Improving Careers in Clinical & Translational Research Common Metric within the KL2 Women’s Measure
The Columbia University CTSA KL2 program has been highlighted as one of the top program hubs by the Center for Leading Innovation and Collaboration (CLIC), the coordinating body for all CTSA programs. The CU program has demonstrated significant improvements in the Careers in Clinical & Translational Research Common Metric within the KL2 women’s measure.
The CLIC Common Metrics Initiative team collects and reports annual data, and features key stories from leading hubs within their Insights to Inspire investigative series. A recent article was published with impact stories from several CTSA Hubs, including the Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research.
“Insights to Inspire: Follow-up and Evaluation: Engagement for Positive Impact”
As most scientists recognize, quality research depends on having reliable data behind it. For hubs to evaluate their TL1 and KL2 programs, they must have good data. In addition to the informal modes of collecting feedback from scholars, featured hubs relied on formal evaluation tools to collect data as well.
At Columbia, an evaluation form — a combination of an individual development plan and an internal progress report — solicits information about which goals have been met, which goals are still in progress, the number of papers published, along with general feedback regarding what scholars think of the program. For program alumni, a survey is conducted to gauge whether the graduate is currently engaging in team science. The survey collects such information as current and past employment and leadership responsibilities, titles, and the types of research conducted since graduation.
“I think it’s just our involvement with each of the scholars,” said Daichi Shimbo, Columbia’s KL2 Director and Professor of Medicine. “We work with them frequently… and have an open-door policy if any of the scholars want to talk about career development issues. And I think by emulating that kind of environment people are more likely to respond because you help them.”
CLIC Common Metrics team releases From Insights to Action: a report for how to organize your research programs with an equity and inclusive lens. This is a collection of approaches from your colleagues across the consortium. Our aim is to provide you with actionable strategies for enhancing the diversity of our future scientific workforce.