Ensuring the future of otitis media research: Interest in and feasibility of a mentoring network program within the otitis media research community

Sonja I. Ziniel, Section of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, 80045, United States; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, United States. Electronic address: Sonja.ziniel@childrenscolorado.org.
Diego Preciado, Departments of Pediatrics and Surgery, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20010, United States; Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20010, United States. Electronic address: dpreciad@childrensnational.org.
Rita Lee, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, United States. Electronic address: rita.lee@cuanschutz.edu.
Joseph E. Kerschner, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, United States. Electronic address: JKerschner@mcw.edu.
Allen F. Ryan, Department of Otolaryngology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, La Jolla, CA, 92093, United States. Electronic address: afryan@ucsd.edu.
Regie Lyn Santos-Cortez, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, United States; Center for Children's Surgery, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, 80045, United States. Electronic address: regie.santos-cortez@cuanschutz.edu.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

9-1-2023

Journal

International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology

Volume

172

DOI

10.1016/j.ijporl.2023.111693

Keywords

Diversity; Mentoring; Network; Otitis media; Research workforce; Survey

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to assess the feasibility of the implementation of a mentoring network program based on expressed interest and the diverse composition of the otitis media research community in order to address attrition of the scientific workforce. METHODS: An online survey was sent to basic, translational, and clinical researchers with a known interest in otitis media. RESULTS: Of 509 eligible participants, 119 (23.4%) responded to the survey. Survey respondents had a diverse background by completed education, current job description, and membership in an underrepresented group in science. Most faculty respondents (76.4%) were willing to participate in the proposed program as mentors and faculty lecturers, or had early-career researchers or trainees in their research group who were willing to participate as mentees in the mentoring network. Scientific and non-scientific topics for inclusion in the training program were ranked, with immunology and inflammation, microbiology, science leadership and collaboration, mentoring, and grantsmanship as main foci of interest among respondents. CONCLUSION: Our survey results showed enthusiastic participation among responding otitis media researchers, indicating the feasibility of implementing a mentoring network program that will address workforce attrition, particularly among underrepresented groups in science.

Department

Surgery

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