The Yale Ciencia Academy (YCA) has revolutionized support for biomedical and health sciences doctoral students from underrepresented backgrounds, boasting a PhD completion rate of 93% compared to the national average of ~50%. To amplify this success, YCA partnered with Science Communication Lab to create Professional Skills for Proactive and Engaged Scientists—a free, interactive online course series converting YCA's impactful workshops into accessible online modules. This online video series aims to enhance trainees’ ownership of their career exploration and communication, mentoring, and planning skills as they near completion of their PhD. Early pilot tests show high satisfaction rates, with participants eager to recommend the courses to peers. This presentation will discuss the integration of these courses into professional development and graduate training programs. Join us to discover how these resources can be integrated into graduate training programs to foster more inclusive and supportive academic environments.
Erika López-Alfonzo, Yale School of Medicine
Rosa Veguilla, Science Communication Lab