April 15, 2010 – Dr. David Gerber, UNC Transplant Surgery Division Chief, was honored as an Outstanding Clinical Co-Mentor at the 2010 Translational Medicine Program Symposium at UNC-CH. Translational Medicine Program stemmed from a Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant awarded to UNC in 2006 and strives to engage graduate students in translational medicine. Students enter the program at the end of their first year and remain in the program until graduation.
“The strength of the program comes from augmenting the usual student-research PI team with a clinical co-mentor who helps guide the student’s research and immerses the student in clinical experiences, vocabulary, and the overall culture of clinical research.” The program also features a 2-semester human pathophysiology course, a closed door translational medicine seminar series, a lunch and learns meetings, and a yearly symposium on topics in translational medicine. Upon graduation from the program, trainees receive a certificate in translational medicine.