ISI 2007 Summary by Bridgett Brawner
4th Annual ISI Convener Report
Bridgette M. Brawner
With each passing year the Annual Intensive Summer Institutes (ISI) convened by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) at the American Nurses Association (ANA) continue to surpass participants’ expectations. This year the group held its 4th Annual (ISI) July 19 – 22, 2007 at the Courtyard Marriott in Silver Springs, MD. From the moment they arrived up until it was time to depart for the airport, fellows were afforded educational and networking opportunities to foster their development as independent investigators and future nurse leaders. This summer’s institute was comprised of a distinctive mix of activities ranging from traditional lectures to local group excursions. The knowledge and skills gained during the ISI enabled fellows to:
1. Discuss the critical roles and responsibilities of selected mental health and substance abuse agencies from a national perspective and the importance of networking;
2. Discuss the essential contributions of congress persons and their staff in advancing science and supporting substance abuse, mental health and ethnic minority health;
3. Understand and appreciate the contributions at SAMHSA;
4. Demonstrate familiarity with AMOS;
5. Gain a pithy sense of appreciation for and understanding of the history and current health status of Alaska Natives and American Indians through the medium of the American Indian Museum;
6. Appreciate the research and contributions of Fellow colleagues.
The institute opened with a networking session with special invited guests, and fellows had an opportunity to meet the ANA staff responsible for the day to day operations of the Program; Dr. Garth Graham made an extra effort to talk to fellows about health disparities and the importance of publishing between work and rushing to catch his flight. In the absence of one of the scheduled speakers, Dr. Gladys Gary Vaughn, sister of Executive Program Consultant/Director of the SAMHSA MFP, Dr. Faye A. Gary, EdD, RN, FAAN, offered a motivational and encouraging talk on being involved in organizations and executive boards to ensure that our voices are heard.
Fellows had the opportunity to make their mark on Capitol Hill through visiting with their elected congress persons and/or their staff, and used this time to provide the legislators with information related to mental health, substance abuse, ethnic minority health, and the MFP. Dr. Kyu Rhee, chief medical officer for Baltimore Medical System, provided a stimulating and informative presentation on the impact of Community Health Centers on the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable populations. Likely one of the most heartfelt MFP experiences to date, the group took an excursion to the American Indian Museum and had an opportunity to learn details about American Indian history that could never be captured in any text book.
After the museum everyone trekked over to the Library of Congress and was amazed by the breadth of information housed within the walls of the facility. The outstanding Dr. Hossein Yarandi stimulated fellows minds by breaking down the seemingly impenetrable wall between researchers and AMOS and path analysis; fellows left the intensive sessions with an understanding of recursive and nonrecursive models, and some are even considering using structural equation modeling for their dissertations. Another appealing component of the institute was presentations conducted by fellows (recent graduates and current doctoral candidates) on their individual research projects.
The opportunities for growth and development were endless. The overall sentiment of everyone who participated was that this year’s ISI was the best institute thus far, and each fellow walked away with the tools and motivation needed to continue on their journey to becoming sought after pioneers in the fields of mental health, substance abuse, and ethnic minority health. The MFP continues to afford its fellows with invaluable, incomparable experiences that distinguish the program into a class of its own!