2019 SCMS Conference Program Book

September 19–20, 2019 | The Cal Turner Family Center for Student Education Meharry Medical College, 1011 21st Ave. N, Nashville, TN 37208

Science and Health:

A Pathway Forward through STEM

This SCMS Conference has the potential of contributing to the nation’s diverse pool of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals through exposing faculty and students to career pathways such as the biomedical sciences, research, and the health professions.

September 19, 2019

I would argue … the challenges that we’re seeing in black male entry into the field is a function of a number of underlying issues that affect low-income students, that affect men, that affect … people who have different types of talents, people who are scientifically gifted and might have a lot of options. And so we see it first among African- American males, but there is likely a confluence of factors that are affecting other people as well.

—Anne C. Beal, MD, MPH As the President and Chief Executive Officer, it is a pleasure to welcome you to the campus of Meharry Medical College.

As students and faculty members, you have a unique opportunity to participate in this STEM program supported by the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP) through the US Department of Education. We thank you for your commitment to attend and participate as we address a critical need in our educational future, the diversity of our workforce, the preparation of a competitive minority applicant pool of students interested in science and health, and increasing the number of black students who will become future engineers and doctors.

This year, Meharry is pleased to work again with André Churchwell, MD, Interim Vice Chancellor of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance as we focus on increasing the number of black males interested in medicine through a shared program entitled Navigating the Pre-Health Pathway into Medicine: The Black Male Initiative on the morning of September 20, 2019.

We are extremely privileged to lead the Science Consortium of Minority Schools (SCMS) that include Fisk University; Tennessee State University; and Paine, Lane, and LeMoyne Owen Colleges. Funding from the Department of Education/MSEIP has made it possible for these historically black colleges and universities to impact student success through STEM. This consortium is a model for improving the chances of African-American students enrolling and succeeding in STEM careers.

The SCMS, Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance, Tennessee Area Health Education Center (TN AHEC), National Library of Medicine/Environmental Health Information Partnership, and American College of Cardiology are excited about working together to expand the diversity of the existing pool of students in engineering and medicine as we address the disparities of black females in engineering and lack of black males in medicine.

We believe your participation in this conference will produce considerable institutional pride and personal satisfaction by offering relevant and current information about STEM and health care careers through mentoring and counseling.

We look forward to an outstanding interactive conference and hope that you enjoy the coming two days.

Sincerely,

James E. K. Hildreth, Ph.D., M.D. President and Chief Executive Officer Meharry Medical College

September 19, 2019

September 19, 2019

Four years ago, Dr. James Hildreth, President of Meharry Medical College, and I had an idea to host a summit to inspire the coming generations of African-American students into the medical field and other health sciences. Fast forward to today. With the support of the MeharryFour years ago, Dr. James of Meharry Medical College, and I had an idea to host a summit to Vanderbilt Alliance and Hildreth, SciencePresident Consortium of Minority Schools funded by the Department of inspire the coming generations of African-American students into the medical field and other health sciences. Fast Education, we are proud to fulfill this call to action!

forward to today. With the support of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance and Science Consortium of Minority Schools funded the Department of Education, we are fulfillfrom this call to action! physicians, recent We lookbyforward to spending the day with youproud as wetohear established medical school graduates, other allied all are working behind the scenes We look forward to spendingand the day with youprofessionals as we hear fromwho established physicians, recent medical school to invite more African-Americans into medicine.

As you leave today, our hope is that you find graduates, and other allied professionals who all are working behind the scenes to invite more African-Americans mentors who can coach you all the successful into medicine.

As you leave today, ourway hopetoisathat you find career. mentors who can coach you all the way to a successful career.

This moment in time is crucial. According to U.S. News and World Report, roughly 6 percent of This moment in timeare is crucial.

According to U.S. News World Report, roughly 6 percentthat of today’s today’s physicians African-American.

We are alland aware of the barriers to success face physicians are African-American.

We are all aware of the barriers to success that face young students: finance, young students: finance, racism, low self-esteem, institutional barriers, etc. Today, we wantracism, to startlow selfinstitutional we want start a conversation thatwhat’s changes this paradigm and to show aesteem, conversation that barriers, changesetc. thisToday, paradigm andtoto show young people possible. young people what’s possible.

Thank you for investing your time with us and in your future.

Thank you for investing your time with us and in your future.

Sincerely, Sincerely,

André L. Churchwell, MD

André L. Churchwell, MD Levi Watkins, Jr., M.D. Chair Levi Watkins, Jr., M.D. Chair Interim Vice Chancellor of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and Interim Chief Diversity Officer Interim Vice Chancellor of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and Interim Chief Diversity Officer Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University Chief Diversity Officer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Chief Diversity University Medical Center Senior AssociateOfficer, Dean forVanderbilt Diversity Affairs Senior Associate Dean for Diversity Affairs Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Vanderbilt School of Medicine Professor ofUniversity Medicine (Cardiology) Professor of Radiological Sciences Professor ofRadiology Medicineand (Cardiology) Professor of Professor ofBiomedical RadiologyEngineering and Radiological Sciences Professor of Biomedical Engineering

September 19, 2019

Welcome Students, Faculty and Staff: As the Science Consortium of Minority Schools (SCMS) leader, we are delighted to welcome you to the first annual science and health interactive conference. Members of the SCMS are Fisk University, Lane College, Tennessee State University, LeMoyne-Owen College and Paine College. The goals of the Consortium are to increase the number of African-American students, especially women who enroll, graduate, and select careers in science and engineering and to increase the number of black males who select the health professions, especially medicine.

