Thank you to all of our students who participated in our panel discussion for undergraduates about MD/PhD programs are, the application process, and the types of research and clinical experiences our students have had prior to applying to these programs.
A big thank you to our fantastic panelists and everyone who attended our Microaggressions and Harassment Workshop! We were joined by Associate Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Dent, Chair of Surgery Dr. Kibbe, Assistant Professor of Pathology Dr. Qian, and Women’s Center Program Coordinator Shelley Gist.
We discussed stock phrases when encountering microaggressions, such as asking, “Did I hear you correctly?” or simply saying, “I understand this is probably not what you intended, but this is not appropriate for the workplace.” We discussed gently correcting patients and more firmly correcting colleagues about using correct professional titles. Because it is often most effective when someone else intervenes to correct behavior, we should be aware of when we see others experiencing microaggressions and step in if possible. In general, women tend to undervalue themselves and ask for more work and less pay than men, so it is important to research salaries before going into a negotiation. Dr. Kibbe recommended Linda Babcock’s Women Don’t Ask: The High Cost of Avoiding Negotiation–and Positive Strategies for Change. Finally, we discussed the importance of identifying mentors we can trust to go to with issues related to bias. Allie Shad is a psychiatric social worker and wellness coach for both the medical school and graduate school.
Thank you for joining us at our end of semester meeting today! One important take-away is that from now on, all positions are 1-2 year commitments (you may choose 1 or 2 years), and at the end of 2 years, you will need to reapply if you would like to continue with your current position. The application process is very easy. Here is the link: https://goo.gl/forms/SeKBw042gnvdh7GD2. The due date is Friday, January 12.
Thank you to everyone who attended our Fall Mentor Social on October 25, especially to our mentors Dr. Toni Darville (MD – Pediatrics, ID), Dr. Susan Henning (PhD – GI, Cell Biology).
We had a great discussion of articles on September 21 with Dr. Susan Henning and Dr. Rahima Benhabbour, PhD, assistant professor and part of the Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery within the UNC Eschelman School of Pharmacy. If you were unable to make it, the articles are listed below.
Thanks to everyone who joined us for a book club meeting about Cantor’s Dilemma by Carl Djerassi! We had a great discussion about ethical grey zones and building relationships with faculty members to whom students can go with ethical question.
We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting a conversation with UNC researchers in translational medicine on Tuesday, April 18th from 7-9pm at the home of Dr. Savoldo. Dr. Barbara Savoldo, Dr. Matthew Laughon, and Dr. Michael O’Shea will provide insights into their career paths in conducting clinical trials in pediatric oncology and neonatology.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for lunch with Distinguished Bowman and Gray Professor Jane Thrailkill as we explore the art of using literature to capture patient narratives. What is an illness metaphor? How does a patient express pain through the spoken and written word? How can we glean a better understanding of the patient experience through literary analysis in conjunction with our medical lens? These are questions that we explored in an interactive literary session with Dr. Thrailkill.
Thank you so much to everyone who came out to the mentor social. We were joined by several of our faculty mentors (the complete list of mentors can be found here), and had opportunities to discuss many topics, including grant submission, the importance of getting feedback on your grants, implicit bias and hurdles women in science still face, and the return to medical school. We always appreciate our mentors taking the time to join us, and plan to have a similar event in the spring.
Thanks to everyone who came out to watch and discuss the documentary Miss Representation on July 19th! What an incredible film and conversation.
For those who could not make it, check out The Representation Project for information on this documentary, their new film, The Mask You Live In, and other great resources.