The ICHAD/SMART Africa training programs launched the 2020 summer training session on June 8 with a Zoom orientation meeting bringing together all 25 trainees from the three training programs: Researcher Resilience Training (RRT), LEAD Global Training Program (LEAD), and CHILD-Global Research Fellowship (CHILD-GRF). Trainees from across the US and Uganda met each other and shared their research interests, met the program directors and staff, and became oriented with the rigorous multi-disciplinary training schedule for the 8-10 weeks ahead.
Dean Mary McKay, Neidorff Family and Centene Corporation Dean of the Brown School, and Co-Principal Investigator for RRT and CHILD-GRF, facilitated a discussion with the trainees based on her series of lectures on community participation and collaboration in research. The trainees enjoyed learning from Dean Mary’s decades of experience as a community-based mental health researcher and reported gaining new inspiration and ideas to apply to their early careers.
Trainees also attended a webinar co-presented by Dr. Patricia Cavazos-Rehg, LEAD Co-Director and Professor of Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine, and Dr. Elvin Geng, Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine. Together they explored topics in US-based and global health disparities. Other highlights for June include participating in the Brown School’s Summer Institute classes, networking within and beyond their training groups, and participating in webinars with program officials from the National Institutes for Health. Trainees are prepared to continue engagement and transformation with a full July schedule of lectures, discussion, meetings and presentations.
