NARCH Summer Workshops Brings Native Students and Scholars Together in Portland
By: NARCH Program Staff
The Northwest Native American Research Center for Health had a busy June with all our programs hosting workshops in Portland, OR.
Summer Research Training Institute
We were very excited to host the NARCH Summer Research Training Institute at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB). After completing a needs assessment/course wish list earlier in the year, our team selected an array of courses to offer during the summer sessions. A total of 65 attended Week 1 and 63 in Week 2.
Thank you to our staff members, Gen and Rochelle, who were invaluable at every step of the way.
In September, we will sponsor two additional courses in our End of Summer Institute: Addictions Research for Indigenous Scholars (Leads: Drs. Kamilla Venner and Aimee Campbell) and Epidemiology Methods (Lead: Dr. Marc Emerson). Sixteen participants (eight in each course) will participate in an intensive week of learning in Portland and then move to monthly virtual sessions until May 2025. Learning will be rounded off with the completion of a capstone project as their final product.
Tribal Researchers’ Cancer Control Fellowship Program
We welcomed seven new cancer prevention fellows from across the US for an intensive seminar on Cancer Epidemiology and Grant Writing. Fellows stayed in Portland for an additional week to participate in other SRTI courses for additional skill-building. We will meet with the fellows again at the October SACNAS meeting in Phoenix, AZ. We look forward to helping advance the careers of these promising young people. Applied Biostatistics & Data Science.
Ten newly admitted trainees traveled to Portland from all around the country for a week of intensive courses and activities to start the two-year Applied Biostatistics and Data Science track, which aims to equip AI/AN students and professionals with the quantitative skills they need to pursue their career goals. The track focuses on teaching research as a process, including stages such as study design, analysis, and communication of results, that are inextricably linked and involve decisions on the part of the researchers. Guided by the North Star idea that these decisions should be made with data equity considerations in mind. Courses delved into topics such as; methods in statistics and data science, survey design, data management and probabilistic linkage, and storytelling to communicate about research.
Trainees did hands-on statistical programming work, engaged in discussions, and were exposed to new topics under the guidance and support of experts in biostatistics and data science and knowledgeable helpers. They had the opportunity to meet and talk with faculty and staff members from OHSU and NPAIHB after class and at social events. On the last day, they met with a recent graduate of the track and learned about his capstone project work before setting off to explore Portland and surrounding areas together.
Public Health Research Academy
The second year of our Public Health Research Academy kicked off in June with five new sites representing tribes in ID, OR and WA. Five adult mentors and 13 Native youth gathered each day at OHSU-PSU School of Public Health to learn about indigenous public health and research methods. Our goal for the week was to facilitate connections and prepare our sites for the year of learning ahead. Participants met Indigenous scholars, completed hands-on activities at NPAIHB, visited OHSU, and participated in a canoe journey with the 7 Waters Canoe Family. The week included plenty of bonding activities and concluded with youth presenting a bit of their work to the broader THRIVE suicide prevention conference. We are looking forward to learning with our second year Public Health Research Academy participants during our monthly virtual sessions (Sept-May).
