The Center for Diversity and Inclusion
Monthly eNews - October 2024
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In this Issue
- CDI Announcements
- Humans of CDI
- The Research Hub
- Other MGH Offerings
- In Case You Missed It
- HMS Events
- Congratulations
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2025 Summer Research Trainee Program Application Now Open!
Application Deadline - Friday, January 17, 2025
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Know a college, medical or graduate student? Help us spread the word! Forward this announcement to eligible students in your network who may benefit from this opportunity.
We're hosting an information session on December 2 at 6pm via Zoom—click the image on the right to register!
Now Accepting Applications!
The MGH Center for Diversity and Inclusion is excited to announce that applications are open for the 2025 Summer Research Trainee Program (SRTP), running from June 2 to July 24.
About SRTP
Each summer, talented medical, college, and graduate students nationwide, who aim to pursue an MD and/or PhD in the biomedical sciences, are selected to join SRTP. Participants are matched with MGH laboratories or clinical, health policy, and health services research teams, where they’ll conduct original research projects under the mentorship of an MGH investigator.
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Make a Difference this Residency Recruitment Season: Attend the Virtual CDI Applicant Receptions! | |
CDI is excited to host virtual receptions during the interview season for all fellowship, MGH residency, and combined program applicants who are underrepresented in medicine (UiM). These evening events provide an excellent opportunity to connect with our community and learn more about our initiatives.
This year, we are also holding four joint receptions with our colleagues at BWH CDI for joint program applicants. Check out the detailed schedule below, and keep an eye out for a separate email with RSVP instructions.
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CDI Welcome and Recognition Celebration Honors This Year's Award Recipients | |
On October 8, 2024, CDI hosted its annual Welcome and Recognition Reception, honoring our Faculty Development Award recipients and warmly welcoming newcomers. It was a night of celebration and connection, bringing together students, trainees, and faculty from MGH and our broader CDI community.
We invite you to join us in congratulating our seven Physician/Scientist Development Award (PSDA) and Clinician-Teacher Development Award (CTDA) recipients! For more details on these awards and to explore the
profiles of past and present recipients, click here.
To view the highlights of this special evening, view the photo gallery here.
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Stay Connected with CDI on Vitals! | |
Visit our CDI page on MGH Vitals, your one-stop shop for everything CDI, including upcoming events, deadlines, and an archive of our monthly eNews. Keep up with all the latest updates and resources, right at your fingertips.
Access requires MGH/MGB credentials, so be sure to log in and bookmark our page for easy access!
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CDI is dedicated to advancing careers for underrepresented clinicians, educators, and researchers. With your help, we have been announcing exciting leadership opportunities across MGH and MGB. If you have such opportunities to share with the CDI community in our eNews, please contact Bebina Shrestha @ bshrestha1@mgb.org. | |
Aima Ahonkhai, MD, MPH
Infectious Diseases Physician | HIV Researcher
Associate Physician in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University Center for AIDS Research
In this month’s Humans of CDI, we feature the inspiring Dr. Aima Ahonkhai, an infectious diseases physician and HIV researcher. Dr. Ahonkhai serves as an Associate Physician in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Associate Director of the Bio-behavioral and Community Science Core at the Harvard University Center for AIDS Research.
Dr. Ahonkhai’s pioneering research focuses on understanding and addressing health disparities among people living with HIV, with a commitment to developing equity-focused solutions for marginalized communities. Her innovative work spans across epidemiologic, behavioral, and implementation research, both globally and locally in the United States.
In this interview, Dr. Ahonkhai shares how the CDI Physician and/or Scientist Development Award has been instrumental in advancing her work, especially in addressing health needs in Nigeria and among adolescents and young adults living with HIV. She emphasizes the importance of awards like the PDSA/CTDA, noting, "These awards provide critical resources, mentorship, and opportunities to overcome structural barriers and advance equity in academic medicine."
To learn more about Dr. Ahonkhai’s trailblazing research and her dedication to improving healthcare for those most in need, click here.
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A Message from Drs. Cesar Castro and Julie Price | |
As CDI Faculty Co-Directors for Research, we collaborate with the CDI team to support our UiM MGH researchers, fostering networks and idea-sharing to address structural challenges and enact sustained change. Connecting with and supporting UiM researchers at all levels of their careers is important to us and reflected in our most recent initiatives and collaborations. This month, we’ve highlighted the 4 below:
We have identified several K-awardees who are UiM and transitioning to R level NIH funding and reached out via email. If you are a K-awardee and have not scheduled time to meet with us, please use the CDI Consultation Portal to schedule a time that works for you. We look forward to supporting you with practical but granular advice and strategies to help bolster your success.
- Chester Pierce Research Society
The Chester Pierce Research Society Speaker Series (CPRS) continues to be an effective and valuable platform. If you missed our October 8 panel on disability inclusion in research, see the "In Case You Missed It" section below for the recording link and share with others. Faculty interested in presenting to the CPRS community, please email CDI Administrative Director for Research, Karen Osborne Greene, at kosborne@mgb.org.
- International Medical Graduate (IMG) Residency Panel Session
In partnership with the Mass General Postdoc Association (MGPA), our October 3 panel brought together MGB residency directors to share valuable tips for IMG residency applicants. Thanks to our panelists and attendees for making it a success! Be sure to watch and share the recording with potential IMG residency applicants.