As a part of this first interactive conference, subtitled Science and Health: A Pathway Forward through STEM, we are working collaboratively with the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance, Tennessee Area Health Education Centers, NLM Environmental Health Information Partnership, and American College of Cardiology. This new strategic collaborative approach provides minority students with a clear educational pathway that includes mentoring, advising, counseling, STEM summer sessions, shared faculty and opportunities. This program includes demonstrated access to scholarships, fellowships, mentors, and courses in science, health professions, and engineering.

For this inaugural conference, we have developed an interactive program to address key areas of information and best practice for minority students interested in STEM and medicine. Sessions will enhance minority student success toward matriculation by providing targeted information to students and their mentors; and inviting women engineers, scientists, and doctors to serve as career models as they tell their stories. General and working sessions are aimed at creating solid, tangible and useful information to assist minority students in improving educational outcomes in engineering and medicine.

We thank 1Joshua Group and the Meharry-Vanderbilt team for their commitment to develop this program, identify speakers, and refine this significant start to an ongoing conversation about the need to increase and diversify the workforce for the nation.

We hope that you are committed to becoming members of a more diverse pool of scientists, engineers, and health professionals that meets the critical needs of minority communities and the nation.

Sincerely,

Patricia Matthews-Juarez, PhD Project Director, Professor Department of Family and Community Medicine Senior Vice President Office of Faculty Affairs and Development Office of the President Meharry Medical College

September 19, 2019

We welcome you to our first conference focused on increasing the percentage of women in engineering and African-American men in medicine. Empowering minority students into STEM careers is a pathway for expanding the workforce of the nation.

Over these next two days, you will meet successful scientists and health care professionals who chose the journey that you are taking. The good news is that you will have an opportunity at this conference to speak with role models about their journeys and challenges. The better news is that you will work with mentors, advisors, and counselors who can provide accurate and encouraging information that will be priceless as you continue your journey.

The Science Consortium of Minority Schools (SCMS) is a collective effort of identified HBCU schools to improve enrollment, retention and graduation rates of African-American and female students interested in STEM. These schools are sharing resources to improve the curriculum and the educational experience for students. It is my pleasure to collaborate with such a committed team of educators on a project that has the potential to be a model for other HBCU schools. These educators have a dedicated passion for nurturing students who aspire to be scientists and engineers. They are here at our first annual conference to be a resource to the students and to each other.

We want this activity to be an experience that does not end with the Conference but extends to relationships and ideas that serve as a pathway to your future.

Thank you for coming and we cannot wait to meet you.

Sincerely,

Veronica Burns Project Director, Science Consortium of Minority Schools Office of Faculty Affairs and Development Meharry Medical College

About Meharry Medical College Meharry Medical College, a United Methodist Church related institution, is the nation’s largest private, independent, historically black academic health sciences center whose primary focus is educating health science professionals. Since 1876, Meharry Medical College has been a leading educator of African-American physicians, dentists, biomedical scientists, and public health professionals.

Meharry Medical College is a global academic health sciences center advancing health equity through innovative research, transformative education, exceptional and compassionate health services and policy-influencing thought leadership. True to its legacy, Meharry empowers diverse populations to improve the well-being of humankind.

Meharry Medical College is particularly well known for our uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs. We have a growing emphasis on health disparities research and deliver culturally relevant, culturally competent evidence-based health services. Year after year, we make a significant contribution to the diversity of the nation’s health professions workforce.

Access to health care for the under-served and underrepresented continues to be a top priority for the nation. An Institute of Medicine report, “Unequal Treatment,” found that the sources of disparity in health care are complex.

They are rooted in historic and contemporary inequities involving many participants at several levels, including health systems, utilization managers, insurers, healthcare professionals, and patients. The key solution, according to the report, is substantially increasing the number of underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities among the nation’s healthcare workforce.

We are proud that Meharry Medical College graduates are part of this solution. More than 80 percent of our medical and dental graduates practice in under-served communities.

The education of graduate students in the fields of biomedical research and public health continues to be a high priority at Meharry. There is a growing national shortage of African-American science faculty, especially biomedical scientists, at the college level. Meharry is proud of its Ph.D., M.S.P.H., and M.H.S. programs that address this national need to educate the next generation of scientists and healthcare professionals.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy at Meharry Medical College is strategically housed here to provide leadership in health policy education, training, and research to doctoral, medical, dental, and graduate students.

About Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance In the fall of 1998, Dr. John Maupin, President of Meharry Medical College, and Dr. Harry Jacobson, Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs and Director of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, began informal talks to explore opportunities for a mutually beneficial collaboration. A series of meetings at both campuses was held with chairs from the Schools of Medicine departments.

Both Meharry and Vanderbilt had existed since the mid-1870s, but they were completely separate.

There were brief interchanges from time to time, and a few faculty from both campuses would teach or conduct joint research programs. However, there was little or no interchange otherwise.

