Programs For Young Individuals

It is our philosophy that inspiring and attracting new talent should start early. To develop the interest of young individuals to work in the field of Pediatric Nephrology, exposure to basic research in the field is important at an early stage. Upper level high school and college students and first year medical students will be encouraged to work in the laboratories of investigators in the Center during the summer. Funds from the Center provide a small stipend. Similarly, high school teachers who wish to participate in this endeavor are invited to perform hands-on research together with one of their students.

To attract and retain the best graduate students for research in pediatric Nephrology we make use of our extensive network to attract the best minds to our field in collaboration with institutional T32 programs, O’Brien centers, Cardiovascular Centers, Renal and Hypertension Centers at UVA and the Centers for Morphogenesis and Regenerative Medicine at UVA and other Universities in North America. The Center provides support for the best qualified graduate students to work in a project within the central theme of the Center. Graduate students not only have the opportunity for exposure with UVA but also widely through our international and national collaborative arrangements

To develop the interest of Pediatric residents in Pediatric Nephrology, the Center supports one or two residents yearly to attend the meetings of The American Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ASPN) or the symposium sponsored by the ASPN during the meeting of The American Society of Nephrology. Residents are also invited to our annual Center of Excellence Symposium in Pediatric Nephrology

Interested junior faculty are provided with protected time for research, mentorship, education and opportunities in an environment conducive to their success. Through the Pilot and Feasibility Projects they receive one-on-one mentorship and participate in all activities of the Center, including exposure to most of the strategic discussions with the view that they will acquire leadership skills that are best learned in a practical manner. In addition to direct mentoring by faculty and staff in the laboratories, we have developed a formal program for faculty development ’How to succeed in academia today’ established initially by the Vice President for Research office and the Department of Pediatrics. These seminars given throughout the year, cover a whole range of activities including balancing family life and academia, grant writing, public speech, negotiating with your chair, etc.