A highly qualified HIV research workforce that reflects a wide variety of experience and perspectives is essential to improve the relevance of HIV research to communities most affected by HIV; facilitate creative, novel, and context-specific approaches to reaching all people at risk for and living with HIV; and ultimately end the HIV epidemic.
People who have been historically and disproportionately less represented in the healthcare workforce face specific barriers to participation in HIV research at all stages of their education and training, from early school-age years through graduate school, fellowship, and faculty positions. These barriers include lack of exposure to research opportunities, unavailable or insufficiently trained mentors, lack of support networks, and unconscious bias.
The HU CFAR’s Pathway Opportunities Steering Committee, led by co-directors Drs. Whitney Irie and Malika Boudries, aims to increase participation in HIV research among people who are from backgrounds less represented in the healthcare workforce and to develop pathways to successful careers in science and medicine. The HU CFAR has a long track record in generating innovative, high impact research and science among early career investigators at Harvard and in low- and middle-income countries, where important research is critical in the fight to end the epidemic, and the Harvard community will now benefit from the intentional necessary work of the HU CFAR Pathway Opportunities Steering Committee.
The Harvard University Center for AIDS Research Pathway Opportunities Steering Committee is tasked with building a highly qualified HIV research workforce that reflects the full range of relevant perspectives and expertise at Harvard University and beyond through administrative and programmatic initiatives. These initiatives center on the career development of individuals who are from backgrounds less represented in HIV research. At the core of our efforts are pathway initiatives, which encompass training, mentorship, networking, and support for investigators at various stages, from high school to early-career investigators. The HU CFAR Pathway Opportunities Steering Committee is committed to supporting pathway initiatives at Harvard University and across its affiliated hospitals and institutions.
If you are a Harvard affiliated faculty member and interested in joining the HU CFAR Pathway Opportunities Steering Committee , please contact Drs. Whitney Irie or Malika Boudries.
Pathway Opportunities Steering Committee Participants:
- Allen, Wanda – HU CFAR Community Education and Engagement Programs (CERP) Assoc. Dir.
- Ashaba, Scholastic – Mbarara University of Science & Technology (MUST)
- Bebell, Lisa – MGH
- Bibangambah, Prossy – Mbarara University of Science & Technology (MUST)
- Boudries, Malika – BIDMC
- Burchett, Sandra – BCH
- Chai, Peter – BWH
- Chiosi, John – MGH
- Chitneni, Pooja – MGH
- Ciaranello, Andrea – MGH
- Das Adhikari, Upasana – Ragon Institute
- Dryden-Peterson, Scott – BWH
- Ellis-Pugh, Jordan Renae – Ragon Institute
- Errea, Renato – Partners in Health
- Fitch, Calvin – MGH
- Gebremichael, Musie – MGH, Ragon Institute
- Glynn, Tiffany – Fenway Health, MGH, HMS
- Guss, Carly – BCH
- Haberer, Jessica – MGH
- Hamad, Leena – HMS
- Irie, Whitney – Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare; Fenway Health; BC
- Koofhethile, Catherine – Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- Krakower, Douglas – BIDMC, Fenway Health, HMS
- Lefteri, Kristina – Ragon Institute
- Li, Jonathan – BWH
- Li, Peng – BWH
- Marcus, Julia – Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare
- Marroquin, Selvin – Boston Medical Center
- Mitnick, Carole – HMS
- Mohareb, Amir – MGH
- Mukusuma, Kalo – BIDMC
- Nalubwama Mpanga, Justine – Joint Clinical Research Center-Uganda
- O’Cleirigh, Conall – MGH; Fenway Health
- Ogunshola, Funsho – MGH
- Olatotse, Mpho – Ragon Institute
- Oliveira De Souza, Matheus – Ragon Institute
- Roon, Minttu – Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- Saeed, Abubaker – MGH
- Saleem, Naeem – Brandeis University
- Shrestha, Prerana – BWH
- Siddiqi, Omar – BIDMC
- Singh, Parmit – DFCI
- Stephenson, Kathryn – BIDMC
- Sullivan, Matthew – MGH
Pathway Opportunities Steering Committee Liaison members:
| Name | Core/Scientific Working Group/Committee/Program (s) Representation |
|---|---|
| Malika Aid-Boudries | Basic & Translational Science Steering Committee (BTS-SC) |
| Peter Chai | Substance Use & HIV |
| Scott Dryden-Peterson | HIV & Malignancy SWG |
| Musie Ghebremichael | Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Core |
| Mark Ingaciola | Administrative Core |
| Jonathan Li | Clinical Core |
| Kathryn Stephenson | Developmental and Mentoring Core |