With the changing patterns of healthcare, managed care, increasing costs, more specialization of clinical care and the need for collaborative efforts, Maupin and Jacobson set about determining the areas of common interest between the institutions. After nearly a year of faculty meetings, it was determined that there were areas of common interest to be explored. Collaborative areas included: • • • • • •

undergraduate medical education, with a focus on the clinical years for senior electives and third-year clerkships; shared residency training programs; shared library services and informatics; joint research and research training programs; collaboration with community partners, focusing on care to the uninsured, poorly insured and under-served populations; and surgery, pediatrics, ophthalmology, orthopedics, urology, cardiology and other medical specialties.

The Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance opened on Jan. 2, 1999, under the leadership of Dr. Clifton K. Meador. Dr. Meador served as Executive Director until he retired in 2012. A search committee with members from both institutions was formed just before his retirement to recruit the Alliance’s next leader. Dr. Consuelo H. Wilkins was announced as the new Executive Director, and she began in June 2012, leading the new focus of the Alliance in Community Based Research.

About the Science Consortium of Minority Schools This Science Consortium of Minority Schools (SCMS) was established to create an achievement coalition for STEM success. The technical support and services provided by the SCMS will enhance the curriculum and the programs offered at Lane College, Tennessee State University, LeMoyne-Owen College and Paine College. The goal of the SCMS is to increase the number of AfricanAmerican Students, especially women who enroll, graduate, and select careers in science and engineering fields. The SCMS is led by Meharry Medical College in partnership with Fisk University. The four minority institutions along with the lead institutions were selected based on their long-term trackrecord for implementing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) undergraduate, advance degree, and summer programs.

Each of these colleges and universities has the potential of contributing to the nation’s diverse pool of STEM professionals. This new Consortium will enhance each institution’s effort to recruit, enroll, and graduate a competitive pool of students with degrees in science and engineering. The collaboration under this Consortium will provide a pathway for coordinating STEM summer sessions, share faculty and provide students with more access to scholarships, fellowships, mentors, and courses in science and engineering.

We are committed to creating a more diverse pool of scientists and engineers that meets the critical needs of the minority communities and the nation.

PAINE

About the Conference The conference structure includes sessions and tracks on faculty development in curricular enhancement, mentoring and advising on recruitment, retention, and developing summer bridge research programs and activities for students.

The sessions and tracks will also include workshops on curriculum design and innovative methods of teaching science and engineering.

Overall Objectives • Provide students interested in STEM to meet and network across HBCU campuses; • Provide opportunity for those who teach to have ready access to faculty development and in-service training to improve student achievement and graduation rates; • Coordinate and share resources that will support and enhance the work of the HBCUs producing STEM graduates; • Create and maintain a sustainable mechanism that allows the Consortium to share with other similar HBCUs, colleges and universities the lessons learned and to acquire new academic perspectives on how to effectively develop and maintain a competitive pool of African-American students and women that will become scientists and engineers.

Table of Contents 14 18 25 31 34

Thursday, September 19th Agenda Friday, September 20th Agenda About the Conference Speakers 2019 Conference Registrants Special Acknowledgments

Grant Number P120A180072 is sponsored by the Department of Education. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), or the U.S. Government.

Program at a Glance September 19, 2019

September 20, 2019

Breakfast

8:00 AM 8:30 AM 9:00 AM 9:30 AM

Navigating the Pre-Health Pathway into Medicine: The Black Male Initiative

10:00 AM 10:30 AM 11:00 AM 11:30 AM 12:00 PM 12:30 PM

Greetings & Opening Lunch & Keynote

Keynote

1:00 PM 1:30 PM

Breakout Sessions (1A & 1B)

2:00 PM 2:30 PM

The Science of Seeing: Demonstrations Tracks (1A, 1B, & 1C)

Breakout Sessions

3:00 PM

(2A & 2B)

3:30 PM

Takeaways & Lessons Learned

4:00 PM

Networking Lunch

The Science of Seeing: Demonstrations Tracks (2A, 2B, & 2C)

Lessons Learned & Wrap-Up

4:30 PM 5:00 PM

STEM Networking Reception

5:30 PM

13 Day 1 Registration begins at 10:00 AM. Day 2 Registration begins at 7:30 AM.

PROGRAM AGE NDA — SE PTE M BE R 19, 2019 BALLROOM B • 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Welcome: Greetings and Opening Remarks Greetings and Opening Remarks

Patricia Matthews-Juarez, PhD

James E. K. Hildreth, PhD, MD

Project Director, Professor Department of Family and Community Medicine Senior Vice President Office of Faculty Affairs and Development Office of the President Meharry Medical College

President, Chief Executive Officer, Professor Department of Medicine Professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Physiology Meharry Medical College

Greetings, Opening Remarks, and Introduction of Video on Minority Schools Working Together

Veronica Burns Project Director, Science Consortium of Minority Schools Office of Faculty Affairs and Development Meharry Medical College

BALLROOM B • 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Lunch & Keynote The Art of Mentoring, Advising, Coaching, and Tutoring

Keynote: My STEM Journey

Bryan K. Wallace, EdD

Professor Associate Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research College of Engineering Tennessee State University

Assistant Professor Director of Physics Laboratories Coordinator of Rocketry Department of Life and Physical Sciences Fisk University

Frances Williams, PhD

14 Day 1 • Science and Health: A Pathway through STEM

PROGRAM AGE NDA — SE PTE M BE R 19, 2019 ROOM 204 • 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Concurrent Breakout Session 1A Women in Engineering — Persistence and Perseverance: Challenging the Stereotype of Women in Engineering

