medicine, and community-based service, networking opportunities.
Mentorship: Students will have the opportunity for hands-on experience as part of this dynamic interprofessional research team, which includes geriatric and internal medicine providers, psychologists, health communication experts, quantitative and qualitative methodologists, and public health professionals.
Students will receive direct supervision in data collection and management. Students will attend weekly team meetings with project investigators, where they will have opportunities to present the progress of their work and participate in team discussions.
Opportunities to work directly with the study investigators to evaluate and publish on the impact of Patient Priorities Care in a primary care setting will be a feature of the student’s time.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
CITI - https://www.citiprogram.org You may be required to self-register for a user ID and password. If you already have an account with CITI, please affiliate with the VA by choosing >Click here to affiliate with another institution (second drop down on Main Menu…middle of the page). Type in “Houston, TX-580” and follow the instructions to complete your affiliation.
TMS - VA TMS 2.0 You may need to create a user name and password. Please follow the instructions provided to self-register.
Project Title: A review of parental and provider perspectives on chronically ill, medically complex pediatric patients using Storytelling
Project Sponsors: Dan Mahoney, Amanda Ruth, Nathan Serazin
Institution and Location: Texas Children’s Hospital, Technologically Dependent ICU
Project Description: The project has two large aims. One is to collect data on the perspectives of bedside providers on the experience of caring for chronically ill, medically complex patients. This has been identified as a challenging patient population to care for in literature. The other aim is to collect families’ and caregivers’ perspectives on the care received by their children. We will then ask caregivers to tell us about the patient in their own words and transcribe it into a story. This story will in turn be told to the bedside provider, and the bedside provider re-interviewed to see if knowing the patient’s story as told by the parents changes their perspective on caring for the child.
Possible tasks the student would be expected to perform:
Prerequisite skills or training: The student should be able to search for and read academic papers, and have persuasive writing abilities.
Knowledge and skills the student can expect to gain:
Mentorship: The student will meet weekly with the PIs. Student will receive guidance on how to approach a medical humanities study, as well as guidance in structuring a research project and writing a paper. All the PIs will provide direct mentorship.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
A list of steps the student will need to complete by August 19 to begin work:
Project Title: Ethics and Decision Making
Project Sponsor(s): Jennifer Blumenthal-Barby PhD, MA
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy
Project Description: Dr. Blumenthal-Barby is working on several projects related to medical decision making and ethics. The student selected to work on this research team may participate in helping with any one or several of these projects depending on need and timing.
One project involves studying the use of a “decision aid” (DA) to help improve decision making about placement of a ventricular assist device (“LVAD”) among end stage heart failure patients. We developed a DA (www.lvaddecisionaid.com) and conducted a randomized trial of the DA vs. standard education and found that the DA improved patient knowledge and that both patients and clinicians viewed the DA favorably and we then worked with 10 sites to integrate it into their regular clinical flow. For the current project, we are studying the integration of a web-based “personalized risk calculator” (the HeartMate 3 Risk Score) that aims to utilize artificial intelligence/machine learning to predict individual patient outcomes. The student could assist with various aspects of this project, which may include literature reviews and summaries, assistance in data presentation (e.g., tables, figures), assistance with tracking activities, assistance with coding and analyzing interviews, collaborative paper writing, and development of web-based resources and activities. The student would attend weekly research team meetings.
A second project that will soon launch involves studying ethics and decision-making related to deep brain stimulation for early and mid-stage Parkinson’s disease. We will interview stakeholders (patients, clinicians) in the process of developing a decision aid to guide this difficult decision. The student could assist in various related research tasks such as literature reviews and summaries, coding interviews, collaborative paper writing, and assisting in decision aid development. There is also the opportunity for exploration of a related topic: the ethics of first-in human neuro-device trials. The student would also attend weekly research team meetings.
Finally, Dr. Blumemthal-Barby has developed a “Philosophical Bioethics Network/Hub,” (www.philosophicalbioethics.com) which is an active web platform for resources and content in philosophical bioethics. This is a collaborative effort with other leading Centers in philosophical bioethics. There may be opportunity for student involvement here to help update and promote the site.
Possible tasks the student would be expected to perform: In addition to the tasks described in the project descriptions above, the student must devote 8 hours per week to the project and will develop a timeline of activities in collaboration with supervisor(s). The student will meet at least monthly (probably bi-weekly) with the faculty supervisor(s) to evaluate progress. The student will attend relevant research team meetings as requested (may occur weekly depending on project).
Prerequisite training: Interests and/or coursework related to the above topics will be prioritized. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, adaptable, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible and adaptable (some research tasks are more fun than others, and these projects involves a mix of research streams), and have excellent writing skills.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: Insight into how research teams function, how research ideas are generated and executed, the day to day work of research and translation of research results into practice, searching and summarizing literature, knowledge about medical decision making/psychology/ethics, potentially experience analyzing and coding qualitative data, networking opportunities.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
Project Title: Cost of Illness and Financial Toxicity in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Project Sponsor: Astrid Grouls, MD
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Section of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine.
Project Description:
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with an estimated prognosis of 2 years after diagnosis. Patients experience progressive weakness and therefore face a series of generally predictable medical decisions, such as a feeding tube placement, use of assistive communication devices and various modes of respiratory support. Patients with ALS (pALS) make such complex medical decisions in the setting of the highest cost of illness of all neurologic conditions. How this high cost of illness translates into a sense of “financial toxicity” for pALS and how this impacts their medical decision making and decisional regret is not currently known. Multiple aspects of this project are underway or prepared to begin, including literature review of decision aids used by pALS, retrospective chart review analyzing discussion of financial burden in an ALS multidisciplinary clinic, and direct interviews with pALS and their caregivers about the financial burden of ALS. Students would have the opportunity to participate in literature review, chart review for data capture, and possibly assist with transcription of patient interviews.
Possible tasks the student would be expected to perform: Students may engage in comprehensive literature review on the topic of cost of illness in ALS, perform retrospective chart review of pALS in the ALS multidisciplinary clinic to screen for cost of illness concerns, and assist with transcription of patient interviews.
Prerequisite skills or training: Students should be adept or willing to train on the basics of research database searches, and in EPIC EMR use. Students should be organized with a keen understanding of data management, such as via Excel.
