The purpose of IMMERSE is to fund and facilitate focused traineeship opportunities for full members of ACCP to acquire new skill(s) that will expand and/or enhance their clinical practice or research programs.

Program Details:

Experience Format/Duration: IMMERSE experiences may vary in length from a minimum of 5 days to maximum of 4 weeks in-person (not virtual/remote) with or without supplemental virtual/remote learning components. Estimated program length and design should be described in the experience/mentor application. The final experience plan will be determined by the mentor and participant trainee after the selection process is completed. All traineeship experiences must be completed by September 30, 2025.

Location(s): various.

Mentor Eligibility: established practice site or research program, generally with a minimum of 5 years practice/research experience. Mentors will generally be members of the PRN co-sponsoring the experience.

Participant Eligibility: participant trainees are full members of ACCP interested in acquiring a new skill(s) that will expand and/or enhance their clinical practice or research program. Participants need not be members of the PRN at the time of application/selection.

Award: Up to $8000 per program. The mentor’s institution is eligible for up to $4,000 and the participant trainee is eligible for up to $4,000 to help defray costs of participation. Examples of participation costs may include, but not necessarily be limited to supplies, transportation, lodging, and meal costs associated with the experience. A budget justification will be requested at the time the detailed IMMERSE experience plan is submitted (see below).

Training Experience/Mentor Application – Deadline to apply is July 1, 2024

The following information is required:

1. Brief description of advanced/unique clinical practice or research experience to be offered, including where the experience will take place, the estimated duration of the experience, and the mentor’s background/experience in the area of training (500 words or less)
2. Approval letter from department head/chair or equivalent unit administrator
3. Curriculum Vitae

PRN Application – Deadline to apply is August 1, 2024

Participant Application – Deadline to apply is November 15, 2024
The following information is required for the Foundation and PRN’s review (2-page limit for items 1 through 3 combined):

1. Describe the specific techniques, methodologies, or skills you would like to acquire during the proposed IMMERSE experience. The desired experience must be responsive to the opportunity described by the host mentor.
2. Describe your interest in the experience, including perceived benefits to you and your unit/department/institution. Specify the goals you will use to measure the outcome of the experience, how the new skill(s) will enhance your future performance as a researcher and/or clinician, and how the skill(s) will be applied to research/practice.
3. Provide an estimate of how much time you can commit to in-person training visits (including tentative weeks/months you could be available) and how much time you believe acquiring the skill described will require.
4. Institutional letter of support that grants permission for the needed time to complete the training and speaks to the likelihood of applicant’s success in the program.
5. Letter of support from internal collaborator or colleague that speaks to your likelihood of success in the program.
6. Curriculum vitae
   
   **Please note that additional information, agreements, and assurances may be required of the selected applicant to visit host institution(s).

Selection of Participants – Mentor/Participant Trainee matches announced by December 15, 2024)

Selection process:
• A 4-person panel from the co-sponsoring PRN and one member of the ACCP Foundation Board of Trustees will select up to three finalist mentees from the applicant pool for each award.
• The mentor selects the participant from the finalists.

Agreements and Traineeship Details – by March 1, 2025

• A detailed plan for the experience, including when (timeline) and where the experience(s) will take place, outcome measures, and budget justification.
• A letter from an authorized official at the host institution that all agreements required for a non-employee to be on-site for a traineeship have been successfully executed.
• Approval of timeline, experience design, and budget will be conveyed by March 15, 2025.

Traineeship Experiences Complete – by September 30, 2025

Presentation of Program Experience at the ACCP 2025 Annual Meeting

• Each participant trainee is expected to present the outcomes of their traineeship at ACCP Annual Meeting.
• Costs associated with attending the Annual Meeting are not eligible to be included in the training experience budget.