Andrea L. Tyler, PhD Director Graduate Student Services and Research Associate Tennessee State University

ROOM 211 • 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Concurrent Breakout Session 1B Scientific Writing — Why and How

Bill Miller Instructor, Biology Lane College

15 Day 1 • Science and Health: A Pathway through STEM

PROGRAM AGE NDA — SE PTE M BE R 19, 2019 ROOM 204 • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Concurrent Breakout Session 2A Women in Engineering — Persistence and Perseverance: Challenging the Stereotype of Women in Engineering

Andrea L. Tyler, PhD Director Graduate Student Services and Research Associate Tennessee State University

ROOM 211 • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Concurrent Breakout Session 2B Scientific Writing — Why and How

Bill Miller Instructor, Biology Lane College

16 Day 1 • Science and Health: A Pathway through STEM

PROGRAM AGE NDA — SE PTE M BE R 19, 2019 BALLROOM B • 3:45 PM – 4:20 PM

Takeaways and Lessons Learned An Open Discussion

Veronica Burns Project Director, Science Consortium of Minority Schools Office of Faculty Affairs and Development Meharry Medical College

BALLROOM B • 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

STEM Networking Reception

17 Day 1 • Science and Health: A Pathway through STEM

PROGRAM AGE NDA — SE PTE M BE R 20, 2019 BALLROOM B • 8:30 AM – 8:45 AM

Welcome and Opening Remarks Introduction

Patricia Matthews-Juarez, PhD Project Director, Professor Department of Family and Community Medicine Senior Vice President Office of Faculty Affairs and Development Office of the President Meharry Medical College Welcome and Opening Remarks

James E. K. Hildreth, PhD, MD

André L. Churchwell, MD

President, Chief Executive Officer, Professor Department of Medicine Professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Physiology Meharry Medical College

Levi Watkins, Jr., M.D., Endowed Chair Interim Vice Chancellor of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and Interim Chief Diversity Officer Vanderbilt University Chief Diversity Officer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Senior Associate Dean for Diversity Affairs Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences Professor of Biomedical Engineering

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

18 Day 2 • Science and Health: A Pathway through STEM

PROGRAM AGE NDA — SE PTE M BE R 20, 2019 BALLROOM B • 8:45 AM – 11:45 AM

Navigating the Pre-Health Pathway into Medicine: The Black Male Initiative Challenges and STEM

Christina K. Keeton Co-Director, Program Manager Biomedical Research Education and Training Vanderbilt University

Christopher S. English, MD Assistant Professor Cardiology Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Financial Aid and Admissions

Catherine Fuchs, MD

Heather H. Boutell, MEd

Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Co-Chair Admissions Committee Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Director of Financial Aid Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy

Elizabeth Bowman, PhD

Christina K. Keeton, PhD

Assistant Director Biomedical Research Education and Training Vanderbilt University

Co-Director, Program Manager Biomedical Research Education and Training Vanderbilt University

Shared Experiences: A Pathway Forward Imposter Syndrome

Teminioluwa Ajayi, MD, MPH Internal Medicine, PGY2 Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Nathaniel T. Yohannes Medical Student, Yr 4 (VMS4) Vanderbilt University

Victor Ukwu, MD Family Medicine Resident, PGY3 Meharry Medical College

19 Day 2 • Science and Health: A Pathway through STEM

PROGRAM AGE NDA — SE PTE M BE R 20, 2019 BALLROOM B • 9:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Navigating the Pre-Health Pathway into Medicine: The Black Male Initiative Moderated Panel Discussion Moderator

Panelist

Kevin Johnson, MD

Teminioluwa Ajayi, MD, MPH

Chair, Department of Biomedical Informatics Professor of Biomedical Informatics Professor of Pediatrics Vanderbilt University

Internal Medicine, PGY2 Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Panelist

Panelist

Nathaniel Yohannes

Victor Ukwu, MD

Medical Student, Yr 4 (VMS4) Vanderbilt University

Family Medicine Resident, PGY3 Meharry Medical College

BALLROOM B • 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM

Networking Lunch 20

Day 2 • Science and Health: A Pathway through STEM

PROGRAM AGE NDA — SE PTE M BE R 20, 2019 BALLROOM B • 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM

Keynote Introduction

Keynote Speaker

Sherry Painter, PhD

Terrell L. Strayhorn, PhD

Chairperson Division of Natural & Mathematical Sciences LeMoyne-Owen College

Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs LeMoyne-Owen College

ROOM 204 • 1:30 PM – 2:20 PM

The Science of Seeing: Demonstrations Track 1A The Wonders of Physics

Bryan K. Wallace, EdD Assistant Professor of Physics, Director of Physics Laboratories, and Coordinator of Rocketry Department of Life and Physical Sciences Fisk University

21 Day 2 • Science and Health: A Pathway through STEM

PROGRAM AGE NDA — SE PTE M BE R 20, 2019 ROOM 211 • 1:30 PM – 2:20 PM

The Science of Seeing: Demonstrations Track 1B Resumé and Personal Statement Writing

Sherry Stokes Rutherford, MA Employer Relations Liaison/Career Coach Academic Affairs Lane College

