Visiting Scholars Program to enhance career development among early-career KL2 investigators in Clinical and Translational Science: Implications from a quality improvement assessment

Abstract

CTSI Career Development Award (KL2) programs provide junior faculty with protected time and multidisciplinary, mentored research training in clinical and translational science research. The KL2 Visiting Scholars Program was developed to promote collaborative cross-CTSA training, leverage academic strengths at host CTSAs, and support the career development of participating scholars through experiential training and the development of new partnerships. This manuscript provides a detailed programmatic description and reports outcomes from post-visit and outcomes surveys. Since 2016, 12 scholars have completed the program, with 6 scheduled to complete it in 2021. Post-visit surveys (n = 12) indicate all scholars reported the program valuable to career development, 11 reported benefit for research development, and 11 expansion of collaborative networks. Outcomes surveys (n = 11) revealed subsequent scholar interaction with host institution faculty for 10 scholars, 2 collaborative grant submissions (1 funded), 2 planned grant submissions, 1 published collaborative manuscript, and 3 planned manuscript/abstract submissions. The Visiting Scholars Program is a cost- and time-efficient program that leverages the academic strengths of CTSAs. The program enhanced KL2 scholar training by expanding their professional portfolio, promoting research development, and expanding collaborative networks. Resources to support the program are shared in this report to expedite the development of similar programs at regional and national levels.

KL2 scholars’ perceptions of factors contributing to sustained translational science career success

“…As examples, CTSA programs have historically emphasized team science and many hubs offer specific training in team science. More recently, KL2 programs have instituted efforts to stimulate cross-hub collaborations through a visiting scholars program [12]. The impact of these and other deliberate efforts to stimulate mentoring and collaborations should be assessed.…”

The Virtual CTSA Visiting Scholar Program to Support Early-Stage Clinical and Translational Researchers: Implementation and Outcomes

“…In May 2020, we formed the CTSA Visiting Professorship Working Group and designed the core elements of the Visiting Scholar Program, informed by members of the group who had prior experience implementing similar in-person programs. 10 These core elements were to:…”

“…Regional CTSA hubs previously established successful in-person KL2 visiting scholar exchange programs to promote cross-institutional training and collaborations and to provide KL2 scholars with opportunities to present their research and expand their professional networks. 10 With the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated travel ban and financial constraints, these in-person programs were postponed or transitioned to virtual formats. A survey administered to KL2 scholars at the beginning of the pandemic identified the cancellation of scientific meetings, lack of opportunity to present their research, and lack of networking opportunities as major concerns.…”

“…3 A potential solution to address these challenges was to adapt existing regional, in-person KL2 visiting scholar exchange programs by taking advantage of the growing virtual meeting environment that emerged early in the pandemic. 10 With the rapid uptake of virtual platforms for lectures and grand rounds, 1,11 it has become common practice to conduct "visiting" professorships, grand rounds presentations, and nearly all other kinds of meetings using a virtual format. 12 We surmised that visiting other hubs, even via a virtual visit, could help scholars build networks and lead to resumed exchange of ideas, beneficial to the individual researcher and also the CTSA community at large.…”