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain: Students can expect to become proficient in literature review and retrospective chart review. There will be opportunities to submit this work to conferences in the 2025-2026 cycle, and there is a plan to publish this work. The student will participate in the literature review and assist with manuscript development for publication, allowing introduction to research style writing, manuscript development and the process of transitioning research into a form to be disseminated. It is expected that retrospective chart review be completed within the prescribed time frame, such that students will assist with data analysis and associated manuscript development. Students will have authorship opportunities on both publications.
Mentorship: Astrid Grouls, MD will provide direct mentorship to students: “I will meet at least every two weeks with students during their active academic time to review progress, address concerns and align goals. I will strive to provide a space where students feel comfortable asking questions, bringing forward concerns, and identifying areas in which they strive to grow. This will be supplemented with meetings with my own mentors where appropriate.”
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
A list of steps the student(s) will need to complete by August 19 to begin work:
Project Title: Mental Health Research and Education
Project Sponsors: Ali Asghar-Ali, M.D., Jennifer Bryan Ph.D.
Institution and Location: Houston Center for Innovations in Quality, Safety, and Effectiveness (IQuEST), 2450 Holcombe Blvd
Project Description:
The Veterans Administration (VA) has a strong commitment to improving Veterans’ mental health while supporting mental health clinicians. The South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers (SC MIRECC) focuses on promoting equity in engagement, access, and quality of mental health care for Veterans facing barriers to care, especially rural and underserved Veterans. The SC MIRECC’s mission works synergistically with the VA’s commitment to improve mental health care by developing and disseminating evidence based educational material, tools and interventions that focus on improving mental health care.
This research opportunity is specifically with the education core of the SC MIRECC. Examples of recent projects with undergraduate interns include: creation of the Veterans Wellness Guide, A Veteran's Guide to Discussing STORES: Secure Storage to Reduce Suicide Risk and development of a cultural humility geriatric education module. The interprofessional education team has members from: Psychiatry, Social Psychology, and Clinical Psychology. The student would be involved in the development of educational materials along with their dissemination and evaluation. There are ample opportunities for students to write mentored manuscripts and poster presentations. Students can learn more about the educational efforts of the SC MIRECC by visiting the site, http://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn16/education.asp
Additional information: There is not one specific project. Students will be presented with current SCMIRECC education projects and can select which projects they would like to contribute to or lead their own project, like a review paper that aligns with current SCMIRECC projects.
Possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
Prerequisite skills or training: There are no formal prerequisites. Preference will be given to students who have an interest in mental health, education, evaluation, and dissemination; are team and detail oriented; and write well. Health science, education, psychology, and communication students are especially encouraged to apply.
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain: This project presents an opportunity to advance the student’s skills with creation of educational materials, dissemination, evaluation, and scholarly writing. Students will also be exposed to the current mental health research. Students will have opportunities for manuscript writing and presentations.
Mentorship: Student will meet weekly with Dr. Jennifer Bryan and/or Dr. Ali Abbas Asghar-Ali
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 19 to begin work:
Project Title: Engaging community Members to Plan for Dissemination Of Wastewater Epidemiology Results (EMPOWER)
Project Sponsor: Amy McGuire, JD, PhD
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine
Project Description:
Wastewater research and surveillance can provide early warning of the spread of known diseases of public health importance and inform public health responses. It can also provide highly sensitive and potentially stigmatizing information, raising ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI). ELSI considerations include how to manage return of results in a way that maximizes the benefits of wastewater research and public health surveillance and builds public trust while protecting privacy and avoiding the exacerbation of health inequities. Our overarching goal is to develop ethical guidelines for the dissemination of results from wastewater research and surveillance programs. The Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine will be collaborating with the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI) Wastewater Consortium (TWC) on this project. As part of this project, we will be conducting a literature review to inform the development of study materials, including an interview guide that will be used to interview key stakeholders about perceived and anticipated ELSI issues and barriers and facilitators to disclosing the results of wastewater surveillance to the public, a community engagement session discussion guide, and a state-wide public survey.
Possible tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
Prerequisite skills or training:
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain: Qualitative research methods (including interview guide development and data analysis); data collection and management; presentation of findings in the form of a poster and oral power point presentation; networking with other bioethicists and diverse stakeholders involved in wastewater surveillance and research; possibility of participating as a co-author in a publication.
Mentorship: The student will be mentored by the PI and a postdoctoral associate in our research group. They will have weekly meetings with the postdoctoral associate and monthly meetings with the PI. The student will also participate in regular (weekly) project meetings with the entire project team.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
A list of steps the student(s) will need to complete by August 19 to begin working:
Project Title: Ethical Legal Implications of Psychedelics in Society
Project Sponsor: Amy McGuire, JD, PhD
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy
Project Description:
Psychedelic medicines could profoundly and positively transform healthcare by providing breakthrough therapies to meet the growing mental health and suicide crisis among Veterans and civilians alike. Studies have found that psychedelic therapy improves the debilitating effects of various psychiatric conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder). In 2017 and 2019, the U.S. FDA designated psilocybin and MDMA “breakthrough therapies” for depression and PTSD, respectively, and Lykos Therapeutics just filed the first New Drug Application for MDMA with the FDA. Meanwhile, States are getting involved. From 2019-2022, 25 states considered 74 bills to either reform existing laws and/or conduct further research on psychedelics. Many believe we are in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance, and there is an urgent need to address ethical and legal issues related to psychedelic research and use.
The Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine has developed a new research program on Ethical Legal Implications of PSychedelics in Society (ELIPSIS). As part of this program, we will be conducting interviews with psychedelic clinical trialists (1) to understand their experiences interacting with their institutional review boards (IRBs) and (2) to explore their perspectives about the appropriate role of healthcare gatekeeping and physician readiness for FDA approval of psychedelic medicines.
Possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
Prerequisite skills or training:
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain: Qualitative research methods (including interview guide development and data analysis); data collection and management; presentation of findings in the form of a poster and oral power point presentation; networking with other bioethicists and diverse stakeholders involved in psychedelic research; possibility of participating as a co-author in a publication.
