Program Purpose
The Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, formerly known as the Minority Medical Faculty Development Program, was created to increase the number of faculty from historically disadvantaged backgrounds who can achieve senior rank in academic medicine and who will encourage and foster the development of succeeding classes of such physicians. Four-year postdoctoral research awards are offered to historically disadvantaged physicians who are committed to developing careers in academic medicine and to serving as role models for students and faculty of similar background.

The program defines the term "historically disadvantaged" to mean challenges facing individuals because of their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other similar factors.

The program was recently renamed and expanded in honor of Harold Amos, Ph.D., who was the first African-American to chair a department, now the Department of Microbiology and Medical Genetics, of the Harvard Medical School. Dr. Amos worked tirelessly to recruit and mentor countless numbers of minority and disadvantaged students to careers in academic medicine and science. He was a founding member of the National Advisory Committee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Minority Medical Faculty Development Program in 1983, and served as the Program's National Program Director between 1989 and 1993. Dr. Amos remained active with the program until his death in 2003.

Each Amos Scholar selected (up to 12 each year) will receive an annual stipend up to $75,000, complemented by a $30,000 annual grant toward support of research activities. Each Scholar will study and conduct research in association with a senior faculty member located at an academic medical center noted for the training of young faculty and pursuing lines of investigation that are of interest to the Scholar. Scholars are expected to spend at least 70% of their time in research activities.

A distinguished National Advisory Committee will assist the Foundation with the program. While these awards are intended to provide four years of support, the National Advisory Committee reviews the progress of each Scholar after the first two years to determine the appropriateness of continuing funding for the full duration of the award.

History
The Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program (AMFDP) of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the result of over 20 years of experience with The Foundation's Minority Medical Faculty Development Program (MMFDP), which strove to increase the number of underrepresented minorities on medical faculties. The MMFDP selected its first cohort of eight physicians committed to careers in biomedical research in 1983. Since then, the scope of the program has grown to include those in clinical investigation and health services research, and the number of awards has increased to up to twelve per year. More than 175 Scholars completed all four years of the program. Of these, more than 80% are still in academic medicine.

Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must be physicians from historically disadvantaged backgrounds (ethnic, financial, or educational) who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents at the time of application deadline; have excelled in their education; are now completing or have completed their formal clinical training; are prepared to devote four consecutive years to research; are committed to pursuing academic careers; and are committed to improving the health status of the underserved, decreasing health disparities, or serving as role models for students and faculty from historically disadvantaged backgrounds Preference will be given to physicians who have recently completed their formal clinical training. In order to pursue the advanced research training required by this program, applicants must identify faculty mentors with whom a research plan will be developed. The mentor's experience in the supervision of trainees and the adequacy of the mentor's research environment and support will be strongly considered. Once these linkages have been established, the applicant and proposed mentor may begin the application process.

The Application and Selection Process
In the first phase of the selection process, candidates are asked to submit a completed proposal (application), including academic records, descriptions of research experiences and interests, a summary of career objectives, references, and a preliminary plan of training with the proposed mentor. Based on a review of these materials, the National Advisory Committee (NAC) will select semi-finalists for interviews. The intent of the interview is to enable the NAC to assess the applicants more fully and for the applicants to define their research interests and describe the resources available in their mentor's laboratory. Mentors must be located in scientific institutions within the United States. Based on these interviews, up to 12 finalists will be chosen. Finalists will then submit detailed research plans and budgets.

Program Direction
Direction and technical assistance for the program will be provided by the National Program Director, James R. Gavin III, M.D., Ph.D., and Nina Ardery, Deputy Director of the program. Foundation staff responsible for the program are J.A. Grisso, M.D., senior program officer; Stephen Theisen, grants administrator; and Linda Wright Moore, communications officer.

2008 Timetable
March 19, 2008, 8pm EST (5pm PST): Deadline for receipt of completed online applications.

March 20, 2008: Deadline for postmark of all supporting documents and hard copies

July 16-18, 2008: Interviews with the National Advisory Committee in Washington

December, 2008: Official notification of Scholars

Contact Us
Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program
714 N. Senate Avenue, EF 212
Indianapolis, IN 46202
317-278-0500 telephone
317-278-0508 fax
amfdp@indiana.edu