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IGNORANCE FOUNDATION INC

TUCSON, AZ · EIN 860992852 · Form 990PF · FY2021 · NTEE B82 · Education · Micro (<$100K) · www.ignorance.medicine.arizona.edu
revenue
$20K
expenses
$20K
net assets
$2K
employees
profile · synthesized from sources

The Ignorance Foundation, operating as Q-Cubed, promotes inquiry-based learning and scientific discovery by focusing on "medical ignorance." It offers research programs and curricula for medical students, high school students, and K-12 teachers, primarily in collaboration with the University of Arizona. The organization aims to improve science education and health literacy through questioning techniques and hands-on research experiences.

named programs · 6 · from sources

what they call their work

Curriculum on Medical Ignorance (CMI)
An innovative curriculum that enriches medical student education by exploring the unknown, fostering questioning skills, and providing seminars, lectures, and clinical exercises.
Medical Student Research Program (MSRP)
A long-standing program offering short-term fellowships or extended full-time research experiences for medical students, including opportunities for joint MD/PhD degrees, in basic and clinical science settings.
NIH High School Student Program
A K-12 curriculum development and dissemination program that adapts the CMI to stimulate inquiry-based learning by questioning the unknown, involving K-12 students, teachers, and doctoral scientists.
Q-cubed Program
Focuses on Questions, Questioning, and Questioners to promote inquiry-based learning and discovery, sponsoring semi-annual conferences and facilitating interaction among apprentice and professional questioners in SIMI and MSRP programs.
Research Distinction Track
An academic credit program for medical students to pursue research.
Summer Institute on Medical Ignorance (SIMI)
A two-month program that employs disadvantaged high school students and K-12 science teachers in university laboratories at The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, providing hands-on research experience and teaching questioning techniques based on medical ignorance.
activities · 3 clusters

what they do

  • Medical Ignorance Research Apprenticeships 14 activities
    • Curriculum on Medical Ignorance (CMI) for K-12 and higher education
      Developed, adapted, and evaluated a K-12 version of the Curriculum on Medical Ignorance (CMI), a multimedia, inquiry-based learning program. Also implements CMI at the university level to enrich medical student education and promote faculty mentorship.
    • Curriculum on Medical Ignorance (CMI) for K-12 and higher education
      Develops and implements the Curriculum on Medical Ignorance (CMI), including a K-12 adapted version using multimedia tools to promote inquiry-based learning. The curriculum includes seminars, clinical exercises, questioning workshops, and has been applied in schools such as Baboquivari Intermediate School.
    • K-12 Curriculum Development and Implementation
      Develops, adapts, and evaluates a K-12 version of the University of Arizona's Curriculum on Medical Ignorance (CMI), a multi-media approach designed to stimulate inquiry-based learning in classrooms.
    • K-12 Curriculum Development and Implementation
      Develops, adapts, and evaluates a K-12 version of the University of Arizona's Curriculum on Medical Ignorance (CMI), a multi-media approach designed to stimulate inquiry-based learning, and has seen its questioning methodology applied in classrooms.
    • Medical Ignorance Collaboratory and Conferences
      Develops a medical ignorance collaboratory in virtual and real space to promote questioning and collaborative research nationally and globally, and sponsors semi-annual conferences to facilitate interaction between apprentice and professional questioners in medical research.
    • Medical Ignorance Collaboratory and Conferences
      Develops a medical ignorance collaboratory in virtual and real space to promote questioning and collaborative research nationally and globally. The organization also sponsors semi-annual conferences to facilitate interaction between apprentice and professional questioners in medical research.
    • Medical Ignorance Collaboratory and national capacity building
      Developing a virtual and physical medical ignorance collaboratory to promote questioning and collaborative research nationally and globally. Sponsors semi-annual conferences and fosters interaction between apprentice and professional questioners in medical research.
    • Medical Ignorance Collaboratory and national engagement
      Develops a virtual and physical medical ignorance collaboratory to promote questioning and collaborative research nationally and globally. Sponsors semi-annual conferences and fosters interaction between apprentice and professional researchers.
    • Research Apprenticeships for High School Students and K-12 Teachers
      Provides research apprenticeships to approximately 300 high school students and 100 K-12 teachers, requiring participants to produce final oral and written reports on research topics related to medical ignorance.
    • Summer Institute on Medical Ignorance (SIMI)
      Runs the Summer Institute on Medical Ignorance (SIMI) for high school, undergraduate, and medical students, featuring seminars, lectures, clinical exercises, workshops, and activities designed to stimulate questioning and creative thinking. Includes a documented instance in 2000 with outreach to K-12 education through teacher participation.
    • Summer Research Programs for Students and Teachers
      Operates annual summer research programs, including the Summer Institute on Medical Ignorance (SIMI), placing high school, undergraduate, and medical students, as well as K-12 science teachers, in medical laboratories and clinics at the University of Arizona. These programs enrich education, foster health literacy, and stimulate inquiry-based learning.
    • Summer Research Programs for Students and Teachers
      Operates annual summer research programs, including the Summer Institute on Medical Ignorance (SIMI), placing high school, undergraduate, and medical students, as well as K-12 science teachers, in medical laboratories and clinics at the University of Arizona. These programs enrich education, foster health literacy, and stimulate inquiry-based learning.
    • Summer research apprenticeships for high school students and K-12 teachers
      Operates an annual summer program placing approximately 25 high school students and 10 K-12 science teachers in medical laboratories and clinics at The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center. Has provided research apprenticeships to approximately 300 high school students and 100 K-12 teachers overall.
    • Summer research apprenticeships for students and teachers
      Operates annual summer programs that place approximately 25 high school students and 10 K-12 science teachers in medical laboratories and clinics at The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, providing hands-on research experience. The program includes final oral and written reports focused on medical ignorance.
  • Medical Student Research & Leadership Fellowships 4 activities
    • Medical Student Research Fellowships
      Awards short-term or extended full-time research fellowships, including NIH summer/vacation fellowships and the Lillian Bilyu and John J. Banchi Fellowship, to approximately 500 medical students. These fellowships provide stipends and support for research in basic and clinical settings, fostering research skills and clinical problem-solving.
    • Medical Student Research Fellowships
      Awards fellowships, including NIH summer/vacation fellowships and the Lillian Bilyu and John J. Banchi Fellowship, to approximately 500 medical students for short-term or extended full-time research experiences in basic and clinical research settings, providing stipends and support for laboratory supplies.
    • Medical Student Research Program (MSRP)
      Awards short-term fellowships and full-time research experiences to medical students, including NIH-funded summer fellowships with stipends and specialized awards like the Lillian Bilyu and John J. Banchi Fellowship. Since 1981, approximately 500 medical students have participated in the program.
    • Medical student research fellowships and training programs
      Administers the Medical Student Research Program (MSRP), awarding short-term or extended full-time research fellowships to approximately 500 medical students since 1981. Offers NIH-funded summer/vacation fellowships and specialized awards like the Lillian Bilyu and John J. Banchi Fellowship, providing stipends, research supplies, and mentorship in laboratory and clinical settings.
  • Research Grantmaking and Support Services 4 activities
    • Research Dissemination Support
      Supports students and teachers in presenting and publishing their research findings, including requiring participants to produce final oral and written reports, facilitating student research presentations, and supporting travel to biomedical research meetings. The organization also hosts an Annual College of Medicine Student Research Forum.
    • Support for Student and Teacher Research Dissemination
      Supports students and teachers in presenting and publishing their research findings, facilitates student research presentations, and supports preparation and travel to regional, national, and international biomedical research meetings, including hosting an Annual College of Medicine Student Research Forum.
    • Support for student research dissemination
      Facilitates student and teacher presentation and publication of research findings, including support for travel to regional, national, and international biomedical research meetings. Hosts the Annual College of Medicine Student Research Forum and requires final oral and written reports on research related to medical ignorance.
    • Support for student research dissemination
      Facilitates student and teacher presentation and publication of research findings, including support for travel to regional, national, and international biomedical research meetings. Hosts the Annual College of Medicine Student Research Forum.
financials · form 990PF · fy2021