Mentorship: The student will be mentored by the PI and a postdoctoral associate in our research group. They will have weekly meetings with the postdoctoral associate and monthly meetings with the PI. The student will also participate in regular (weekly) project meetings with the entire project team.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
A list of steps the student(s) will need to complete by August 19 to begin work:
Project Title: Alleviating Burden? Effects of Behavioral Health Consultants on Primary Care Team Burden and Dissatisfaction
Project Sponsor(s): Mario Venegas, PhD and Sylvia J. Hysong, PhD
Institution and Location: Center for Innovations in Quality Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt), Baylor College of Medicine. 2450 Holcombe Blvd. Ste.01Y Houston
Project Description:
The research question: The objective of this systematic review project is to examine the effects of mental health providers in reducing burden and job dissatisfaction among primary care workers. Burnout, dissatisfaction, and overburden among primary staff is a common issue in healthcare that can lead to turnover, which in turn is costly for healthcare facilities. An understaffed team and an overburdened staff lead to poor quality of care and to higher costs due to having to replace staff who leave. In primary care, one attempt to address burden and dissatisfaction is by integrating mental health providers into primary care teams. These providers, or Behavioral Health Consultants (BHCs), work with primary care staff to handle patients with mental health issues, which would reduce burden and by consequence turnover among physicians, who are some of the most expensive team members to replace.
Why a systematic review? This systematic review will examine the effects of BHCs on primary care teams across two key outcomes: staff burden and job dissatisfaction. It has been argued that BHCs can help reduce turnover, but studies are needed to show why this is the case. In systematically reviewing studies, we expect that BHCs can reduce job dissatisfaction by reducing the burden levels across physicians and primary care staff. By screening and reviewing studies, we will assess the efficacy and effectiveness of integrating behavioral health. Thus, we can inform primary care leadership in deciding to continue efforts to integrate behavioral health in the provision of primary care.
What can you expect to learn? Studying burnout and job dissatisfaction shines light into the social and human dimensions of healthcare work. Screening and reviewing studies on the role of mental health workers in primary care will introduce students to the work conditions, demands, and resources that make healthcare work possible. Students will also get an exposure to the interventions to address burnout and dissatisfaction, the latter of which have human consequences such as loss of relationships and low morale for the workforce. Finally, students will develop the skills in parsing literature across disciplines such as social work, psychology, and sociology on a topic that has a long lineage of research across social sciences and whose perspective informs the healthcare workforce.
Possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform: Using the software Covidence (for systematic review abstraction), undergraduate assistants will assist in searching for, identifying, and screening over 400 studies by title and abstract according to inclusion and exclusion criteria set forth by the investigator. Tasks include:
Prerequisite skills or training:
Project timeframe: 1-2 semesters, depending on speed of abstraction.
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 15 to begin work:
Project Sponsor(s): Audrey Mendez, PhD; Travis Croom, MPH
Project Title: Health Professions Education Evaluation and Research (HPEER)
Institution and Location: Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety (IQuESt) in the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (2450 Holcombe Blvd Suite 01Y, Houston, TX 77021)
Project Description that addresses the larger research project as well as any portion on which the student(s) would focus. Please indicate how the student’s work would engage with the humanities or interpretive social sciences. If this engagement is not evident, the project may not be eligible for this program.
HPEER is a national advanced fellowship funded by the Office of Academic Affiliations and the Department of Veterans Affairs to train leaders and educators in health professions education. HPEER seeks to develop experts who will lead the advancement of healthcare education. Located at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas, the HPEER Coordinating Center (CC) was recently instituted and is comprised of program directors, local and site core faculty, staff, and postdoctoral fellows. As a newly initiated program, a HHASS student will have the opportunity to make a significant and lasting contribution to the education and training of health professionals, like physicians,
nurses, pharmacists, and psychologists, throughout the United States.
HPEER is in the first year of implementing the newly developed national curriculum and infrastructure for national coordination of the HPEER program. The CC is also responsible for process evaluation and the communication of developmental outcomes to relevant stakeholders. Future evaluative efforts will include program evaluation using quantitative (e.g. self-reported surveys/questionnaires) and qualitative methods (self-reported descriptive data) to measure needs assessment, end of year, and productivity surveys among all fellows. Groundwork is being laid to enable a robust and timely evaluation of the HPEER program in order to allow CC faculty and staff to make continuous and ongoing improvements throughout the life of the program. A HHASS student will not only learn about this health professions education program as it is being built but also be able to leave their stamp on its foundation.
In conjunction with the HHASS program, we aim to develop program deliverables including a process evaluation database, website design, operational support surveys, process manuscripts, as well as reports on all surveys and process tools. Trainees can work on special projects and scholarship opportunities as applicable. Over the course of the program, trainees will learn more about the day to day operations of running a large, national health professions training program and interacting with an engaging, dynamic, and interprofessional team.
Trainees can expect to gain insight into an arm of medical research they may not be readily aware of and various ways health professionals can round out their careers with research, evaluation, or quality improvement.
Trainees are invited to attend key all-staff and department specific meetings and encouraged to take advantage of any opportunities, to ask questions, and learn more about areas of health professions education, curriculum development, program evaluation, interprofessional health science practices, marketing and operations that are of particular interest to them.
A list of possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform.
Program evaluation, qualitative and quantitative analysis, development reports, contribute to the development of scholarly products such as abstracts and publications.
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project. Students with the following interests/experience in Health Education Curriculum, Program Evaluation, Program Operations, Communication and Marketing, Data Collection and Analysis and generating reports, might consider this project. Some basic familiarity with qualitative and quantitative methods would be helpful but is not required. Familiarity with databases (e.g., Excel, REDCap) is also a plus. Methodological training (e.g. data entry, analyzing limited qualitative data) will be provided. Experience in preparing abstracts, posters, and manuscripts is ideal. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, adaptable, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible, adaptable, and have excellent communication skills.
A short statement of what mentorship the student will receive, including frequency of meetings with PIs. Please indicate the individual(s) who will provide direct mentorship.
Students will meet with the projects sponsors a minimum of 1hour each week to discuss projects and progress. Students are encouraged to attend any other relevant meetings as part of the educational process.
Project timeframe (2 semesters is standard): Two semesters starting the Fall of 2024
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain, including any opportunities for presentations, publication, networking, etc.:
Students can gain insight into working on a national fellowship program including the buildout of a national program, website design, developing conceptual models, data reports, summaries and analysis, developing marketing materials and dissemination, literature reviews, developing posters for national conferences, and manuscript preparation. Students will gain and/or build upon skills in curriculum design, website design, administrative support, evaluation methods and frameworks as well as working with an interprofessional team. Skills in quantitative data collection include administering surveys, data entry and management and report development. Students will also assist the HPEER team in preparing abstracts, presentations and/or manuscripts based on the data collected and analyzed.
