Introduction: Between 2020 and 2030, the number of older adults is projected to increase by almost 18 million. The Association of American Medical Colleges expects that an additional 42,600 to 121,300 doctors will be needed by 2030. There is a huge need for geriatric-trained health care providers. Each year, there are more than 8 thousand Unmatched medical graduates [UMGs] in the US. Most of them are international medical graduates.
Aim: The aim of TGRF is to empower UMGs by improving their knowledge, skills, and experiences in geriatric medicine. A curriculum was developed based on Entering Research course. Goals include creating a supportive learning environment to introduce UMGs to the culture of research as well as teaching them valuable skills needed to become effective researchers. The fellowship was designed to help medical graduates find a research mentor, explore the culture of research, write a research project proposal, and begin doing research. They informally share their research experiences and learn about the diversity of experiences available through their peers. Through virtual meetings, research basics, communication skills and common geriatric principles were reviewed. Early discussions included current pandemic topics ranging from COVID19 incidence, hospitalization and mortality to prevention and vaccination hesitancy. The content of these discussions came from the students, and their engagement in the weekly, 2-hour-long meetings. The course facilitator provided a framework for the discussions, relevant background reading materials, and structured assignments designed to help students develop positive relationships with their research mentors, define themselves as a member of the research community, and understand and communicate their research. Method: Fellows were grouped into teams. Different tasks were assigned to each fellow. Team leaders encouraged individual fellows to complete their assigned tasks. Projects identified and project leaders assured completion of each Poster. Fellows learned the basics of literature review, statistical analysis (using SPSS) and reference management tools (e.g EndNote). Results: A total of 6 Virtual posters were accepted in 2 national conferences.TGRF is considered unique and innovative as there is an immediate need for geriatric-trained health care providers. Virtual Activities were designed to teach UMGs principles of research and critical evaluation of results during the pandemic.