the money

revenue
Total revenue$20K
Contributions & grants$20K100%
Program service revenue
Investment income$00%
Other revenue
expenses
Total expenses$20K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$2K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$2K
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +0.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

board members · 11
  • DENNIS ROHATYN PHD — DIRECTOR
  • EMIRENA M GARRAFA MD PHD — DIRECTOR
  • FRANCISCO GARCIA MD MPH — DIRECTOR
  • GARY L YANKER MBA JD — DIRECTOR
  • HERSCHELLA HORTON — DIRECTOR
  • JOHN EDWARDS PHD — DIRECTOR
  • MICHAEL JOYNER MD MS — DIRECTOR
  • PAUL CAPP MD — DIRECTOR
  • PETER M FRISHAUF — DIRECTOR
  • TODD C CASE MD — DIRECTOR
  • WALTER H WILLIAMS PHD MD — DIRECTOR
relationships · 14

who they work with

  • Arizona Health Sciences Center Partner — Students, teachers, and scientists are exposed to science in their specialized Centers of Excellence.
  • Baboquivari Intermediate School Partner — A teacher from the school participated in the Summer Institute for Medical Ignorance and implemented its methodology in her classroom.
  • College of Medicine Partner — The College of Medicine's Curriculum on Medical Ignorance is at the heart of Q-Cubed.
  • National Center for Research Resources Division of Clinical Research Funder — Supports the SEPA awards to improve life science literacy.
  • National Institutes of Health Government — Funds the Q-cubed program through the Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA).
  • National Institutes of Health - SEPA Funder — Sponsors the Summer Institute on Medical Ignorance (SIMI) program.
  • Sarver Heart Center Partner — The Lillian Bilyu and John J. Banchi Fellowship supports fellows working with a Sarver Heart Center investigator.
  • The University of Arizona Partner — Provides settings for student research fellows to work in diverse laboratory and patient care settings.
  • The University of Arizona Partner — Students work closely with faculty and other students at various levels in diverse laboratory and patient care settings at The University of Arizona.
  • University of Arizona Partner — Developed a K-12 version of their Curriculum on Medical Ignorance (CMI).
  • University of Arizona Partner — Hosts medical laboratories and programs including SIMI, MSRP, and Q-cubed under its medical education and research structure.
  • University of Arizona Partner — Hosts students in medical laboratories during summer programs.
  • University of Arizona Health Sciences Center Partner — Hosts student and teacher research activities through laboratory and clinical placements.
  • Western Federation for Medical Research (WFMR) Network — Facilitates regional student research networking through the WFMR.