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 19 to begin work (i.e. badging, HIPAA training, background check, etc.):
As part of your pending Rice HPEER Internship, you are required to have a WOC (without compensation) appointment with the Department of Veterans Affairs. We connect trainees with Ed Pomer to start the onboarding process which includes:
Two forms:
Three training certificates:
Project Sponsor(s): University of Texas Health Science Center- Houston, Consortium on Aging
Project Title: Assessment & Development of Aging Resources for Older Adults
Institution and Location: University of Texas Health Science Center- Houston, Consortium on Aging. 7000 Fannin, Houston, TX 77030. 26th Floor.
Project Description that addresses the larger research project as well as any portion on which the student(s) would focus. Please indicate how the student’s work would engage with the humanities or interpretive social sciences.
The Consortium on Aging (COA) and Southeast Texas Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (SETxGWEP) is seeking a student to assist with a systematic literature review and comprehensive needs assessment for resources to support aging in place. The student will work with expert geriatricians, gerontologists and support staff to conduct a literature review and develop a comprehensive needs assessment plan to determine the needs of older adults in Southeast Texas. The student will work with an advisory panel of older adults to review current resources and participate in qualitative data collection methods to develop an aging in place guide. The student will assist with dissemination of findings, including the marketing of the aging in place guide.
A list of possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project.
Training: NA
A short statement of what mentorship the student will receive, including frequency of meetings with PIs:
Project timeframe: 2 semesters.
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain, including any opportunities for presentations, publication, networking, etc.:
The student can expect to:
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 15 to begin work (i.e. badging, HIPAA training, background check, etc.)
Project Title: Ethical Legal Implications of Psychedelics in Society
Project Sponsor: Amy McGuire, JD, PhD
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy
Project Description:
Psychedelic medicines could profoundly and positively transform healthcare by providing breakthrough therapies to meet the growing mental health and suicide crisis among Veterans and civilians alike. Studies have found that psychedelic therapy improves the debilitating effects of various psychiatric conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder). In 2017 and 2019, the U.S. FDA designated psilocybin and MDMA “breakthrough therapies” for depression and PTSD, respectively, and Lykos Therapeutics just filed the first New Drug Application for MDMA with the FDA. Meanwhile, States are getting involved. From 2019-2022, 25 states considered 74 bills to either reform existing laws and/or conduct further research on psychedelics. Many believe we are in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance, and there is an urgent need to address ethical and legal issues related to psychedelic research and use.
The Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine has developed a new research program on Ethical Legal Implications of PSychedelics in Society (ELIPSIS). As part of this program, we will be conducting interviews with psychedelic clinical trialists (1) to understand their experiences interacting with their institutional review boards (IRBs) and (2) to explore their perspectives about the appropriate role of healthcare gatekeeping and physician readiness for FDA approval of psychedelic medicines.
Possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
Prerequisite skills or training:
Organized
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain: Qualitative research methods (including interview guide development and data analysis); data collection and management; presentation of findings in the form of a poster and oral power point presentation; networking with other bioethicists and diverse stakeholders involved in psychedelic research; possibility of participating as a co-author in a publication.
Mentorship: The student will be mentored by the PI and a postdoctoral associate in our research group. They will have weekly meetings with the postdoctoral associate and monthly meetings with the PI. The student will also participate in regular (weekly) project meetings with the entire project team.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
A list of steps the student(s) will need to complete by August 19 to begin work:
Project Sponsor(s): Aanand Naik, MD, Professor of Medicine and Public Health, UTHealth Houston Project
Title: Patient Priorities Care: Improving Clinical Outcomes in Primary Care
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine/Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center- Center for Innovation, Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt) – 2450 Holcombe Blvd., Suite 01Y, Houston, TX 77021
Project Description that addresses the larger research project as well as any portion on which the student(s) would focus. Please indicate how the student’s work would engage with the humanities or interpretive social sciences.
Patient Priorities Care (PPC) is a novel approach to caring for older adults with multiple chronic conditions. Heralded in 2018 as a “revolutionary change in health care delivery” by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (2018), Patient Priorities Care has become a standard of age-friendly care over the last several years in geriatric care settings. PPC deftly addresses the inherent complexity of patients with multiple chronic conditions without sacrificing quality of care. Publications over the last few years have demonstrated feasibility of implementation of the PPC approach.
The current research study is a randomized clinical trial evaluating the adaptation of the Patient Priorities Care approach to primary care settings. Students will participate as part of an interprofessional research team on various aspects of the clinical trial for the Patient Priorities Care approach in 2 VA primary care sites (Houston and West Haven, Connecticut).
A list of possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform with the appropriate training and supervision:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project.
A short statement of what mentorship the student will receive, including frequency of meetings with PIs.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain, including any opportunities for presentations, publication, networking, etc.:
Insight into how interprofessional research teams function, how healthcare research is developed, the day to day work of recruiting and implementing research trials into clinical workflows, stakeholder communication, branding and marketing of novel ideas, working with relational databases, knowledge of the evolution toward patient-centered care specifically in geriatrics/primary care disciplines, including pharmacy, social work, nursing, medicine, and community-based service, networking opportunities.
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 15 to begin work (i.e. badging, HIPAA training, background check, etc.):
CITI - https://www.citiprogram.org You may be required to self-register for a user ID and password. If you already have an account with CITI, please affiliate with the VA by choosing >Click here to affiliate with another institution (second drop down on Main Menu…middle of the page). Type in “Houston, TX-580” and follow the instructions to complete your affiliation.
TMS - VA TMS 2.0 You may need to create a user name and password. Please follow the instructions provided to self-register.
Project Sponsor(s): Audrey Mendez, PhD, Travis Croom
Project Title: Health Professions Education Evaluation Research Fellowship Program (HPEER)
Institution and Location: Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuEST). Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center 2450 Holcombe Blvd., Suite 01Y Houston, Texas 77021
Project Description that addresses the larger research project as well as any portion on which the student(s) would focus. Please indicate how the student’s work would engage with the humanities or interpretive social sciences:
HPEER is a national advanced fellowship funded by the Office of Academic Affiliations and the Department of Veterans Affairs to train leaders and educators in health professions education. HPEER seeks to develop experts who will lead the advancement of healthcare education. Located at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas, the HPEER Coordinating Center (CC) was recently instituted and is comprised of program directors, local and site core faculty, staff, and postdoctoral fellows. As a newly initiated program, a HHASS student will have the opportunity to make a significant and lasting contribution to the education and training of health professionals, like physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and psychologists, throughout the United States.
