Sponsored by: The National Institute on Aging, The John A. Hartford Foundation, The Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York, and the Lillian R. Gleitsman Foundation.

Administered by: The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

Before you complete the application, we recommend that you view a sample application first. Once you are ready to complete the application on-line, click here.

A PDF of the MSTAR program brochure can be downloaded here.

What is the MSTAR Program?
The 2009 MSTAR Program provides medical students, early in their training, with an enriching experience in aging-related research and geriatrics, under the mentorship of top experts in the field. This program introduces students to research and academic experiences that they might not otherwise have during medical school. This positive introduction has led many physicians-in-training to pursue academic careers in aging, ranging from basic science to clinical research to health services research. They have joined the growing cadre of physicians and scientists whose specialized knowledge and skills are in great demand as our population ages.

The 2009 program continues and strengthens the original Hartford/AFAR Medical Student Geriatric Scholars Program, established in 1994, which to date trained 1220 students from more than 100 medical schools.

How is the program structured?
Students participate in an eight- to twelve-week structured research, clinical, and didactic program in geriatrics, appropriate to their level of training and interests. Students may train at a National Training Center supported by the National Institute on Aging or, for a limited number of medical schools, at their own institution. Click here for a complete listing of the participating institutions.

Research projects are offered in basic, clinical, or health services research relevant to older people. Most scholars will do their training and research during the summer months. They will receive a travel stipend to present a poster at the Annual Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society in Orlando, Florida, May 12 - 15, 2010, and participate in a roundtable luncheon discussion with research mentors, developed for participants in this program.

Who can apply?
Any allopathic or osteopathic medical student in good standing, who will have successfully completed one year of medical school at a U.S. institution by June 2009. Evidence of such likelihood must be provided at the time of application.

Applicants must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States, or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., in possession of a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or some other legal verification of such status.) Individuals on temporary or student visas and individuals holding PhD, MD, DVM, or equivalent doctoral degrees in the health sciences are not eligible.

The NIA and other sponsoring organizations have a strong interest in continuing to diversify the research workforce committed to advancing the fields of aging and geriatric research. Therefore, students who are members of ethnic or racial groups underrepresented in these fields, students with disabilities, or students whose background and experience are likely to diversify the research or medical questions being addressed, are encouraged to apply.

Where is the training program held?

Applicants will compete for up to 120 scholarships to be conducted at NIA-funded National Training Centers, Partner Sites or at their home institution if they attend one of the schools listed below.

All National Training Centers offer excellent facilities, diverse research programs and provide the opportunity to interact with other students participating in the program. The National Training Centers are:

• David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles - 18 positions (includes positions at the University of California, San Francisco and University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center)
• Harvard Medical School - 7 positions
• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine - 16 positions
• University of California, San Diego School of Medicine - 18 positions
• University of Hawaii School of Medicine - 5 positions
• University of Michigan School of Medicine - 18 positions (includes positions at Wayne State University School of Medicine)
• University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine - 18 positions (includes positions at University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio)

Click on a Training Center for some illustrative aging-related opportunities (will be updated as they are received from the Training Center.)

• University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston - University of Pittsburgh Partner Site - 4 positions
• University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - University of Pittsburgh Partner Site - 6 positions

Only students already enrolled at these institutions can apply for these scholarships:

• University of California, San Francisco - UCLA Partner Site - 3 positions
• University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center - UCLA Partner Site - 3 positions
• University of Mississippi/Jackson Heart Study - Harvard Partner Site - 3 positions
• Wayne State University School of Medicine - University of Michigan Partner Site - no fixed number of positions

Students whose applications are accepted will be notified of their Training Center assignment prior to their acceptance of the award. Once selected, students, in collaboration with Training Site Directors and Research Mentors, design individualized training programs. Please note that we will make every effort to place students at their institution of choice, however, this cannot be guaranteed.

Students can also participate in the program at their home institution if they attend one of the following schools. These schools have participated in The John A. Hartford Foundation's Centers of Excellence in Geriatrics Initiative or are recipients of a Donald W. Reynolds Foundation grant to enhance geriatrics education, and, therefore, have an identified geriatrics program. You may e-mail Center Directors directly for more information on the program at your campus:

