Outreach Programs

Overview
One of the missions of TBRI is to connect with the local community through outreach efforts that include:

• Research internships
• Collaborations with other scientific organizations, colleges and universities, and
  health-related non-profit and governmental organizations
• Dissemination of useful health-related information
• Health-related educational activities with local schools

Research Internships

TBRI supports local educational programs and encourages undergraduate and graduate studies. High school students interested in pursuing scientific careers are afforded the opportunity to “shadow” our Principal Investigators (P.I.s) for a day or longer. College students are given opportunities to work side by side on various research projects with our scientists in the TBRI laboratories. This type of experience has helped students enter some of our nation’s top medical and graduate schools such as Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Baylor, to name a few. Internships related to on-going research at the Institute are available for high school, undergraduate and graduate students. These internships have provided invaluable hands-on experience to students in furthering their research education and training.

“The laboratory experience and wealth of knowledge I gained while conducting my undergraduate senior thesis research at TBRI provided me with an excellent scientific background from which to move on to the next level in my educational career.”  
–Eckerd College graduate

Science in Education

The TBRI scientific team and administrative staff often visit local elementary, middle and high schools to facilitate interactive health education learning labs and programs to promote health science vocations. Topics may include cancer, the immune system, molecular biology, or great scientific discoveries. We are also active participants in the Great American Teach-In.

For more information on internship opportunities, please contact TBRI at (727) 576-6675 ext. 123

Akiko’s Kids

The TBRI Health Education Committee has launched The Way to Health: Akiko’s Kids  program  to combat obesity among youths by using a holistic approach. Our solution emphasizes the need for youth to learn and follow healthy living patterns in order to become productive citizens. Developed by Jan Ballantine, a former St. Petersburg College professor, and TBRI President Dr. Akiko Tanaka, this after-school program emphasizes two critical elements: 1) developing a healthy body and 2) promoting a healthy mind. This is especially important for children as they live their Health Pathway, develop their Empowerment Pathway, and consider their Career Pathway. For this purpose, we have focused on at-risk populations that include African-American and Hispanic youth in the local area.

A number of Eckerd College students, serving as volunteer interns, have provided valuable assistance in facilitating the outreach of the Akiko’s Kids program.

After satisfactorily completing the program, the children have visited Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, which is one of the highlights of the program. We wish to thank the Zoo for kindly providing complimentary tickets for the children and the chaperones.

This beneficial after-school program has been supported by grants from Publix Super Markets Charities and the Suncoast Cardiovascular Research and Education Foundation (an affiliate of the American Heart Association). (visit Akiko's Kids page for more information)

Speakers Bureau

TBRI’s Speakers Bureau works to increase health awareness in the community. Dr. Douglas Knab, Chairman of the Speakers Bureau and a member of the TBRI Board of Trustees, is one of a number of speakers who can provide presentations on topics such as “Metabolic Syndrome,” “Fighting Diabetes,” and “Building a Healthy Diet.”

TBRI can also provide a speaker to introduce your organization to the Institute and its biomedical research and outreach programs. To arrange for a speaker at your next function, please contact TBRI at 727-576-6675 ext.123