HPEER is in the first year of implementing the newly developed national curriculum and infrastructure for national coordination of the HPEER program. The CC is also responsible for process evaluation and the communication of developmental outcomes to relevant stakeholders. Future evaluative efforts will include program evaluation using quantitative (e.g. self-reported surveys/questionnaires) and qualitative methods (self-reported descriptive data) to measure needs assessment, end of year, and productivity surveys among all fellows. Groundwork is being laid to enable a robust and timely evaluation of the HPEER program in order to allow CC faculty and staff to make continuous and ongoing improvements throughout the life of the program. A HHASS student will not only learn about this health professions education program as it is being built but also be able to leave their stamp on its foundation.
In conjunction with the HHASS program, we aim to develop program deliverables including a process evaluation database, website design, operational support surveys, process manuscripts, as well as reports on all surveys and process tools. Trainees can work on special projects and scholarship opportunities as applicable. Over the course of the program, trainees will learn more about the day to day operations of running a large, national health professions training program and interacting with an engaging, dynamic, and interprofessional team. Trainees can expect to gain insight into an arm of medical research they may not be readily aware of and various ways health professionals can round out their careers with research, evaluation, or quality improvement.
For the 2023 – 2024 academic year, the selected HHASS student will be heavily involved in the formative evaluation of the new HPEER National Curriculum. Administered in three-weeks long modules, learners will be asked to complete evaluation surveys of each module rating and provide feedback on the content and presenters of said module. Alongside program staff, the HHASS student will be tasked with analyzing and formatting resultant data from module surveys so that it can be communicated to program faculty for review and inclusion in improvement efforts. This process will occur and repeat on a monthly basis. The selected HHASS student will more than likely be able to turn this work into a manuscript for possible publication.
A list of possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project:
Students with the following interests/experience in Health Education Curriculum, Program Evaluation, Program Operations, Communication and Marketing, Data Collection and Analysis and generating reports, might consider this project. Some basic familiarity with qualitative and quantitative methods would be helpful but is not required. Familiarity with databases (e.g., Excel, REDCap) is also a plus. Methodological training (e.g. data entry, analyzing limited qualitative data) will be provided. Experience in preparing abstracts, posters, and manuscripts is ideal. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, adaptable, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible, adaptable, and have excellent communication skills.
A short statement of what mentorship the student will receive, including frequency of meetings with PIs;
Students will meet with the projects sponsors a minimum of 1hour each week to discuss projects and progress. Trainees are invited to attend key all-staff and department specific meetings and encouraged to take advantage of any opportunities, to ask questions, and learn more about areas of health professions education, curriculum development, program evaluation, interprofessional health science practices, marketing and operations that are of particular interest to them.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain, including any opportunities for presentations, publication, networking, etc.:
Students can gain insight into working on a national fellowship program including the build-out of a national program, website design, developing conceptual models, data reports, summaries and analysis, developing marketing materials and dissemination, literature reviews, developing posters for national conferences, and manuscript preparation. Students will gain and/or build upon skills in curriculum design, website design, administrative support, evaluation methods and frameworks as well as working with an interprofessional team. Skills in quantitative data collection include administering surveys, data entry and management and report development. Students will also assist the HPEER team in preparing abstracts, presentations and/or manuscripts based on the data collected and analyzed.
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 15 to begin work (i.e. badging, HIPAA training, background check, etc.):
As part of your pending Rice HPEER Internship, you are required to have a WOC (without compensation) appointment with the Department of Veterans Affairs. We connect trainees with Ed Pomer to start the onboarding process which includes:
Two forms:
Three training certificates:
Project Sponsor(s): Daniel Mahoney, MD, and Amanda Ruth, MD
Project Title: Application of Medical Humanities in a Clinical Pediatric Setting
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital main campus
Project Description that addresses the larger research project as well as any portion on which the student(s) would focus. Please indicate how the student’s work would engage with the humanities or interpretive social sciences.
The student will be expected to pick a contained topic of interest within medical humanities, conduct independent (but guided) research and have a final product at the end of the curriculum (either submitted written piece or a presentation). Possible topics include, but are not limited to, incorporating humanities into an educational curriculum, ethical considerations in physician-patient interactions, the use of humanities in disseminating medical information.
A list of possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project:
A short statement of what mentorship the student will receive, including frequency of meetings with PIs:
Students can expect guidance on project conception, research, editing and polishing final product, including help with presentations should it be required. We meet weekly.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters.
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain, including any opportunities for presentations, publication, networking, etc.:
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 15 to begin work (i.e. badging, HIPAA training, background check, etc.):
Project Sponsor(s): Audrey Mendez, PhD; Jacky Shahin
Project Title: VA Quality Scholars Fellowship Program (VAQS)
Institution and Location: Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuEST). Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center 2450 Holcombe Blvd., Suite 01Y Houston, Texas 77021
Project Description that addresses the larger research project as well as any portion on which the student(s) would focus. Please indicate how the student’s work would engage with the humanities or interpretive social sciences:
VA Quality Scholars Coordinating Center (CC) is located at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas. The Coordinating Center is comprised of program directors, local and site core faculty, staff, and Health Professions Education Evaluation Research postdoctoral fellows. It is responsible for program implementation and assessment, developing and delivering a national, core curriculum, program operations and marketing, and fostering collaboration among the fellowship sites. VAQS fellowship program consists of 9 sites located around the United States and one site in Toronto. Potential trainees will have the opportunity to work in numerous components of the CC as described below.
Trainees can work on special projects and scholarship opportunities as applicable and based on interest. Over the course of the program, trainees will learn more about the day-to-day operations of running a national CC. Trainees are encouraged to take advantage of any opportunities, to ask questions, and learn more about areas of quality improvement, program evaluation, marketing and operations that are of particular interest to them.
VAQS conducts a rigorous program evaluation using quantitative (e.g. self-reported surveys/questionnaires and existing data) and qualitative methods (self-reported descriptive data) The trainee will have the opportunity to gain evaluation experience by collecting and analyzing critical data as well as developing and presenting reports on all surveys and assessment tools. This project will lead in the development of reports for key stakeholders and marketing purposes as well as potential publications.
Program operations includes developing marketing materials for the VAQS fellowship program, (i.e. monthly newsletter), as well as disseminating these materials to all fellows and faculty and key stakeholders. The trainee will work closely with key faculty and staff in developing innovative ways to market the VAQS program and enhance recruitment efforts among other marketing projects.
A list of possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
Quantitative and qualitative data analysis, creating and presenting reports, contributing to the development of abstracts and manuscripts for publication, co-editing the VAQS Newsletter, other tasks as desired.
