Evidence-based complementary integrative medicine: Cultivating diversity in research and clinical practice
Funded Grant
Overview
Affiliation
View All
Overview
description
Abstract This application proposes a one-day scientific workshop to increase both evidence-based knowledge on complementary integrative medicine (CIM) and the inclusion of junior-level scientists of underrepresented minority (URM) backgrounds in the workforce of this field. These goals will be achieved by providing travel awards to early career scientists from URM backgrounds to attend a specialized workshop that will be offered at the annual meeting of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) in Atlanta, Georgia in 2020. Health scientists and practitioners from diverse backgrounds contribute important clinical practice and research in the field.[1] Although the NIH and the American Medical Association have developed many initiatives to support and ensure greater diversity in the medical and health sciences workforce, significant barriers to having an inclusive, equal, and diverse culture and climate in the biomedical field remain. The existent gaps include representation of non-majority race, disability, and ethnic groups; and there can be challenges of inclusion around language, heritage, religion, gender identity, customs, and immigration and economic status. The CIM field is well positioned to close this gap because of its diverse disciplines, practitioners, stakeholders, and consumers. CIM is used both by healthcare practitioners and the public, though there is a gap in evidence to support its effectiveness. The ACRM is the largest rehabilitation sciences multidisciplinary organization that supports and fosters interprofessional networking, learning, research, and collaborations in the field. Importantly, it is also forward-thinking in recognizing the importance of supporting and providing a climate and culture of diversity to increase inclusion and equality. The ACRM has developed several initiatives to address this issue, including the ACRM Complementary and Integrative Rehabilitation Medicine Networking Group (ACRM CIRM NG). CIRM NG is diverse in both its background membership and its clinical disciplines. The CIRM NG’s goal is to support the inclusion and diversity of CIM professionals in the rehabilitation medicine field, as well as to support crosscutting multi- and inter-disciplinary scientific and professional developments. The proposed workshop will recruit and provide unique mentorship to a group of URM early career scientists; the goal is the presentation of the best rigorous and up-to-date CIM scientific health advances by key investigators funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). The selected fellows will be invited to complete a workshop evaluation and give feedback to the workshop organizers. The workshop’s steering committee will develop a plan to disseminate 1) the workshop’s scientific content and 2) the workshop’s evaluation results. Approximately six to nine months post- workshop, this committee will disseminate to participants a report summarizing these results and recommendations. Participants will be invited to review the results and provide further recommendations. Dissemination activities will also include planning to present the findings at the ACRM annual meeting in 2021.
