Faculty Bibliography

Introduction/UNASSIGNED:Mentorship is crucial for academic success. And yet, there are few mentoring programs that address the needs of underrepresented, racially/ethnically diverse junior faculty conducting health-related research in the United States. Methods/UNASSIGNED:To expand mentoring capacity for these racially/ethnically diverse faculty, we developed a Peer Mentor Development Program (PMDP) to prepare near-peers, who have similar characteristics and personal experiences, to provide support to participants in an NIH-PRIDE funded Institute. The PMDP program is designed based on the 8-year experience of the Mentor Development Program of the NYU-Health and Hospitals Clinical Translational Science Institute. Annually, up to six alumni are selected into the PMDP, participate in the 12-hour program over 4 days, are paired with 1 to 3 scholar participants to mentor and join monthly PMDP conference calls during the ensuing year. Results/UNASSIGNED:We describe the program, participant experience and lessons learned from our first 18 peer mentors in three PMDP cohorts. Additionally, all 18 peer mentors completed a post-evaluation survey to assess the program. Overall, peers agreed that participating in the PMDP enhanced most of the specific skills targeted. Participants rated 53%-86% of skills as "more than before" participating in PMDP, demonstrating the appreciation and impact of the program. Conclusions/UNASSIGNED:The PMDP may be a model for higher education and academic medicine programs committed to mentoring and retaining racially/ethnically diverse faculty and ultimately contributing to reducing entrenched health disparities between majority and minority populations.

BACKGROUND:The Home Delivered Meals Program (HDMP) serves a vulnerable population of adults aged 60 and older who may benefit from technological services to improve health and social connectedness. OBJECTIVE:The objectives of this study are (a) to better understand the needs of HDMP participants, and (b) to characterize the technology-readiness and the utility of delivering information via the computer. DESIGN/METHODS:We analyzed data from the 2017 NSOAAP to assess the health and functional status and demographic characteristics of HDMP participants. We also conducted a telephone survey to assess technology use and educational interests among NYC HDMP participants. MEASUREMENTS/METHODS:Functional measures of the national sample included comorbidities, recent hospitalizations, and ADL/IADL limitations. Participants from our local NYC sample completed a modified version of the validated Computer Proficiency Questionnaire. Technology readiness was assessed by levels of technology use, desired methods for receiving health information, and interest in learning more about virtual senior centers. RESULTS:About one-third (32.4%) of national survey HDMP participants (n=902) reported insufficient resources to buy food and 17.1% chose between food or medications. Within the NYC HDMP participant survey sample (n=33), over half reported having access to the internet (54.5%), 48.5% used a desktop or laptop, and 30.3% used a tablet, iPad, or smartphone. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The HDMP provides an opportunity to reach vulnerable older adults and offer additional resources that can enhance social support and improve nutrition and health outcomes. Research is warranted to compare technological readiness of HDMP participants across urban and rural areas in the United States.

BACKGROUND:Hyperthermia (heating to 43 °C) activates the innate immune system and improves bladder cancer chemosensitivity. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the tissue penetration and safety of convective hyperthermia combined with intravesical mitomycin C (MMC) pharmacokinetics in live porcine bladder models using the Combat bladder recirculation system (BRS). METHODS:Forty 60 kg-female swine were anesthetized and catheterized with a 3-way, 16 F catheter. The Combat device was used to heat the bladders to a target temperature of 43 °C with recirculating intravesical MMC at doses of 40, 80, and 120 mg. Dwell-heat time varied from 30-180 min. Rapid necropsy with immediate flash freezing of tissues, blood and urine occurred. MMC concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. RESULTS:The Combat BRS system was able to achieve target range temperature (42-44 °C) in 12 mins, and this temperature was maintained as long as the device was running. Two factors increased tissue penetration of MMC in the bladder: drug concentration, and the presence of heat. In the hyperthermia arm, MMC penetration saturated at 80 mg, suggesting that with heating, drug absorption may saturate and not require higher doses to achieve the maximal biological effect. Convective hyperthermia did not increase the MMC concentration in the liver, heart, kidney, spleen, lung, and lymph node tissue even at the 120 mg dose. CONCLUSIONS:Convective bladder hyperthermia using the Combat BRS device is safe and the temperature can be maintained at 43 °C. Hyperthermia therapy may increase MMC penetration into the bladder wall but does not result in an increase of MMC levels in other organs.