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project:
Students with the following interests/experience in Program Evaluation, Program Operations, Communication and Marketing, Data Collection and Analysis and generating national reports, might consider this project. Some basic familiarity with qualitative and quantitative methods would be helpful but is not required. Familiarity with databases (e.g., Excel) is also a plus. Methodological training (e.g. data entry, analyzing limited qualitative data) will be provided. Experience in preparing abstracts, posters, and manuscripts is ideal. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, adaptable, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible, adaptable, and have excellent communication skills.
A short statement of what mentorship the student will receive, including frequency of meetings with PIs:
Students will work directly with the project sponsor and other team members who are affiliated with the student’s project. Trainee will meet with sponsor for a minimum of 1 hour each week to discuss project(s) and progress. Trainees are also welcomed to join our Coordinating Center meetings where they can receive feedback on any works-in-progress if desired.
Trainees are encouraged to take advantage of any opportunities, to ask questions, and learn more about areas of quality improvement, curriculum development, program evaluation, implementation science, marketing and operations that are of particular interest to them. Trainees will also be able to network and meet with other faculty and staff as needed/ desired.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain, including any opportunities for presentations, publication, networking, etc.:
Depending on area of interest, students can gain insight into working on a National fellowship program including multiple components of a large scale program evaluation, developing conceptual models, data reports, summaries and analysis, national conference development and planning, developing marketing materials and dissemination, literature reviews, developing posters for national conferences, and manuscript preparation. Students will gain and/or build upon skills in qualitative and quantitative methods to assist the evaluation team in better understanding the potential benefits of the fellowship education on key stakeholders. Skills in quantitative data collection include administering surveys, data entry and management and report development. Students will also have the opportunity to assist the VAQS evaluation team in preparing abstracts, presentations and/or manuscripts based on the data collected and analyzed.
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 15 to begin work (i.e. badging, HIPAA training, background check, etc.):
As part of your pending Rice HPEER Internship, you are required to have a WOC (without compensation) appointment with the Department of Veterans Affairs. We connect trainees with Ed Pomer to start the onboarding process which includes:
Two forms:
Three training certificates:
Project Sponsor(s): Nipa Kamdar, PhD, RN, FNP-BC (primary); Laura Witte, DrPH, MPH (secondary)
Project Title: Community Assessment of Veteran Housing in Houston, Texas
Institution and Location: Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, a joint lab shared between Baylor College of Medicine and U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research & Development
Project Description that addresses the larger research project as well as any portion on which the student(s) would focus. Please indicate how the student’s work would engage with the humanities or interpretive social sciences:
A list of possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project:
A short statement of what mentorship the student will receive, including frequency of meetings with PIs:
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain, including any opportunities for presentations, publication, networking, etc.:
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 15 to begin work (i.e., badging, HIPAA training, background check, etc.):
Because we will be using publicly available data, the student will not need to receive VA Without Compensation status (WOC). This reduces a number of potential barriers. We will inform our Center of Innovation administrator that we have a student on our team, which has been sufficient in the past.
Additional information:
Dr. Kamdar has worked with undergraduate and graduate students in the past and has successfully helped build their publication profile while also sharing research insights that they can carry forward in their careers. She has been adjunct faculty at UT Health Science Center Cizik School of Nursing since 2015 and enjoys working with students.
Dr. Kamdar is a researcher at the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety. Her research in food insecurity and related social needs builds on her experiences as a family nurse practitioner serving communities with low resources.
Dr. Witte is a post-doctoral fellow with expertise in community-based participatory research, GIS data analysis, and homelessness/housing.
Project Sponsor(s): Jennifer Blumenthal-Barby PhD, MA
Project Title: Ethics and Decision Making
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy
Project Description: Dr. Blumenthal-Barby is working on several projects related to medical decision making and ethics. The student(s) selected to work on this research team may participate in helping with any one or several of these projects depending on need and timing.
One project involves studying the use of a “decision aid” (DA) to help improve decision making about placement of a ventricular assist device (“LVAD”) among end stage heart failure patients. We developed a DA (www.lvaddecisionaid.com) and conducted a randomized trial of the DA vs. standard education and found that the DA improved patient knowledge and that both patients and clinicians viewed the DA favorably and we then worked with 10 sites to integrate it into their regular clinical flow. For the current project, we are studying the integration of a web-based “personalized risk calculator” that uses artificial intelligence/machine learning to predict individual patient outcomes, as well as the integration of a “personalized values clarification exercise.” The student could assist with various aspects of this project, which may include literature reviews and summaries, assistance in data presentation (e.g., tables, figures), assistance with tracking activities, assistance with coding and analyzing interviews, collaborative paper writing, and development of web-based resources and activities. The student would attend weekly research team meetings.
A second project involves a “Philosophical Bioethics Network/Hub,” which is an active web platform for resources and content in philosophical bioethics. This is a collaborative effort with other leading Centers in philosophical bioethics. There may be opportunity for student involvement here. www.philosophicalbioethics.com
A list of possible tasks the student would be expected to perform:
In addition to the tasks described in the project descriptions above, the student must devote 8 hours per week to the project and will develop a timeline of activities in collaboration with supervisor(s). The student will meet at least monthly (probably bi-weekly) with the faculty supervisor(s) to evaluate progress. The student will attend relevant research team meetings as requested (may occur weekly depending on project).
Prerequisite training:
Interests and/or coursework related to the above topics will be prioritized. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, adaptable, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible and adaptable (some research tasks are more fun than others, and these projects involves a mix of research streams), and have excellent writing skills.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain:
Insight into how research teams function, how research ideas are generated and executed, the day to day work of research and translation of research results into practice, searching and summarizing literature, knowledge about medical decision making/psychology/ethics, potentially experience analyzing and coding qualitative data, networking opportunities.
