BUILD EXITO: A Successful Biomedical Research Pathway in Higher Education

Conference: The European Conference on Education (ECE2022)
Title: BUILD EXITO: A Successful Biomedical Research Pathway in Higher Education
Stream: Higher Education
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Authors:
Carlos Crespo, Portland State University, United States
Thomas Keller, Portland State University, United States
Cynthia Morris, Oregon Health and Science University, United States
Jennifer Lindwall, Portland State University, United States
Mathew Honore, Oregon Health and Science University, United States
Andrea Hildebrand, Oregon Health and Science University, united_states

Abstract:

Lack of diversity in the US biomedical workforce likely contributes to health disparities by race and ethnicity. The BUILD EXITO program was created as a multidimensional training program for disadvantaged and minoritized undergraduate students to support entry into the biomedical research workforce. Researchers examined short-term outcomes of this program disaggregated by race and ethnicity and career outcomes of undergraduate students who entered BUILD EXITO between 2015 and 2018. All students were tracked for program completion or withdrawal, and program alumni were followed annually to determine entry into advanced degree programs or employment in the biomedical workforce. BUILD EXITO program alumni were successful in entering the biomedical workforce, with 61 (53.5%) of employed alumni being employed in the biomedical research workforce and 28 (24.6%) in health care within one to four years after program completion. In addition, 67 (34.4%) were accepted or enrolled in an advanced degree program. Underrepresented racial minority alumni were more likely to be employed in the biomedical workforce (OR=1.35, 95% CI: 0.67-2.76) and less likely to be in an advanced degree program compared to whites (OR=0.53, 95% CI: 0.25-1.12) after adjustment for other factors. A similar pattern held for Asian-American alumni for biomedical workforce employment (OR=1.47; 95% CI: 0.63-3.50) and enrollment in an advanced degree program (OR=0.51, 95% CI: 0.20-1.28). However, the outcomes did not differ statistically by race and ethnicity groups in any models. The BUILD EXITO program successfully supports disadvantaged and minoritized undergraduate students to enter into graduate programs and employment in research.

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