The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai today unveiled BioMedical Laureates at Mount Sinai, a program intended to increase diversity among its basic and clinical research faculty and reinforce the school's strong ethic of mentorship. BioMedical Laureates and a companion program, Junior Laureates, will both launch in January 2021, and will each announce new Laureates annually.
"This program is among the first programs of its kind in the country that is dedicated to the enhancement of diversity among senior research scientists at an academic medical center. The program will significantly add to our existing efforts to diversify our faculty," says Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne, and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System. "A diverse medical and scientific community will drive innovation, enhance clinical care, and enrich teaching and mentorship, fulfilling the mission that drives our work. Our Laureates will bring with them a breadth of ideas and lived experiences while lending new perspectives and raising new questions, which in turn will lead to lasting systemic change."
The program will include two components: a biomedical laureates program and a complimentary junior program. The Mount Sinai BioMedical Laureate will be selected based on the candidate's scientific track record and future promise as a leader in academic medicine and will undergo a rigorous review by a committee of senior researchers from across the institution. Selected Laureates will be given a competitive startup package based on scientific and professional development needs, which includes five years of salary, support. Two BioMedical Laureates will be selected each year, one in basic science, the other in translational or clinical science.
The Junior Laureate Program seeks candidates who have completed their doctoral degrees. Junior Laureates will have the opportunity to develop their own independent research program as a member of an existing research team. Upon completion of research milestones, the Junior Laureate will transition to a Mount Sinai BioMedical Laureate position and benefits package. Two Junior Laureates will be selected each year, again one in basic science, the other in translational or clinical science.
"Having experienced first-hand the barriers and challenges associated with establishing a career in science as a Black or Latina scientist, I am really delighted that Mount Sinai is putting forth this effort and investing in what is truly the future of our research workforce," says Lynne D. Richardson, MD, Professor of Emergency Medicine and of Population Health Science and Policy, System Vice Chair of Emergency Medicine, and Co-Director of the Institute for Health Equity Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
In partnership with the Mount Sinai Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Center for Multicultural and Community Affairs, Laureates will be mentored and guided by an advisory group of diverse leaders in science and medicine. Mentorship will form the bedrock of each program.
"Mount Sinai Laureates will be given extensive professional training and guidance as they navigate a career in academic medicine," says Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience, Director of The Friedman Brain Institute, and Dean for Academic and Scientific Affairs. "We will do everything we can to ensure that our Laureates thrive and their research flourishes. In five years, these programs will add 20 Black and Latinx scientists to our faculty, fundamentally changing the basic and clinical research landscape at Mount Sinai. Diversity, inclusion, and equity represent the means of achieving our mission to advance biomedicine and provide compassionate and equitable care in service to our community."
