photos of past MSTAR students, a diverse group of people

Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR)

The University of Texas Medical Student Training in Aging Research (UT-MSTAR) is a new collaboration between UT Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSA), UT Health Houston (UTH), UT Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB Health), and UT Southwestern (UTSW).

The 8-week summer intensive program is intended for medical students moving between year 1 and year 2 of training. Students enrolled in the MSTAR program benefit from an enriching experience in aging-related research and clinical geriatrics with the mentorship of top experts in the field. The long-term goal of the program is to increase the number of established clinicians and physician investigators who pursue research in high-priority areas related to aging.

Contact Us

Alexis King, MS
Program Manager
Phone: (409) 772-9683
E-mail: alnking@utmb.edu

Sealy Center on Aging (SCOA)
301 University Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77555-0177

Applications

Applications will close February 21, 2025 @ 5pm CST.

Apply Now

Download 2025 MSTAR Flyer

Program Information

Requirements

Candidates: 1st-year medical students interested in aging research

Duration: Intensive 8 weeks over Summer break

Stipends: $4,704 total for 8 weeks

UTMB Health Site Lead: Erin Hommel, MD, MS

Trainees Gain:

  • An individualized research experience under a sponsoring mentor
  • A structured didactic experience covering research design, ethics, and scholarship
  • Opportunities to interact with faculty and peers covering a wide ranging of aging disciplines from basic science to clinical implementation
  • Clinical observerships within clinical geriatrics
  • Scholarly opportunities to prepare abstract(s), create poster(s), and write manuscripts
  • A chance to obtain research credits for their participation

Expectations:

Students are expected to identify a research mentor with a focus on aging at their home institution, or at a collaborating UT-MSTAR institution. Together with their mentor, they will establish project goals and expected outcomes during the experience. Trainees are expected to spend the majority of their time at the institution of their training research mentor. (Room and board and other travel expenses during the 8-week experience are the responsibility of the student.)  

Weekly required activities include completing the mentored research project and attending weekly didactic sessions, where research basics and careers in aging will be discussed. Students will also be paired with a geriatrician to observe the clinical applications of their aging research. Students are invited to attend aging-related seminars at their training institution or virtually through collaborating institutions. At the end of the training, all students will participate in the UTMB student research poster session and, separately, will attend a UT-MSTAR symposium to network and present their research with other members of the UT-MSTAR consortium.  

Potential MSTAR Faculty Mentors at UTMB Health

Mentor NameArea of Interest
Soham Al Snih, MD, PhDAging in Hispanics, frailty, health outcomes, health disparities, and obesity
Abbey Berenson, MD, PhDHealth of women throughout the life-span
Phillip Cantu, PhDCaregiving in Hispanics with dementia
Brian Downer, PhDDementia, cognitive aging, post-acute care
Steven Fisher, PT, PhD, GCSPhysical functioning in older adults
James S. Goodwin, MDComparative effectiveness, functional recovery
Erin Hommel, MD, MSGeriatric syndromes, health care quality
Yong-Fang Kuo, PhDPharmacoepidemiology, treatment outcomes
Alan Landay, PhDGeroscience and HIV
Elizabeth Lorenzo, RN, PhDHealth promotion among ethnic minority women
Kyriakos Markides, PhDHispanic health, aging, and physical function
Meredith Masel, PhDHealth communication in multi-morbidity
Neil Mehta, PhDEpidemiology of chronic diseases and survival
Sadaf Milani, PhDEpidemiology of cognition, pain, and gender
Melissa Morrow, PhDMobility and physical function in aging
Monique Pappadis, PhD, MEdDisparities in rehabilitation post-brain injury
Mukaila Raji, MD, MSDementia care, health policy, geriatric pharmacology, and therapeutics
Giulio Taglialatela, PhDMolecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration
Elizabeth Vaughan, DO, RNDisparities in primary and preventive care

MSTAR News

photo of group of diverse professionals of different ages and ethnicities

Thanks to Participants for a Successful MSTAR Program

January 17, 2025, 11:14 AM by SCOA

A heartfelt thank you to all who participated in the 2024 Medical Students Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) program. Meet the MSTAR Scholars and learn about their projects.

photo of man smiling at camera

MSTAR Student Receives Fulbright Award

March 30, 2023, 08:45 AM by SCOA

Juan D. Ventura, MS, John Sealy School of Medicine class of 2024, former MSTAR student and poster winner in the annual Forum on Aging, has been selected for a Fulbright Award to the United Kingdom.

photo of woman

Nicole Huang Selected for Lefeber Award

June 4, 2021, 08:32 AM by SCOA

Congratulations to former MSTAR graduating medical student Nicole Huang, this year’s recipient of the Edward J and Ellie Weisiger Lefeber, Sr Prize in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology.

photo of man

Lefeber Prize Awarded to Usama Jazzar

May 14, 2020, 18:44 PM by Sealy Center on Aging

Congratulations to former Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) graduating medical student Usama Jazzar, this year’s recipient of the Edward J and Ellie Weisiger Lefeber, Sr Prize in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology.

Last updated: February 2025 RMG