The NIDA International Program held an orientation for five INVEST Postdoctoral Research Fellows and 10 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows to introduce them to NIDA staff, programs, and public health priorities. Fellows heard from leaders across the Department of Health and Human Services, including Dr. Flora Katz of the Fogarty International Center, who shared fellowship opportunities, and representatives from the Health Resources and Services Administration, who discussed rural health initiatives.
NIDA experts highlighted efforts in health services research (Dr. Keisher Highsmith), criminal justice (Dr. Tisha Wiley), HIV and international prevention (Dr. Angela Lee-Winn), therapeutics (Dr. Ivan Montoya), science communication (Dr. Elizabeth Barfield), and youth education (Brian Marquis). NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow provided closing remarks.
The fellows appreciated the orientation, as it helped to shape their research goals and professional connections. Notably, the fellows described the orientation meeting as critical for their understanding of NIDA’s mission and how it aligned with their own research goals.
“Hearing about the priorities of different NIDA divisions gave me a clearer sense of direction. It helped me identify key areas where my work could have the most impact and how I could tailor my grant writing to highlight those intersections,” said Tara Rezapour, INVEST fellow.
According to Rezapour, insights from the orientation meeting played a crucial role in shaping a grant proposal she began to prepare early in her fellowship. “The NIDA orientation meeting was a pivotal experience that helped me refine my research goals and build meaningful connections,” said Rezapour. “It established a strong foundation for my fellowship journey, both scientifically and socially.”