A unique collaboration launched four years ago between CTSI and Durham Technical Community College continues to thrive and recently welcomed the latest cohort of the Clinical Research Equity Scholars Program.
The two-semester program provides Durham Tech students the opportunity to contribute to the development of innovative strategies for improving equitable practices in clinical research. Scholars receive a stipend and are matched with a Duke mentor and affiliate CTSI faculty member on a clinical research project.
“We are thrilled to continue this partnership with Durham Tech and provide scholars with special training activities and hands-on experience working with clinical research teams,” said Amanda McMillan, MPH, MA, co-director for CTSI’s Workforce Development Pillar. “Through the program, scholars also learn to address disparities in clinical research by engaging with communities that are underrepresented in studies and clinical trials, helping to make research accessible to everyone.”
Nadine Barrett, PhD, former director of the CTSI Center for Equity in Research, partnered with Sharleen Traynor, PhD, at Durham Tech to create the program.
The three students in this year’s cohort are:
Michelle Ko
A second-year clinical research student at Durham Tech, Ko has a background in art and design. Passionate about addressing health disparities, Ko is eager to collaborate with others in the clinical research field to improve health outcomes for underserved populations.
“Through my participation in the Clinical Research Equity Scholars Program, I’m honing the skills needed to promote health equity, particularly for women and other underrepresented groups,” she said.
Ko will complete her equity scholar internship with the OneDukeGen Medicine Study under the guidance of Svati H. Shah, MD, MHS, director of the Center for Precision Health within CTSI.
Mackenna Moore
Moore has a Bachelor of Science in applied sociology and has worked as a chemist for four years. She enrolled at Durham Tech to make the career change from laboratory science to clinical research.
“I aspire to make meaningful and positive contributions to improving overall public health. I know I still have a lot to learn, but I’m hoping my experience in this program will help me bridge the gap a bit,” Moore said. “I’m really excited to be part of this program and learn more about how to address disparities in clinical research.”
She will complete her equity scholar internship under the guidance of CTSI Chief Health Equity Officer Kimberly S. Johnson, MD, at the Duke Aging Center, a part of the Duke-UNC Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.
Joab Odera
Odera is studying clinical trial data management at Durham Tech. He has several years of experience in health disparities cancer research, with a doctorate in integrated biosciences from North Carolina Central University and postdoctoral research experience at Duke. He also has a certificate in applied data science from MIT.
“Since high school, I have had a great interest in translational research. My research experiences up to this point have been preclinical,” Odera said. “Through this program, I will have the opportunity to observe clinical research in the field and utilize the skills I’ve gained at Durham Tech and from my previous experience to improve health care in a clinical setting.”
Odera will complete his equity scholar internship with Opeyemi Olabisi, MD, PhD, a Duke nephrologist who serves on the leadership team for the CTSI Center for Precision Health.