Project Title: Religion, Spirituality, and Medicine: A Survey of Beliefs and Practices
Project Description:
Spirituality and medicine have a longstanding, and complex, history. In many ancient cultures, the distinctions between medicine, religion, and magic were blurred; today, there seems to be more clarity about how spiritual and secular understandings of health, illness, and death diverge. But even if clinical and research medicine have done away with Divine causes of illness and wellness, spirituality and religion still play a role in the decisions patients make. Approximately 80% of Americans identify themselves as belonging to a religious tradition. And, since patients often incorporate their spiritual values into their medical decisions, a good understanding of the beliefs and practices of religious traditions is becoming important for competent medical care, research, and policy. This project involves assisting the creations of an expansive analysis (in the form of a table) of the interactions between medicine and religion. This would include identifying and synthesizing relevant information, for example, a book chapter or article on the beliefs of Sunni Muslims about end-of-life care. The student would then subdivide the domain (“end of life beliefs and practices”) into a number of topics, such as, “perspectives on pain management,” “advance care planning documentation,” “determination of death” and other essential areas. The project has gone into detail on American Judaism and a bit on Sunni Islam and Catholic beliefs. The student will likely concentrate on a different religious tradition but can, likely, concentrate where they are most interested. At this time, the project may develop into a pamphlet, website, or mobile application depending on procuring funding and the Primary Investigator’s other projects. Depending on the speed of development, the HHAS Scholar may also assist with creating a grant proposal, but it is unlikely the project will develop into a finished project within the year of the Scholar’s involvement, so their involvement would be primarily on the research side with some writing compositions possible.
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
Prerequisite training: Students with college-level research skills and ability to analyze religious and theological texts would be able to perform the tasks. The Scholar should also have clear written communication skills. The Scholar should be organized, detail-oriented, self-starting, punctual, and flexible on their weekly tasks. Students with an interest in religion, history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, communication, or medicine are likely to find the research especially rewarding, but any student interested in the interaction of religion and medicine with college-level research and reading skills would likely fit well.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: The Scholar will likely gain a great deal of knowledge about at least one religions tradition’s perspectives on numerous areas of medicine. The student is expected to have good research skills, but they will also improve these skills by identifying important texts, scholarly articles, and books, reading these resources, and then synthesizing their salient features for the project.
Project Description:
An opening statement that recognizes the prior occupants of a place, especially Indigenous peoples, is increasingly common at events in bioethics and other fields. While the motivation behind “land acknowledgements” is often articulated as a show of respect, such acknowledgements have been criticized as empty virtue signaling and may reflect no more work than consulting an app. This project would explore the history and ethical considerations relevant to a land acknowledgement for the Texas Medical Center (including Baylor College of Medicine). What tribes resided here, and what happened to them? In the more recent history of this place, were any communities wrongfully displaced? What are the ethical implications of the history of the land for the present? In sum, can a careful historical and ethical analysis lead to a land acknowledgement that is meaningful and addresses the concerns of land acknowledgement critics? Outputs would include a land acknowledgment for use by individuals affiliated with Texas Medical Center institutions, a related submission to the annual meeting of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities, and a manuscript describing the results of the research and analysis in the form of a commentary.
Institution and Location: Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine; also the McGovern Historical Center at the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library (Sandra Yates, the head librarian at the McGovern Center, has agreed to help with the historical research).
Project timeframe (2 semesters is standard, 1 semester options also): 2 semesters
Prerequisite training: Some background in history/historical research methods would be valuable but not required.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: Historical research with primary sources, ethical analysis.
Project Title: Ethics and Decision Making
Project Description: Dr. Blumenthal-Barby is working on several projects related to medical decision making and ethics. The student(s) selected to work on this research team may participate in helping with any one or several of these projects depending on need and timing.
One project involves studying the use of a “decision aid” (DA) to help improve decision making about placement of a ventricular assist device (“LVAD”) among end stage heart failure patients. We developed a DA (www.lvaddecisionaid.com) and conducted a randomized trial of the DA vs. standard education and found that the DA improved patient knowledge and that both patients and clinicians viewed the DA favorably and we then worked with 10 sites to integrate it into their regular clinical flow. For the current project, we are studying the integration of a web-based “personalized risk calculator” that uses artificial intelligence/machine learning to predict individual patient outcomes, as well as the integration of a “personalized values clarification exercise.” The student could assist with various aspects of this project, which may include literature reviews and summaries, assistance in data presentation (e.g., tables, figures), assistance with tracking activities, assistance with coding and analyzing interviews, collaborative paper writing, and development of web-based resources and activities. The student would attend weekly research team meetings.
A second project involves studying ethics and decision-making related to pediatric deep brain stimulation for dystonia and OCD. We interviewed stakeholders (parents, clinicians) and are in the process of developing a decision aid to guide this difficult decision. The student could assist in various related research tasks such as literature reviews and summaries, coding interviews, collaborative paper writing, and assisting in decision aid development. There is also the opportunity for exploration of a related topic: the ethics of first-in human neuro-device trials. The student would also attend weekly research team meetings.
Finally, Dr. Blumemthal-Barby is developing a “Philosophical Bioethics Network/Hub,” which will be an active web platform for resources and content in philosophical bioethics. This is a collaborative effort with other leading Centers in philosophical bioethics. There may be opportunity for student involvement here.
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy
Prerequisite training: Interests and/or coursework related to the above topics will be prioritized. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, adaptable, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible and adaptable (some research tasks are more fun than others, and these projects involves a mix of research streams), and have excellent writing skills.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: Insight into how research teams function, how research ideas are generated and executed, the day to day work of research and translation of research results into practice, searching and summarizing literature, knowledge about medical decision making/psychology/ethics, potentially experience analyzing and coding qualitative data, networking opportunities.
Project Description:
Dr. Ruth and Dr. Mahoney are working on several educational initiatives with pediatric residency and fellowship trainees involving the use of narrative medicine. Narrative medicine practice confers a skill set to clinicians that strengthens their ability to recognize, absorb, interpret, and be moved by the stories of their patients. This skill set has been shown to improve clinician resiliency in the face of burnout, increase clinician empathy, and improve attention to nonverbal cues.
Ongoing projects include:
1. BCM Pediatrics residency Leadership, Advocacy and Development (LEAD) track narrative medicine curriculum for advocacy and resilience
2. BCM Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship narrative medicine curriculum for increasing empathy in clinical practice
3. BCM Pediatric Scientist Training and Development Program narrative medicine curriculum for professional identity formation
Students will be asked to contribute to a variety of tasks involved in translating educational activities into research projects. These may include literature reviews, contributing to drafting of IRB research proposals, participation in consenting and enrolling individuals in IRB-approved projects, and (when applicable based on training and expertise) contribute to qualitative data analysis.
