Identifying Ways to Make the BEST Program Even Better - Professor Stephanie Wengert Watts, Michigan State University

Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training – or ‘BEST’ – is a program that aims to help biomedical students to explore and pursue expanded career options beyond traditional academic positions. While the program has been in place for a few years, the views of participating faculty members on the value of BEST’s career development initiatives had never been collected. To fill this gap, Dr Stephanie Watts at Michigan State University and her collaborators asked faculty members at seven institutions participating in the BEST program to answer surveys and share their perceptions. By shedding light on the program’s strengths and weaknesses, the team’s findings will help to improve BEST initiatives, greatly benefitting the participating students.