The FIT Mentor Experience included several outstanding interactions that were personally rewarding and professionally refreshing. The FIT mentees were a highly motivated group of individuals with the sparkle present in most young faculty. They see a role for their contributions in making things better for patients who suffer from disease, as well as the prospect of establishing a professional focus that will allow them to gain experience and recognition and advance their professional goals. Although many young faculty have these ambitions, some are encouraged to pursue broad professional goals that assist their degree programs and institutions; however, such broad goals can distract from individual development and focus. The 1-week FIT Program provided the opportunity that all young faculty need: a chance to focus while also receiving guidance from those who have previously traveled this road.

In addition to the energy of young faculty seeking to advance their careers, the opportunity to join with a group of experienced faculty from around the country and to seek a common outcome of fostering success in the next generation of faculty was a welcome change from the frenzied pace of many professional meetings where a majority of interactions occur in the context of questions following platform presentations. It is interesting to observe others who have struggled to succeed in the peer-reviewed funding world and to relate to their prior frustrations as well as to learn new approaches to situations that present to all who seek federal funding to support their scholarly activity.

The Focused Investigator Training (FIT) Program is an invaluable opportunity for individuals on a research career track. It is a rare opportunity – a moment in time when you can temporarily leave behind competing responsibilities to thoroughly invest your time, skills, and energy into your own research goals. Remarkably, the FIT mentors are equally dedicated to and focused on the FIT participants and their research goals. It is exciting and rewarding to see the stewardship among the mentors and mentees – so many scholars devoted to the development of successful researchers. I believe the unique design of the FIT Program can advance a committed individual’s research plan by years.

“FIT made me aware of where I was in the process and how to get where I want to go”
Sandra Benavides, Pharm.D.

“The FIT mentors were colleagues and helpers and not ones to just ask for justifications for everything. I learned to be open abut opinions and accept new ideas. I worked hard on my proposal which changed significantly for the better”
Douglas T. Steinke, B. Sc. Pharm, M.Sc., Ph.D.

“FIT has been a remarkable program that has completely changed my approach for seeking NIH funding!”
Christopher R. Frei, Pharm.D., M.Sc.

“My focus on each FIT lecture/ session was to improve that section of my grant proposal. In that context there were numerous “ah-ha” moments”
Gary L. Cochran, B.S., Pharm.D.

During FIT “We learned a lot from each other. I thought it was great that our mentors were flexible with where we were and applied the lessons of the week to our individual needs Not only was the mentorship beneficial for me, but I will be a better mentor at home.”
David J. Feola, Pharm.D., Ph.D.

“Mentoring is the strength and success of FIT program, I now have the structure and confidence to submit a strong proposal”
Jennifer Le, Pharm.D., BCPS

“I gained the following benefits from attending FIT: Focus my hypothesis and aims, motivation to continue to pursue NIH funding, I learned a lot from the classes, and I learned a lot from the mentors.”
Leon E. Cosler, B.S. Pharm, M.S. Pharm Administration, Ph.D.

“In the NIH application process, success also depends on learning from the successes and failures of others. This is why the FIT program has been useful. Extremely useful!”
Nathan P. Wiederhold, Pharm.D.