ROOM 212 • 1:30 PM – 2:20 PM

The Science of Seeing: Demonstrations Track 1C Challenges to a STEM Degree — Managing Your Finances

Raul Peters, PhD

Anna-Gay D. Nelson, PhD

Associate Professor of Physics Mathematics, Sciences & Technology Paine College

Assistant Professor Chemistry Paine College

22 Day 2 • Science and Health: A Pathway through STEM

PROGRAM AGE NDA — SE PTE M BE R 20, 2019 ROOM 204 • 2:25 PM – 3:15 PM

The Science of Seeing: Demonstrations Track 2A The Wonders of Physics

Bryan K. Wallace, EdD Assistant Professor of Physics, Director of Physics Laboratories, and Coordinator of Rocketry Department of Life and Physical Sciences Fisk University

ROOM 211 • 2:25 PM – 3:15 PM

The Science of Seeing: Demonstrations Track 2B Resumé and Personal Statement Writing

Sherry Stokes Rutherford, MA Employer Relations Liaison/Career Coach Academic Affairs Lane College

23 Day 2 • Science and Health: A Pathway through STEM

PROGRAM AGE NDA — SE PTE M BE R 20, 2019 ROOM 212 • 2:25 PM – 3:15 PM

The Science of Seeing: Demonstrations Track 2C Challenges to a STEM Degree — Managing Your Finances

Raul Peters, PhD

Anna-Gay D. Nelson, PhD

Associate Professor of Physics Mathematics, Sciences & Technology Paine College

Assistant Professor Chemistry Paine College

BALLROOM B • 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Lessons Learned and Wrap-Up The Commitment to Move Forward — Changing the Paradigm

Patricia Matthews-Juarez, PhD Project Director, Professor Department of Family and Community Medicine Senior Vice President Office of Faculty Affairs and Development Office of the President Meharry Medical College

24 Day 2 • Science and Health: A Pathway through STEM

ABOUT TH E SPEAKE R S Teminioluwa Ajayi Teminioluwa Ajayi is a Nigerian native who graduated from Texas A&M University with a BSc. In Molecular and Cellular Biology and a Masters in Public Health. Following his undergraduate education, he worked as a Program Manager for a year at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences., before completing his medical education at Duke University School of Medicine. He is currently a resident physician in the internal medicine program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He has been involved in multiple leadership and research positions. He successfully co-founded Grow With Nigeria, a non-profit focused on STEM education for Nigerian pre-medical students, and Doksta Medical Education, a medical education company that provides networking and board examination preparation resources for African medical students.

Heather H. Boutell, MEd Heather Boutell began her position as Director of Financial Aid at Vanderbilt School of Medicine in January 2019. She has worked in financial aid for 28 years at various institutions, and was most recently Director at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY. Heather has been active in the Kentucky and Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and served on the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Board of Directors in several roles. Next month, Heather heads to Washington, DC, to meet with Congress members about the importance of aid programs for graduate and professional students.

Elizabeth A. Bowman, PhD Elizabeth Bowman, Ph.D., is Assistant Director, Graduate Programs in Biomedical Sciences and Co-Director of the Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy. She earned her doctoral degree at Emory University in Biochemistry, Cell, and Developmental Biology. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. In her current role, Dr. Bowman is particularly interested in helping prospective and early-phase graduate students navigate the unique challenges of training to become a biomedical scientist. She hosts a blog call “Materials & Methods.”

Veronica Burns Veronica Burns coordinates the Science Consortium of Minority Schools. Veronica is an accomplished business partner and leader in human resources best practices.

Veronica has a broad base of experience in both educational and healthcare environments. She is a solutions oriented human resource professional, which includes developing and training professionals for career advancement. Veronica’s interest in STEM education and the improvement of student achievement comes from the years she has spent creating mentoring relationships for professionals and students. She has spent much of her time in promoting literacy and student achievement through corporate involvement and community service. Veronica’s expertise includes salary administration, strategic planning, organizational design, leadership coaching, performance management, career counseling and dispute resolution. Veronica’s education background includes an earned B.S. in Psychology from Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois.

André L. Churchwell, MD Dr. André L. Churchwell is Chief Diversity Officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Senior Associate Dean for Diversity Affairs at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, a Professor of Medicine (Cardiology), a Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, and a Professor of Biomedical Engineering. In 2019, Dr. Churchwell was named Interim Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and Interim Chief Diversity Officer for Vanderbilt University. He serves on many medical school committees including the Admission and Promotion Committees. In 2005, he was named the Walter R. Murray Jr. Distinguished Alumnus by the Association of Vanderbilt Black Alumni for lifetime achievements in personal, professional and community arenas. And in 2015, Vanderbilt University endowed him with the Levi Watkins, Jr., M.D. Chair for achievements in the area of diversity and inclusion.

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ABOUT TH E SPEAKE R S Catherine Fuchs, MD I am Co-Chair of Admissions Committee for Vanderbilt University Medical School and a Master Clinical Teacher in VUMS for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

I have clinical expertise in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Consultation Liaison to Pediatric programs, and my clinical research is in pediatric delirium. I co-developed the Pediatric Confusion and Assessment Method for the ICU (pCAM-ICU) for assessment of school-aged children and the Pre-School Confusion and Assessment Method for the ICU (psCAM-ICU) for assessment of preschoolers. My additional field of expertise is College Mental Health.

