The Clinical Mentoring Program (CMP) is a year-round supplemental program for NIH postbaccalaureate fellows that seeks to provide education, experience, and mentoring to those trainees aspiring to careers in medicine, healthcare, and clinical research. This program is offered at the NIDA IRP in Baltimore, MD.
The CMP is presented via lectures, practical exercises, shadowing clinical staff, and community engagement opportunities. CMP postbacs will learn about a variety of topics in medicine and clinical research including taking a medical history, measuring vital signs, basic principles of EKG, blood draw techniques, neuroimaging, protections for people participating in clinical research, data collection, drug discovery, and more. Shadowing opportunities include a chance to shadow our physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff to see how their day-to-day roles impact science and medicine at NIDA.
Program Overview
Lecture
Time: 2nd & 4th Mondays – 4pm – 60 min
Format: hybrid
Topic: varies each lecture
Practicals
Time: every Tues & Wed – 4pm – 60 min
Format: in person, NIDA BRC, Baltimore
Topic: varies by lecture topic, 4 opportunities per topic
Office Hours
Time: 1st Mondays – 4pm – length as needed
Format: Teams meeting
Topic: program questions, feedback, application help, other needs
Shadowing Clinical Staff
Time: by appointment – length varies
Format: in person, NIDA BRC, Baltimore
Topic: varies by staff, expertise, and research topic
Community Engagement
Time: varies; monthly opportunities
Format: in person; Baltimore & surrounding areas
Topic: varies; see Upcoming Events calendar
Program Staff
Kathy Lightfoot, PA-C
Michelle Jobes, PhD, CIP
Eligibility
The CMP is open to any NIH postbac fellow planning to apply to medical school, physician assistant school, nursing school, or graduate school for translational or clinical fields. CMP students must be able to attend sessions in person at the Biomedical Research Center (BRC) in Baltimore, MD.
Requirements
Application: Please reach out to NIDAcmp@nida.nih.gov for an application.
Trainings: Prior to shadowing, CMP students must complete all required clinical program and human subjects protections trainings and Occupational Medical Service requirements for patient contact.
