title: A Novel Service-Oriented Professional Development Program for Research Assistants at an Academic Hospital: A Web-Based Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research assistants (RAs) are hired at academic centers to staff the research and quality improvement projects that advance evidence-based medical practice. Considered a transient population, these young professionals may view their positions as stepping-stones along their path to graduate programs in medicine or public health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To address the needs of these future health professionals, a novel program-Program for Research Assistant Development and Achievement (PRADA)-was developed to facilitate the development of desirable professional skill sets (ie, leadership, teamwork, communication) through participation in peer-driven service and advocacy initiatives directed toward the hospital and surrounding communities. The authors hope that by reporting on the low-cost benefits of the program that other institutions might consider the utility of implementing such a program and recognize the importance of acknowledging the professional needs of the next generation of health care professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2011, an anonymous, Web-based satisfaction survey was distributed to the program membership through a pre-established email distribution list. The survey was used to evaluate demographics, level of participation and satisfaction with the various programming, career trajectory, and whether the program's goals were being met.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Upon the completion of the survey cycle, a 69.8% (125/179) response rate was achieved with the majority of respondents (94/119, 79.0%) reporting their 3-year goal to be in medical school (52/119, 43.7%) or nonmedical graduate school (42/119, 35.3%). Additionally, most respondents agreed or strongly agreed that PRADA had made them feel more a part of a research community (88/117, 75.2%), enhanced their job satisfaction (66/118, 55.9%), and provided career guidance (63/117, 53.8%). Overall, 85.6% of respondents (101/118) agreed or strongly agreed with recommending PRADA to other research assistants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High response rate and favorable outlook among respondents indicate that the program had been well received by the program's target population. The high percentage of respondents seeking short-term entry into graduate programs in health care-related fields supports the claim that many RAs may see their positions as stepping-stones and therefore could benefit from a professional development program such as the one described herein. Strong institutional support and sustainable growth and participation are other indications of early success. Further evaluation is necessary to assess the full impact of the program, particularly in areas such as job satisfaction, recruitment, retention, productivity, and career trajectory, but also in reproducibility in other institutions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States. robert.kitts@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Robert Li
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2034-0654
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Kitts
authors.forename: Kyle John
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7710-5757
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Koleoglou
authors.forename: Jennifer Elysia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3310-5947
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Eliza Haapaniemi
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4183-2439
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: Quincy Georgdie
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3946-5863
authors.initials: QG
authors.lastname: Nang
authors.forename: Clare Marie
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4897-6160
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Chau Minh
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8665-6358
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Laurie Newman
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4612-890X
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Fishman
keywords: community engagement; mentorship; preprofessional; research assistant; research coordinator; training and development; workforce development