Kevin Johnson, MD Dr. Kevin Johnson, Professor and Chair of Biomedical Informatics, Professor of Pediatrics, and Chief Academic Office of the Vanderbilt Informatics Center, is the author of over 100 papers and abstracts relating to the use of health information technology to improve health care, especially in children. He has participated in numerous Study Sections, and has served on a NIH Advisory Council. His knowledge about health information technology and patient safety has led to a recent election into the Institute of Medicine. He has held numerous leadership positions within AMIA (biomedical informatics professional society) and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He has mentored over 50 learners, in addition to teaching in pediatrics as a ward attending, clinic preceptor and educator. Dr. Johnson was elected into Vanderbilt’s Academy for Excellence in Teaching.

James E. K. Hildreth, PhD, MD Dr. James E. K. Hildreth graduated from Harvard magna cum laude in chemistry in 1979 and enrolled at Oxford University in England, graduating with a PhD in immunology in 1982. He attended Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, taking a one-year leave of absence from medical school for a postdoctoral fellowship in pharmacology from 1983 to 1984.

In 1987 he obtained his MD from Johns Hopkins and joined the Hopkins faculty as assistant professor.

In 2002, Dr. Hildreth became the first African American in the 125-year history of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine to earn full professorship with tenure in the basic sciences. In July, 2005, Dr. Hildreth became director of the NIH-funded Center for AIDS Health Disparities Research at Meharry Medical College.

In August of 2011, Dr. Hildreth became dean of the College of Biological Sciences at University of California, Davis. He was the first African-American dean in the university. He was also appointed as a tenured professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology as well as professor in the Department of Internal Medicine in the UC Davis School of Medicine.

On July 1, 2015, Dr. Hildreth returned to Meharry Medical College to serve as the 12th president and chief executive officer of the nation’s largest private, independent historically black academic health sciences center.

26

Christina K. Keeton, PhD Dr. Keeton is a Program Manager for the Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (IMSD) at Vanderbilt University and Co-Director of the Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy.

As Program Manager, she serves as recruiter, advocate and mentor for underrepresented students pursuing a doctorate in biomedical research and is administrator of academic, social and community activities of the IMSD program. As Co-Director, she facilitates summer research experiences for undergraduate students from across the country culminating in a symposium that includes poster and oral presentations. She developed her passion for empowering students in STEM while earning her own doctorate in biochemistry at Vanderbilt University.

ABOUT TH E SPEAKE R S Patricia Matthews-Juarez, PhD Dr. Matthews-Juarez has extensive experience in medical education, research training, administration and management. She established the first office of Faculty Affairs and Development in the School of Medicine and at the institutional level at Meharry Medical College (Meharry). Her past academic positions have included the administrator for the MeharryMorehouse-Drew Consortium Cancer Center. In this role, she coauthored the first national grant for the National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer. She was the vice chair/administration for the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. Most recently, she was the cofounding director of the Research Center on Health Disparities, Equity, and the Exposome, University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee and Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine. Currently, she is the vice president for the Office of Faculty Affairs and Development and tenured professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Meharry.

She is the project director for two HRSA grants: The College-wide Patient-Centered Medical Home Project and the Primary Care Training and Enhancement/ Academic Unit Project: National Center on Medical Education Development and Research.

Bill Miller, PhD Dr. Bill Miller currently teaches ecology and environmental biology, biological chemistry, scientific writing, and seminar at Lane College, Jackson, Tennessee. Bill Miller, Ph.D., is a retired agricultural research scientist, Lilly Research Laboratories and Dow Chemical Company. He earned B.S. and M.S degrees in plant and soil science with minors in animal science from Tennessee State University in Nashville. He earned a Ph.D. degree in plant and soil science with a minor in chemistry from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Anna-Gay D. Nelson, PhD Dr. Anna-Gay Nelson is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Paine College in the Department of Mathematics, Sciences, and Technology.

She holds a Ph.D. in Actinide Chemistry (University of Notre Dame) and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (Tougaloo College). Dr. Nelson continued her research studies as a post-doctoral scientist in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Michigan. Dr. Nelson joined Paine College as a full-time faculty member in Fall 2017.

Dr. Nelson is currently teaching upper level Chemistry courses (Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry) and is currently the Chemistry Faculty advisor and the co-advisor to the Senior class.

Dr. Nelson was one of three faculty selected to attend the NSF Life STEM Capacity Building Workshop at Morgan State University on February 26-27, 2018.

Sherry Painter, PhD Dr. Sherry Painter is an associate professor of chemistry and has taught at LeMoyne-Owen College for 15 years. Since Fall 2014, she has served as the chairperson for the Division of Natural & Mathematical Sciences. Dr. Painter has a PhD in Biophysical Organic Chemistry from Vanderbilt University and a BS in Chemistry from Western Kentucky University. Dr. Painter’s research interests lie in the area of science education and she has a passion for science outreach in the early middle school grades.

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ABOUT TH E SPEAKE R S Raul Peters, PhD Dr. Raul Peters is an Associate Professor of Physics at Paine College in the Department of Mathematics, Sciences, and Technology.

He holds a Ph.D. in Physics (Texas Christian University) and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics (Midwestern State University). Dr. Peters joined Paine College as a full-time faculty member in Fall 2010. At present, Dr. Peters is the chair of the Department of Mathematics, Sciences and Technology.