• Albert Einstein College of Medicine - Laurie Jacobs
• Baylor College of Medicine - Anita Woods
• Boston University Medical Center - Rebecca A. Silliman
• Brown Medical School - Richard Besdine
• Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine - Jerome Kowal
• David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles - Alison Moore or Lillian Min
• Duke University School of Medicine - Mitchell Heflin
• Emory University School of Medicine - Carol Reis-Starr
• Harvard Medical School - Jim Rudolph
• Indiana University School of Medicine - Douglas Miller or Glenda Westmoreland
• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine - Dottie Becraft
• Medical College of Wisconsin - Penny Romasko
• Mount Sinai School of Medicine - Rainier Soriano
• Stanford University School of Medicine - Mary Goldstein or Elaine Bao
• State University of New York at Buffalo - Bruce Naughton
• St. Louis University Medical School - John E. Morley or Julie Gammack or Sue Brooks
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center - Andrew Dentino
• University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical School - Patricia Goode or Richard M. Allman
• University of Arizona College of Medicine - Mindy Fain
• University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - William Evans or Jeanne Wei
• University of California, San Diego - Dilip Jeste or Jennifer Reichstadt
• University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine (UCLA Partner Site) - Ken Covinsky or Michael Harper
• University of Chicago - William Dale
• University of Cincinnati - Gordon Margolin
• University of Colorado Health Science Center (UCLA Partner Site)- Eric Coleman
• University of Connecticut Health Science Center - George Kuchel
• University of Hawaii School of Medicine - Kamal Masaki
• University of Iowa - Lori Benz
• University of Kansas School of Medicine - Dan Swagerty
• University of Miami Miller School of Medicine - Michael J. Mintzer
• University of Michigan School of Medicine - Jeffrey Halter
• University of Mississippi (Harvard Partner Site)- Jim Rudolph
• University of Missouri - Columbia, MO - Erik Lindbloom
• University of Nebraska - Brenda Keller
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Ellen Roberts or Jan Busby-Whitehead
• University of Oklahoma School of Medicine - Thomas Teasdale
• University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine - Jerry Johnson
• University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine - Stephanie Studenski
• University of Rochester School of Medicine - William Hall
• University of South Carolina - Columbia, SC - Victor Hirth
• University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (University of Pittsburgh Partner Site) - Tony DiNuzzo
• University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (University of Pittsburgh Partner Site) - Sandra Sanchez-Reilly
• University of Utah School of Medicine - Mark Supiano
• University of Washington School of Medicine - Itamar B. Abrass
• University of Wisconsin, Madison - Sanjay Asthana
• Virginia Commonwealth University - Peter Boling
• Wake Forest University School of Medicine - Jeff Williamson
• Wayne State University School of Medicine (University of Michigan Partner Site)- Robert Frank
• Weill Medical College of Cornell University - Veronica LoFaso or Carol Capello
• Yale University School of Medicine - Lisa Walke

What is the amount of the scholarship award?
The stipend level is approximately $1,731 per month. Actual amounts will vary based on the specific appointment period of individual students. The length of research time is determined by the student in consultation with the research mentor, but a minimum of 8 weeks of time is required and up to 12 weeks of funding is available. Students who elect to participate in the scholarship program at a National Training Center must cover their own travel and living expenses. In some cases, National Training Centers may have funds to assist students with these costs.

If you are receiving a stipend or salary support from a federal source then you are not eligible for this program. You may not hold another award, or participate in another program, concurrently with the MSTAR program. Full time participation in the MSTAR program is expected for 8 - 12 weeks.

Is a sponsor required to apply?
Yes. All applicants must secure a Faculty Sponsor from their home institution. The sponsor should be a faculty member whose work is relevant to geriatrics and/or gerontology. In addition to supporting a student's application, the sponsor will act as an advisor to the student in academic geriatric career development.

If the student participates in the program at their home institution (one of the schools listed above), this sponsor may also serve as the student's research mentor, or the sponsor will assign a research mentor. If the student travels to a National Training Center the Center will assign a research mentor to the student. For recommendations of faculty who can serve as a sponsor at your medical school, please contact your Dean's office, or call the AFAR staff at 212-703-9977.

What are the selection criteria?
Scholars will be chosen on the basis of their academic excellence, interest in geriatrics, and potential for success.

What is the application procedure?
Applications must be submitted online. Before you complete the application, we recommend that you view a sample application first. Once you are ready to complete the application on-line, click here. The application must be completed by the student applying for the scholarship. The application consists of background information and a personal statement submitted by the student. The application must also include a letter of recommendation from an undergraduate or medical school faculty member familiar with the candidate, and a statement from the medical school certifying that the student will have completed one year of medical study by June 2009, and is currently enrolled and in good standing. The application must also include the Faculty Sponsor plan and NIH-style biographical sketch. The recommendation letter, medical school enrollment certification letter, and faculty sponsor plan and bio are all submitted on-line.

What are the application and notification deadlines
All applications must be received by February 6, 2009. We are currently estimating that applicants will be notified by March 31, 2009 and that National Training Center placements will be finalized by April 30, 2009.

What are the reporting requirements?
Scholarship winners will be required to complete a brief program evaluation form, due immediately upon completion of the program. A journal-style paper is due within three months after completing the program. Students will also present a poster of their research project at the 2010 American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Annual Meeting, in Orlando, Florida. For suggestions on how to prepare a poster for the AGS meeting, please click here.

The student research mentors will be required to provide evaluations of the student's performance, as well as their impressions of the program's impact on the student.

Former students will also be expected to respond to AFAR's longitudinal survey requests to be used in evaluating the effectiveness of the overall program.

To access the on-line application click here.

Medical Student Program Newsletters can be accessed here.

Listing of all AFAR Award Recipients.

Back to the List of Grants and Applications