RCMAR Investigator Development Workgroup Conference Call
May 5, 2014 | 10:00 – 11:00 AM (PST) / 1:00 – 2:00 PM (EST)
Call In: 888-921-8686 Participant Code: 3103120536
MINUTES
CADC = Facilitator
Deep South = Note-taking
I.
Welcome and Introductions of participants attending:
1. Nina Harawa, Co-Director, RCMAR Coordinating Center,
2. Janet Frank, former Co-Director, RCMAR Coordinating Center.
3. Celia Kaplan (CADC) (Facilitator)
4. Carol Mangione (UCLA)
5. Keith C. Norris (CHIME)
6. Carole A. Nagy (CHIME)
7. Arturo Gongora (CHIME)
8. Julie Zissimopoulos (USC)
9. Briana White (USC)
10. Louis A. Penner (MCUAAAR)
11. Charles Decarli (UCD)
12. Patricia Sawyer (Deep South)
13. Ann Smith (Deep South) (Note-taker)
II.
Review and Approval of March 31 (Annual Meeting) Minutes –
It was brought up that the date for the next meeting (June 9) was the second Monday,
rather than the first Monday of the month. Hearing no reason for June 9, it was agreed to
change it to June 2. It is now updated in the table below. The minutes were accepted.
III. Continuing Business
A. Best Practices to Support Scholars
 Matrix summarizing Best Practices by site
The group discussed the table Nina sent that summarizes the info provide by all the
RCMAR centers. She confirmed the need for updated/corrected matrices from all sites.

Manuscript for publication
The group discussed the plans to develop a manuscript on Best Practices.
How will we measure our reach?
Success measures, including the usual: #s of grants and publications, plus career
progress for the RCMARs historically.
It was mentioned that Dedra’s description of the reach of their program (using a social
network approach) in the paper she shared with the IDW was interesting, and we should
consider the measures they include.
We also need to consider the background of the trainees, and describe their
characteristics, since experience shows that career progress differs by different starting
points.
Comparing success metrics between the different centers may not be advisable, but
overall success numbers may be feasible. Also expressed was in interest in examining this
from a cost effectiveness perspective e.g., $s spent per successful scholar.
The manuscript effort needs to be led by representatives from each RCMAR center, with
directors’ involvement as they choose. Each site will discuss and determine who will form
this collaborative writing group, and that group will develop a plan to write the paper.
Three directors are currently interested: Eliseo Perez-Stable, Carol Mangione and Spero
Manson
It was also discussed that the target journals need to be determined. While the writing
group needs to make the final decisions, several journals were suggested:
1. Academic Medicine
2. The Gerontologist
3. Geriatrics and Education (the education journal of the GSA) (J. Frank on editorial
board.) (Special issue coming up.)
JAMA was brought up but manuscript acceptance may be difficult/unlikely.
Health Disparities Research journals were suggested, and others may also be considered.
ACTION ITEMS:
1. The Coordinating Center will contact Academic Medicine and The Gerontologist to
inquire about options for the paper. Will start with the Directors, in order to see who
may have connections with the editorial boards.
2. Each center group needs to discuss and determine who will join the writing team by
next month’s call.
B. IDW presence on RCMAR website:
i. Best Practices Mentoring templates
ii. Mentorship related tools (for IDW members only)
There was general discussion about what could be included on the RCMAR Investigator
Development Core webpage: http://www.rcmar.ucla.edu/inv_dev.php
Suggestions include the above Best Practices Mentoring templates and Mentorship
related tools. Additional items include articles we use as resources, PPTs,
contracts/mentoring agreements, training information …
Consider adding links to NIH/NIA training info.
Consider info on Dr. Reede’s program at Harvard for training minority physicians.
[Google generated this: http://hms.harvard.edu/about-hms/deans-corner/officesdeans/academic-deans/joan-y-reede-md-ms-mph-mba
Joan Y. Reede, MD, MS, MPH, MBA, Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership]
The Research Mentor Training website developed by faculty at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison was also mentioned: http://researchmentortraining.org/
A link to an article was also distributed:
A recent article published in the peer-reviewed journal Academic Medicine touches on this
topic, titled, "Training Mentors of Clinical and Translational Research Scholars: A
Randomized Controlled Trial," based on the "Entering Mentoring" curriculum.
C. RCMAR Reporting Tool – update on status – Work continues on it.
D. Other – NOTE – this turned out to be a false alarm. No new policy on CFs is in effect.
It was brought up that NIA has said that Carry–Forward Requests would not be allowed.
There is a “moratorium” on Carry–Forward approvals.
This was news to many on the call, and discussion ensued about how to use up pilot
project funds that may be unspent at this time and were being planned for Carry–Forward.
The idea was proposed to write a group letter from all the RCMAR directors requesting
these funds be allowed due the short notice on this moratorium.
IV. New Business
A. Potential topics for upcoming calls – Continue discussion on above plus any new
business.
B. Agenda for June IDW Meeting 6/2/2014 – Not discussed
V. Announcements
ACTION ITEMS:
1. The Coordinating Center will contact Academic Medicine and The Gerontologist to
inquire about options for the paper.
2. Each center group needs to discuss and determine who will join the writing team by
next month’s call.
3. Each center should submit their revised BP templates if they have not already done
so.
VI. Meeting Management Schedule (see below):
RCMAR IDW Call Management Schedule – 2014
Calls occur on the first Monday of each month, unless otherwise noted (*), at 10am PT, 1pm ET.
The call in information is Dial in # 1-888-921-8686; Passcode 3103120536#
DATE
January 6
February 3
March 3
March 31
May 5
June 2 (corrected from June 9)
July 7
August 4
September 8*
October 6
November 3
December 1
FACILITATOR
LARRC
NERC
USC
Coordinating Center
CADC
CHIME
LARRC
NERC
USC
MCUAAAR
CADC
CHIME
NOTETAKER
CHIME
MCUAAAR
LARRC
CHIME
Deep South
USC
NERC
MCUAAAR
LARRC
Deep South
CHIME
USC
* Rescheduled for September 8th due to Labor Day Holiday on September 1, 2014.