Author Archives: Alison Mercer-Smith

 

Advocates for Inclusion in Medicine and Science Symposium serving as the APSA South-Atlantic Meeting

We are excited to announce that UNC Advocates for Inclusion in Medicine and Science (AIMS) is partnering with the American Physician Scientists Association to present the virtual annual symposium that brings together students who are interested in or currently pursuing a degree in medicine and/or science. Reflecting the advocacy in AIMS’s mission, the theme of this year’s virtual symposium focuses on advocacy: advocacy for patients, advocacy for peers, and advocacy for ourselves. The symposium will feature keynote speakers, including Dr. Lisa Carey and Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, as well as panels and workshops that work towards students’ professional development. Proceeds from this year’s symposium will go to White Coats Black Doctors Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to increase diversity in the medical field by supporting the development of future Black physicians. We welcome undergraduates, medical students, graduate students, dual-degree students, and residents to join us!

 

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, PhD

Scientific Lead, Coronavirus Vaccines & Immunopathogenesis Team,

National Institutes Of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

 

Dr. Lisa Carey, MD

Division Chief of Hematology-Oncology, Physician-in-Chief of NC Cancer Hospital

L. Richardson and Marilyn Jacobs Preyer Distinguished Professor for Breast Cancer Research, UNC

 

Symposium Agenda

Friday, October 23
6 pm – 9 pm EST: Evening networking, poster presentations, and live virtual oral presentations.

 

Saturday, October 24
10 – 12 am EST: Keynote presenters
12 – 1 pm EST: Lunch break

Concurrent Session 1: 1 – 2 pm EST
Research in Residency Panel
Applying to MD-PhD Programs Panel

Concurrent Session 2: 2 – 3 pm EST
Minimizing Disparities and Increasing Access to Healthcare with Dr. Erin Kent
Mentorship: how to find the right mentor and how to be a good mentor with Dr. Adrienne Cox

Concurrent Session 3: 3 – 5 pm EST
Peak Performance Module with Dr. Sarah Smithson
LGBTQ+ Allyship with Dr. April Callis

5 – 6 pm EST: Practical Mindfulness and Symposium Conclusion

 

To register, please click here. Registration is $3, and all proceeds will go to support White Coats Black Doctors Foundation. Abstracts are closed, but you can register up until the first day of the conference!

 

For questions, please contact Alison Mercer-Smith (alison_mercer-smith@med.unc.edu) or Rashmi Kumar (rashmi_kumar@med.unc.edu). We hope to see you (virtually) there!

Hello everyone,

The American Physician Scientist Association in conjunction Duke and UNC Medical Scientist Training Programs are proud to bring you the Triangle Diversity and Inclusivity in the Medical Sciences networking event. With this event we hope to promote networking opportunities between undergraduate students and current trainees, provide information about our training pathway, and introduce the benefits of a career in the medical sciences.

The event will take place at Duke’s Trent-Semans Center for Health Education this Saturday, March 30, from 6-8pm.

We are passionate about what we do and would love to share this passion with all interested students. If you would like to come, have dinner, and talk about the many opportunities that a physician scientist career can offer, please RSVP at https://physicianscientists.site-ym.com/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1203501&group=. We look forward to meeting you!

 

AIMS will be co-sponsoring a booth at the 2019 UNC Science Expo with the Carolina Genetics interest group (co-led by our very own Yasemin Cole).

 

When: Saturday, April 6th from 11am-4pm

What: Outreach activities with kids and North Carolinians!

How can I help?!

I realize this is the same weekend as the AAWSM regional symposium, but if you aren’t able to go we’d love your help volunteering at this event!

Sign-up in hour-long shifts here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044BAFA82DA1F58-uncscience

 

More details:

AIMS will be educating booth visitors about diverse scientists and their accomplishments through a matching card game (look for an event coming soon to help craft these cards!).

 

Carolina Genetics will be organizing some hands-on DNA activities:

• Base-pairing with gummies (https://www.yourgenome.org/activities/yummy-gummy-dna)
• DNA origami (https://www.yourgenome.org/activities/origami-dna)

Good afternoon everyone!

 

Next month we will be having our Spring Mentor Social on Thursday, April 25th. It will be a good chance to come and chat with the AIMS faculty mentors about their research, their careers, and ask any questions you might have! These mentors have volunteered their time and are excited to speak with you guys! Please see below for details. There will be food – Potluck sign-up link below!

 

UNC AIMS Spring Mentor Social 2019

Date: Thursday, April 25, 2019

Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm

 

Mentors who will be attending:

Dr. Toni Darville (MD – Pediatrics, ID)

Dr. Susan Henning (PhD – GI, Cell Biology)

Dr. Ayse Belger (PhD – Psych, Imaging)

Dr. Lynn Fordham (MD – Peds Radiology)

 

Sign Up HERE.

 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first co-sponsored social event of the year! AIMS teamed up with WiNS (Women in Science) and AM-WISE (Advocates for Minorities and Women in Science and Engineering) to host a fall mixer at Top of the Hill!

 

When: October 3rd (Wednesday) 5:30 p.m. onwards 

Where: TOPO, Chapel Hill

 

There will be free appetizers for all!

Poster: Wins_FallMixer_2018_v2

A big thank you to Dr. Carmen Williams, MD, PhD, the Deputy Chief of Reproductive and Developmental Biology at NIEHS, who came to campus to lead small group sessions and plenary talks.

2 pm: Picking a mentor and making the most out of PhD training in 132 MacNider

3 pm: Choosing a residency/post-doc and setting up your lab in 132 MacNider

4 pm: Plenary talk in Bondurant G030

AIMS Carmen Williams 082218