He has authored and co-authored eight scientific journal articles, and presented his research findings at numerous conferences. He is currently teaching College Physics I and II and Physical Science classes. His research interests include the studies of the Surface and Interface States in Nanoscale Electronic Materials, Packing, and Holographic Spectroscopy.

Terrell L. Strayhorn, PhD Dr. Terrell Strayhorn is the Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs at LeMoyne-Owen College, where he also serves as Professor of Urban Education. Author of 10 books and more than 200 scholarly articles and publications, Strayhorn is an internationally-recognized expert on college student success, educational equity and diversity, and the academic experiences of Black students. His most popular book, College Students’ Sense of Belonging, was just released in a new 2nd edition, highlighting the various ways in which hundreds of colleges and universities across the nation have used his research in institutional planning/strategy, social media campaigns, and implementing successful academic interventions.

Andrea L. Tyler, PhD Dr. Andrea L. Tyler is the Director of Graduate Student Services at Tennessee State University.

Dr. Tyler earned her doctoral degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Dr Tyler holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Curriculum and Instruction and Higher Education.

Dr. Tyler’s research focuses on the experiences of people of color in higher education, specifically graduate students and pretenured faculty. This has led Dr Tyler to conduct research on graduate student access, outcomes, and career choices in science

28

and engineering; the influence of mentoring relationships on educational outcomes; race/gender/class equity in education, the experiences and motivational patterns of high achieving STEM students, and identity formation among marginalized populations, particularly African American female students.

Prior to completing her doctoral degree, Dr. Tyler worked at NASA, Honeywell, General Motors, and as a K-12 central office administrator for a large Mid-West urban school district.

Victor Ukwu, MD Victor Ukwu, MD a graduate of Meharry Medical College School of Medicine, Class of 2014, is a disciplined, and board eligible Family Medicine Resident at Meharry Medical College in his senior year of training. He is driven by his passion for community building, establishing strong rapport with his patients, and maintaining multicultural sensitivities with all patients.

He has held several leadership positions including serving as Class treasurer in his final two years of medical school. During his in residency, he served as the House Staff Vice President 2017-2018 and House Staff President 2018-2019.

In line with his passions, Dr. Ukwu will continue developing his leadership skills by pursuing a career in Health Care Administration.

His life’s work will be focused on increasing mentorship and pipeline initiatives for young African and African-American men.

Bryan K. Wallace, EdD Dr. Wallace is Assistant Professor of Physics at Fisk University and the Director of Physics Laboratories. In his capacity, he responsible for the modernization and instruction in all physics undergraduate laboratories, as well as, laboratory curriculum.

Dr. Wallace has dedicated his career to the upward mobility of underserved populations, in the area of math intensive subject matter and STEM related curriculum. Dr. Wallace specializes in the development and implementation of engaging young and adult learners through STEM related outreach programs utilizing, but not limited to Physics, Astronomy, Rocketry and Robotics.

ABOUT TH E SPEAKE R S Dr. Wallace is the Primary Investigator for Fisk University’s Rocket Science Program, entitled Altitude Achievement Missile Team (F.A.A.M.T). Most recently, Dr. Wallace has been assigned to an evaluation committee for the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to look at one of NASA’s Education Program’s Portfolio.

Frances Williams, PhD Dr. Frances Williams is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research in the College of Engineering at Tennessee State University. H er research focus is in the areas of advanced materials and devices, biosensors, and nano- and micro-electromechanical systems processing and devices. She has received grants totaling $14 million as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator. In 2010 she received a U.S. patent for developing a micromachined sensor for monitoring electrochemical deposition.

Nathaniel T. Yohannes Nathaniel Yohannes is a fourth-year Vanderbilt medical student from Dayton, Ohio. He has a passion for service and addressing health disparities. He has been involved in several local and international projects at Vanderbilt and plans to continue serving his local and global community beyond medical school.

In his free time, he enjoys running, playing sports, writing poetry, spending time with family, and watching movies. His hope for this conference is that he is able to equip students with the information and motivation necessary to pursue a career in science and inspire the next generation of physicians.

Dr. Williams has received various awards including the 2013 State Council of Higher Education for Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award, the highest faculty award given out by the state. In 2012, she was named an “Emerging Scholar” by Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine. She is a member of five professional and honorary societies. She volunteers in various community programs that promote STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education for students from elementary to college age. Dr. Williams holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, and a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

She is the current associate vice president for research and sponsored programs.

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WE ARE COMMITTED to creating a more diverse pool of

SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS that meets the

CRITICAL NEEDS of the

MINORITY COMMUNITIES and the nation.

