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​​​The p50 Training and Career Development Core sponsors a 12 week readings course on Health Disparities in the second year of the Masters of Science in Clinical Research curriculum.

This Master of Science, major in Clinical Research, program is targeted to health care professionals with advanced degrees, including MD, PhD or PharmD degrees. Students with other advanced degrees, including nursing degrees, and experience in clinical trials may also apply. The majority of students in the program are physicians in fellowship programs at Rush. Students seeking admission to the clinical research program must complete an application, provide formal transcripts from college and professional degrees, and submit for an interview. The deadline for application is generally June 15, although exceptions can be made. Applicants must enter the program in the fall quarter. The majority of students applying to this program are current health professionals, and if an advanced health professional degree is documented, no entrance examination is required. If the application does not hold a professional degree, he or she must take the GRE or show evidence of performance in the 50th percentile in another national examination (e.g., MCAT scores). In addition, only students who have an identified access to clinical data (as defined by requiring IRB approval) will be admitted to the program. This usually also includes an identified mentor for the research phase of the program. The program will not assist the student in identifying a clinical data source or mentor.

Applications will be reviewed by the program director and students will be notified when they are accepted. Although these are the deadline dates, students are encouraged to submit applications prior to June 15. Before matriculating into the program, the individual responsible for the student's time (e.g. fellowship training director) must submit, in writing, that the student will be available for classroom work and IRB attendance to ensure that no conflict exists between class time and clinical responsibilities.

Tuition for Rush University Medical Center employees and its affiliates is $5,000/year for the 2010 through 2011 academic years. Individuals who are not employees of Rush University Medical Center or its affiliates will pay tuition at the published Graduate College hourly rate.
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Learning Objectives
At the end of the Masters of Science in Clinical Research readings course, the student will have added to their knowledge and insights in the following issues:
    1. Understand the impact economic, social, geographical, cultural, racial, ethnic and other factors have on health status and their effect on clinical and research studies and outcomes. 
    2. Learn the basics of designing research studies investigating disparities in different populations and communities.
    3. Acquire insights, understanding and skills in aligning the goals and values of disparity research with the communities or populations participating in research studies.
    4. Learn the importance of interprofessional teams in designing and implementing clinical research projects and what each member contributes to the interdisciplinary research team. 

Disparities Module, Content Takeaways
 
 
At the completion of the readings course of the Masters of Science in Clinical Research course, students will be able to:
    1. Define what are health disparities and the causes and factors contributing to such disparities in disadvantaged communities and populations.
    2. Contribute to the research design of a study involving disparities in a community or population.
    3. Understand and discuss the various types of studies in health disparity research.​
    4. Understand how to identify, link to, build, and maintain relationships with key leaders, community assets and other resources in disadvantaged communities for the purpose of designing and implementing research intervention studies.​