To encourage medical students - particularly budding researchers - to consider a career in academic geriatrics, this program awards short-term scholarships. AFAR has partnered with the NIA and several foundations to continue and strengthen the original Hartford/AFAR Medical Student Geriatric Scholars Program.

Watch a short video about the MSTAR Program

Read about an MSTAR Scholar's experience

 

Download a copy of our 2012 MSTAR brochure to learn more about this program. A hard copy of the brochure may be requested by emailing your address to

What is the MSTAR Program?

The 2012 MSTAR Program provides medical students 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 early in their training that they might not otherwise have during medical school. Positive experiences in the MSTAR program have 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 2012 program continues and strengthens the original Hartford/AFAR Medical Student Geriatric Scholars Program, established in 1994, which to date has trained 1599 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 students, 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 be invited to present a poster at the Annual Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society in Grapevine, Texas, May 2-5, 2013, and participate in a roundtable discussion with prominent aging and geriatrics research scholars.

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 2012. Evidence of such likelihood must be provided when the student is notified of receiving the award.

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 are not eligible.  Due to NIA restrictions, individuals holding PhD, MD, DVM, or equivalent doctoral degrees in the health sciences are not eligible to apply to do the MSTAR Program at a National Training Site; however, they may apply to do their research at their home institution if it is a Participating School.

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.

Additionally, applicants receiving a stipend or salary support from a federal source are not eligible for this program. Applicants may not hold another award or participate in another program concurrently with the MSTAR program, and must participate in the program full-time for a minimum of 8 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks.

Where is the training program held?

Applicants will compete for up to 130 scholarships, and may conduct their research projects either at an NIA-funded National Training Center (or a Center's Partner Site) or at a Participating School if it is their home institution. The program may not be conducted at a medical school that does not belong to either category.

 

National Training Centers

All National Training Centers offer excellent facilities, diverse research programs, and provide the opportunity to interact with other students participating in the program. Click on each institution's heading for more information about their MSTAR program.

Harvard Medical School

Program Director: Jim Rudolph (students interested in training at Harvard are strongly encouraged to contact Dr. Rudolph prior to submitting their application)
Available positions: 10
Partner sites:

• Boston University
• University of Mississippi 

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Program Director: Jeremy Barron or Carolyn Robinson
Available positions: 18
(Please note: The program duration at Johns Hopkins is 8 weeks.)

University of California, Los Angeles - David Geffen School of Medicine

Program Directors: Jonathan Wanagat and Alison Moore
Positions: 16
The UCLA Training Center includes positions at the partner sites below; students interested in training at the partner sites must contact the respective program director prior to submitting their application.

• University of California, San Francisco, program director Mike Steinman (3 to 6 positions)
• University of Colorado at Denver, program director Eric Coleman  (3 positions)
• University of Washington, program director May Reed  (3 to 5 positions)

University of California, San Diego School of Medicine

Program Directors: Dilip Jeste, Maureen Curran, and Michelle Black
Available positions: 18

University of North Carolina

Program Directors: Ellen Roberts and Jan Busby-Whitehead
Available positions: 8

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio & University of Texas Medical Branch

Program Directors: Sandra Sanchez-Reilly (UTHSCSA) and Tony DiNuzzo (UTMB)
Available positions:16 positions
(Please note: The program duration at UTHSCSA and UTMB is 8 weeks.)

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.

 

Participating Schools

Students can also participate in the program at their home institution if they attend one of the Participating Schools. These schools participate 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.

Participating School			Center Director
Albert Einstein College of Medicine			Amy Ehrlich
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			Elizabeth O'Toole
Duke University School of Medicine			Mitchell Heflin
Emory University School of Medicine			Jonathan Flacker
*Harvard Medical School			Jim Rudolph
Indiana University School of Medicine			Douglas Miller or Glenda Westmoreland
*Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine			Jeremy Barron or Carolyn Robinson
Medical College of Wisconsin			Edith Burns
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston			William Moran
Mount Sinai School of Medicine			Rainier Soriano
Stanford University School of Medicine			Mary Goldstein or Terri Huh
State University of New York at Buffalo			Bruce Naughton
St. Louis University Medical School			John E. Morley, Julie Gammack,or Sue Brooks
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center			Andrew Dentino
UMDNJ-SOM New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging			Anita Chopra or Janice Ciesielski
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine			Patricia Goode or Richard M. Allman
University of Arizona College of Medicine			Mindy Fain
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences			Jeanne Wei
University of California, Irvine School of Medicine			Melinda McMillen
*University of California, Los Angeles - David Geffen School of Medicine			Jonathan Wanagat or Alison Moore
*University of California, San Diego			Dilip Jeste, Maureen Curran, or Michelle Black
*University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine			Mike Steinman
University of Chicago			William Dale
University of Cincinnati			Jeff Schlaudecker
*University of Colorado Denver			Eric Coleman
University of Connecticut Health Science Center			George Kuchel
University of Hawaii School of Medicine			Kamal Masaki or Misty Yee
University of Iowa			Virginia Jorstad
University of Kansas School of Medicine			Dan Swagerty
University of Massachusetts Medical School			Sarah McGee or Mary Ellen Keough
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine			Michael J. Mintzer
University of Michigan School of Medicine			Lillian Min
*University of Mississippi School of Medicine			Jim Rudolph
University of Missouri - Columbia, MO			Erik Lindbloom
University of Nebraska			Stephen J. Bonsera or Brenda Keller
University of New Mexico School of Medicine			Carla Herman or Dennis Villareal
*University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill			Ellen Roberts or Jan Busby-Whitehead
University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth			Janice Knebl
University of Oklahoma School of Medicine			William Sonntag, Laurence Z. Rubenstein, or 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			Tony DiNuzzo
*University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio			Sandra Sanchez-Reilly
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center			Craig Rubin or Kathryn Eubank
University of Utah School of Medicine			Mark Supiano
*University of Washington School of Medicine			May Reed
University of Wisconsin, Madison			Sanjay Asthana
Virginia Commonwealth University			Peter Boling
Wake Forest University School of Medicine			Jeff Williamson
Weill Medical College of Cornell University			Carol Capello or Veronica LoFaso
Yale University School of Medicine			Lisa Walke
*National Training Center or Partner Site

What is the amount of the scholarship award?
The stipend level is approximately $1,748 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 may be available (some National Training Centers have predetermined program lengths). 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.

Is a sponsor required to apply?
Yes. All applicants must secure a Faculty Sponsor from their home institution prior to submitting their application. 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.

In addition to the Faculty Sponsor, students will have a research mentor. If the student participates in the program at their home institution (one of the Participating Schools), the Faculty 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 are online and can be accessed by clicking here (FAQ can be found 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 Faculty Sponsor plan and NIH-style biographical sketch from the Home Institute Faculty Sponsor. The recommendation letter and faculty sponsor plan and bio are submitted via email to medicalstudent@afar.org.

What are the application and notification deadlines?
All applications must be received by January 31, 2012. We are currently estimating that applicants will be notified on or around March 15, 2012.

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 2013 American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Annual Meeting, in Grapevine, Texas. 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.

More information about the MSTAR Program

MSTAR Newsletters can be accessed here, and be sure to check out our news section to see our scholars' latest accomplishments, and our newest feature, Diary of an MSTAR Student.

Major Sponsors:

The John A. Hartford Foundation
The MetLife Foundation
The National Institute on Aging
 

Additional funding provided by:

The Lillian R. Gleitsman Foundation
 

Administered by:

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