Alison A. Moore, MD, MPH, Chief, Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine and Director, Center for Healthy Aging, Stein Institute for Research on Aging at University of California, San Diego (UCSD), believes that the Clin-STAR Visiting Professor Travel Fund is more than just a way to invite experts to campus—it’s a way to build lasting connections that enhance each institution’s reputation and research collaborations.

Dr. Moore has leveraged this fund twice to bring influential investigators to UCSD to share their unique insights on aging, health equity, and concerns of justice-involved older adults. “Having these luminaries present at Grand Rounds for both medicine and public health was a game-changer,” Dr. Moore said. “We also were able to host additional seminars, one-on-one meetings, and meals together, which allowed us to take full advantage of the expertise of these visiting professors and also build collaborations and encourage networking between a whole variety of people at UCSD.”

Dr. Moore’s first visiting professor was Brie Williams, MD, MS, a geriatrician who runs the Aging Research in Criminal Justice Health (ARCH) Network at UCSF and focuses on justice-involved older adults. Her visit sparked a meaningful partnership with UCSD faculty member Benjamin Han, MD, MPH, who is now working with ARCH on projects involving older adults with opioid use disorder.

The second visiting professor, Roland J. Thorpe, Jr, PhD, MS, a social epidemiologist in men’s health and aging equity at Johns Hopkins University, also left a lasting mark on UCSD. Dr. Moore said, “Roland’s visit resulted in a key connection with one of our trainees, who is now hoping to pursue a postdoc with him at Hopkins. These types of opportunities are exactly what the Clin-STAR program is all about—facilitating valuable mentorship and fostering professional growth.”

Dr. Moore encourages other institutions to apply for the Clin-STAR Visiting Professor Travel Fund. “This is an excellent way to bring top-tier researchers to your institution, engage with them meaningfully, and build lasting collaborations,” she said.

However, Dr. Moore is quick to acknowledge that the program’s success depends on administrative support. “You have to have the right team in place to make this happen,” she says. “It takes effort to coordinate schedules, plan events, and ensure that the visiting professor’s time is spent effectively. But this is very doable. It’s a positive for both the institution and for the investigators—both visiting professors and those at the host institution, especially early-stage investigators and trainees.”

For those interested in applying for the fund, Dr. Moore recommends starting with a conversation with your leadership and looking at researchers who could be a potential fit for your institution. Clin-STAR has simplified the application process and identified over 50 researchers available to participate. Other researchers may also be interested. Moore concluded, “I’ve seen the positive impact this program has had, and I encourage others to take advantage of it.”

The NIA-funded Clin-STAR Coordinating Center is a platform to advance transdisciplinary research, training and career development in aging. For more information, visit the Clin-STAR website.