Institution and Location:
Texas Children’s Hospital
6621 Fannin St, W1990
Houston, TX 77030
Prerequisite training: Students with a focus in medical humanities, pre-medical studies, adult education, or scientific writing/health communication would likely find this opportunity beneficial and interesting. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, self-motivated, adaptable, professional, and have strong writing skills.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: Students will learn about the practice of narrative medicine, the process of ongoing medical education, translation of educational activities into academic scholarship, searching and summarizing both peer-reviewed medical literature and humanities literature, and potentially experience analyzing and coding qualitative data.
Project Description:
HPEER is a national advanced fellowship funded by the Office of Academic Affiliations and the Department of Veterans Affairs to train leaders and educators in health professions education. Located at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas, the HPEER Coordinating Center (CC) was recently instituted and is comprised of program directors, local and site core faculty, staff, and postdoctoral fellows. A HHASS student will have the opportunity to make a significant and lasting contribution to the education and training of health professionals, like physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and psychologists, throughout the United States.
In conjunction with the HHASS program, we aim to develop a process evaluation database, website design, operational support surveys, process manuscripts, as well as reports on all surveys and process tools. Students can work on special projects and scholarship opportunities as applicable. Over the course of the program, they will learn more about the day to day operations of running a large, national health professions training program and interacting with an engaging, dynamic, and interprofessional team. They are invited to attend key all-staff and department specific meetings and encouraged to take advantage of any opportunities, to ask questions, and learn more about areas of health professions education, curriculum development, program evaluation, interprofessional health science practices, marketing and operations that are of particular interest to them.
Institution and Location:
Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuEST)
Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center 2450 Holcombe Blvd., Suite 01Y Houston, Texas 77021
Prerequisite training: Students with the following interests/experience in Health Education Curriculum, Program Evaluation, Program Operations, Communication and Marketing, Data Collection and Analysis and generating reports, might consider this project. Some basic familiarity with qualitative and quantitative methods would be helpful but is not required. Familiarity with databases (e.g., Excel, REDCap) is also a plus. Methodological training (e.g. data entry, analyzing limited qualitative data) will be provided. Experience in preparing abstracts, posters, and manuscripts is ideal. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, adaptable, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible, adaptable, and have excellent communication skills.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: Students can gain insight into working on a national fellowship program including the buildout of a national program, website design, developing conceptual models, data reports, summaries and analysis, developing marketing materials and dissemination, literature reviews, developing posters for national conferences, and manuscript preparation. Students will gain and/or build upon skills in curriculum design, website design, administrative support, evaluation methods and frameworks as well as working with an interprofessional team. Skills in quantitative data collection include administering surveys, data entry and management and report development. Students will also assist the HPEER team in preparing abstracts, presentations and/or manuscripts based on the data collected and analyzed.
Project Description:
VA Quality Scholars Coordinating Center (CC) is located at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas. The Coordinating Center is responsible for program implementation and assessment, developing and delivering a national, core curriculum, program operations and marketing, and fostering collaboration among the fellowship sites.
Students can work on special projects and scholarship opportunities as applicable and based on interest. Over the course of the program, they will learn more about the day to day operations of running a national CC. They are encouraged to take advantage of any opportunities, to ask questions, and learn more about areas of quality improvement, program evaluation, marketing and operations that are of particular interest to them.
VAQS conducts a rigorous program evaluation using quantitative (e.g. self-reported surveys/questionnaires and existing data) and qualitative methods (self-reported descriptive data) Students will have the opportunity to gain evaluation experience by collecting and analyzing critical data as well as developing and presenting reports on all surveys and assessment tools. This project will lead in the development of reports for key stakeholders and marketing purposes as well as potential publications.
Institution and Location:
Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuEST)
Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center 2450 Holcombe Blvd., Suite 01Y Houston, Texas 77021
Prerequisite training: Students with the following interests/experience in Program Evaluation, Program Operations, Communication and Marketing, Data Collection and Analysis and generating national reports, might consider this project. Some basic familiarity with qualitative and quantitative methods would be helpful but is not required. Familiarity with databases (e.g., Excel) is also a plus. Methodological training (e.g. data entry, analyzing limited qualitative data) will be provided. Experience in preparing abstracts, posters, and manuscripts is ideal. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, adaptable, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible, adaptable, and have excellent communication skills.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: Depending on area of interest, students can gain insight into working on a national fellowship program including multiple components of a large scale program evaluation, developing conceptual models, data reports, summaries and analysis, national conference development and planning, developing marketing materials and dissemination, literature reviews, developing posters for national conferences, and manuscript preparation. Students will gain and/or build upon skills in qualitative and quantitative methods to assist the evaluation team in better understanding the potential benefits of the fellowship education on key stakeholders. Skills in quantitative data collection include administering surveys, data entry and management and report development. Students will also have the opportunity to assist the VAQS evaluation team in preparing abstracts, presentations and/or manuscripts based on the data collected and analyzed.
Project Description:
We are looking at the demographic breakdown by race and ethnicity of consults to the Ethics Committee at Texas Children’s Hospital that are related to withholding life sustaining therapy, and comparing them to the overall demographics of admissions to TCH. The hypothesis is that non-white and Hispanic patients are referred to the ethics committee more frequently. This builds off of a prior study of all consults made to the committee.
Institution and Location:
Texas Children’s Hospital
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: statistical analysis, manuscript preparation, introduction to ethics
The Veterans Administration (VA) has a strong commitment to improving Veterans’ mental health while supporting mental health clinicians. The South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers (SC MIRECC) focuses on promoting equity in engagement, access, and quality of mental health care for Veterans facing barriers to care, especially rural and underserved Veterans. The SC MIRECC’s mission works synergistically with the VA’s commitment to improve mental health care by developing and disseminating evidence based educational material, tools and interventions that focus on improving mental health care.
The interprofessional education team has members from Psychiatry and Social Health Psychology. The student would be involved in the development of educational materials along with their dissemination and evaluation. There are ample opportunities for students to write mentored manuscripts and poster presentations. Students can learn more about the educational efforts of the SC MIRECC by visiting the site, http://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn16/education.asp
Institution and Location:
Houston Center for Innovations in Quality, Safety, and Effectiveness (IQuEST)
2450 Holcombe Blvd,
Houston, Texas 77021
Prerequisite training:
There are no formal prerequisites; this project is open to every Rice student beyond their first year of studies. Preference will be given to students who have an interest in mental health, education, evaluation, and dissemination, are team and detail oriented, and write well. Health science, education, psychology, and communication students are especially encouraged to apply.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain:
This project presents an opportunity to advance the student’s skills with creation of educational materials, dissemination, evaluation, and scholarly writing. Students will also be exposed to the current mental health research.