2019 C ONFE RE NC E RE GI STRANT S*

Teminioluwa (Temini) Ajayi

Javirus Carr

Dakim Gaines

D’Yonna Almon

Kyra S. Carter

Klaius D. Gaston

Jahneal R. Armstrong

Roberts M. Charles

Keviyanah E. Gilmore

Jacqueline Asamoah

Katherine Chavis

Frederick Grady

Ade Awe

André L. Churchwell

Guerline T. Guerrier

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Tennessee State University

Lane College

Tennessee State University

Meharry Medical College

Ndang N. Azang-Njaah Vanderbilt University

Paine College

Lane College

Tennessee State University

Lane College

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Martina L. Coe

Tennessee State University

Clarke N. Bagsby

Alexis K. Craft

Fisk University

Lane College

Christina Bailey

Barnell A. Davis

Vanderbilt University

Fisk University

Jaelynn A. Bailey

Michael L. Davis

Fisk University

Lane College

Rashad Bailey

Tennessee State University

John Barfield

Tennessee State University

Heather H. Boutell

Andre C. Eaddy

Vanderbilt University

Christopher S. English

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

De’Zhia Farmer

Elizabeth A. Bowman

Skye Faucher

Katherine Y. Brown

Shaaliayh Frier

Veronica Burns

Catherine Fuchs

Vanderbilt University

Meharry Medical College

Meharry Medical College

Lane College

Fisk University

Lane College

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Fisk University

Lane College

Meharry Medical College

Fisk University

Kayla Harris

Tennessee State University

Jayvon Hibbler

LeMoyne-Owen College

James E. K. Hildreth Meharry Medical College

Zariah N. Hines Lane College

Cynthia Y. Iniguez LeMoyne-Owen College

Jasmine Jackson Paine College

Dontrez Johnson

Tennessee State University

Henry Johnson Lane College

Kevin Johnson

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Wali Johnson

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

31 * As of 12:30 PM Eastern on September 11, 2019.

2019 C ONFE RE NC E RE GI STRANT S*

Candace Jones

Patricia Matthews-Juarez

Sherry Painter

Gerald M. Jones

Rodney G. McCracken

Karlos P. Parham

Jessica L. Jones

Bill Miller

Patricia A. Parks

Meghen Jones

JaSinda D. Moore

Kermit G. Payne

Imani A. Jordan

Lashonda Moore

Raul Peters

Lane College

Meharry Medical College

Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance

Fisk University

Tennessee State University

John O. Joseph Fisk University

Ntirenganyi Karamba Lane College

Christina K. Keeton Vanderbilt University

Fraeyja Kone Lane College

Rickia Langston

Tennessee State University

Voniye’ Laster

Tennessee State University

Jamia E. Lewis Fisk University

Sheldon Liang Lane College

Gabriella R. Mabayyed Tennessee State University

Pallavi Manral

Meharry Medical College

Meharry Medical College

Tennessee State University

Lane College

Lane College

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Trinity Morris Fisk University

Tultul Nayyar

Meharry Medical College

Pius Nde

Meharry Medical College

DeShawndric Nelms Paine College

Alexus Nelson Paine College

Anna-Gay D. Nelson Paine College

Preston Niter

LeMoyne-Owen College

Gerald I. Nwosu

Meharry Medical College

Fola Oladeji

Meharry Medical College

Alanis D. Onwu

Tennessee State University

LeMoyne-Owen College

Meharry Medical College

Lane College

1Joshua Group, LLC

Paine College

Jessica Powell

Meharry Medical College

Semira P. Price

Tennessee State University

Kayla Rayford

Meharry Medical College

Ta’Shirah Reaves Paine College

Isabella Reyes Lane College

Imara E. Rodney Lane College

Dryana L. Russell Fisk University

Kerwin Scott

Meharry Medical College

Victoria D Scott Lane College

Denias M. Smith

Tennessee State University

32 * As of 12:30 PM Eastern on September 11, 2019.

2019 C ONFE RE NC E RE GI STRANT S*

Devin Smith

Mba Ude

Michael Watson

Donterrius Sparks

Flora A. Ukoli

Ashlyn C. Wherry

Jeremy C. Sprouse

Victor Ukwu

Frances Williams

Sherry Stokes Rutherford

Melanie Van Stry

Jayla Williams

Terrell L. Strayhorn

Kaleel Wainwright

Junhua Wu

Neyah S. Thompson

Lyndia D. Walker

Nathaniel T. Yohannes

Anastasia R. Towner

Bryan K. Wallace

Mikayla S. Zellars

Antonia Turner

Tamara P. Washington

Del R. Zimmerman

Andrea L. Tyler

Kayla J. Watkins

Tennessee State University

LeMoyne-Owen College

Lane College

Meharry Medical College

Meharry Medical College

Meharry Medical College

Lane College

LeMoyne-Owen College

Lane College

Vanderbilt University

Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University

Paine College

Tennessee State University

Fisk University

Lane College

Tennessee State University

Fisk University

Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University

Fisk University

Lane College

Vanderbilt University

Lane College

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Lane College

33 * As of 12:30 PM Eastern on September 11, 2019.

Special Acknowledgments

Meharry Medical College, Office of the President Meharry Medical College, School of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine — Environmental Health Partnership Tennessee Area Health Education Centers U.S. Department of Education / Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine Vanderbilt Medical Center

Science Consortium of Minority Schools Empowering Minority Students into STEM is supported in part by the U.S. Department of Education: Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program Award: P120A180072; the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance; Tennessee Area Health Education Centers: GRANT NO. U77HP03040; the National Library of Medicine/Environmental Health Partnership; and the American College of Cardiology. The views and opinions of the presenters are those of the presenters and are not attributable to or endorsed by the grantors.

Learn more about the consortium at http://E-SCMS.org.

Production assistance provided by:

1Joshua Group

Building Capacity — Expanding Resources

www.the1joshuagroup.com #1JGCollabs