- 2025 Summer Research Trainee Program
CDI is now accepting applications for the 2025 Summer Research Trainee Program (SRTP)! If you know of a student(s) who is interested, please share the link to apply.
We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with our UiM community and look forward to engaging with you soon!
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Research Recharge: Connect and Build Community
Monday, November 18, 12 - 1 pm
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Join us for a lunchtime networking event dedicated to the MGH UiM research community—investigators, fellows, coordinators, and techs. It’s a great chance to connect, share, and recharge with peers.
Monday, November 18 | 12-1 PM | Lunch Provided!
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NIH Loan Repayment
Application Deadline - Thursday, November 21, 2024
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The NIH Loan Repayment Programs are designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers by repaying up to $50,000 annually of a researcher's qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research.
If you are a qualified health professional who
- contractually agrees to engage in NIH mission-relevant research for at least two years
- agrees to engage in such research for at least 50% of your work schedule (not less than 20 hours per week based on a 40-hour work week) and
- is interested in applying for participation in the NIH Extramural Loan Repayment Program
Please click here for additional eligibility criteria and application instructions. For internal MGH instructions about the required letter(s), please reach out to the following contacts in Research Management:
Last Name Begins with MGH Contact
A-N Susan Buchan (sbuchan@mgb.org)
M-Z Maribel Dejesus (mdejesus@mgb.org)
To read more and/or watch a 3 minute video presented by Matthew Lockhart, Director of the Division of Loan Repayment, on the NIH Loan Repayment Program eligibility criteria and program categories, click here.
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Resources and Research Funding Opportunities | |
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New! NIA Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Awards to Promote Diversity in Translational Research for AD/ADRD (K99/R00, PAR 24-271) - NIH standard deadlines
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New! NINDS Faculty Development Award to Promote Diversity in Neuroscience Research (K01, PAR-24-229, PAR-24-228) – NIH standard deadlines
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New! Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Organizational Research Education Award to Promote Diversity (UE5, PAR-24-224) – NIH standard deadlines
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Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC), Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00, PAR 24-225, PAR 24-226, PAR-227) – NIH standard deadlines
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Click here for a list of selected external limited submissions and internal funding opportunities. | |
Bonner Award Grand Rounds
Thursday, October 31, 2024, 12 - 1 pm
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2024-2025 Cancer Center Grand Rounds “Early Detection”
October 31, 2024, 12 - 1 pm
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“Considering Race and Ancestry when studying cancer risk, prevention early detection.”
Presented by
Melissa B. Davis, PhD
Morehouse University
Location: Yawkey 4820 (Lunch will be provided) OR Zoom: https://phsstreaming.partners.org/mgh/
Accreditation: SMS Code for Attendance: Text code shown during session to receive CME or Nursing Credits (full accreditation info below).
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Visit Blueprint Medicines
October 31, 2024, 10 am - 1 pm
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Join the Diversity and Inclusion Book Club | |
For three years, members of the Cancer Center have come together to discuss thought-provoking books, articles, and documentaries, tackling issues such as racism in healthcare, social determinants of health, and activism. This has fostered a passionate community committed to meaningful change. Now, we are expanding this space to include all of PCS and hope you'll join us!
Upcoming Discussions:
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November 6th, 5:30-7:00 PM on Zoom: Discuss the first half of Jodi Picoult’s Small Great Things. Debbie Burke has generously purchased 20 books. Enter the book drawing here, and we’ll notify winners. If you don't win, consider supporting Frugal Bookstore, a Black-owned bookstore in Boston, or check your local library or Audible.
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December 4th, 5:30-7:00 PM on Zoom: Discussion of the second half of Small Great Things.
Join us as we engage in these vital conversations on diversity and inclusion. We look forward to your presence in our journey towards deeper understanding and lasting change.
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October 3, 2024 IMG Residency Panel Session:
MGB residency directors joined this hour-long discussion with MGPA members, offering tips and invaluable advice to potential IMGs on applying for residency. Watch the recording here.
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October 8, 2024 Chester Pierce Speaker Series: Watch the recording of "Empowering Voices: Strategies for Involving Individuals with Disabilities in Research", featuring experts on disability representation, inclusion, and actionable steps for enhancing research access. Watch here.
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July 15, 2024 Chester Pierce Speaker Series: Catch Dr. J. Sawalla Guseh, II, MD, as he dives into exercise, deep learning, and Burmese pythons in exploring human aerobic fitness and cardiovascular care. Access the recording here.
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The Historical Roots of Injustice in Medicine Symposium 3: Sex, Gender, and Sexuality in the Journal | |
Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Time: 12 - 2 p.m., with lunch available starting at 11:30 a.m.
Location: Minot Conference Room (Room 506), Countway Library
The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Partnership (DICP) and the Center for the History of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, along with the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), present the third of three symposia in conjunction with the ongoing NEJM series “Recognizing Historical Injustices in Medicine and the Journal.”
Register for the third symposium.
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Justice Impacted at Harvard: Inclusive Policy Workshop
Friday, November 8, 2024
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Two Sessions:
10 AM-12 PM – Cambridge Campus
OR
2-4 PM – Longwood Medical Area Campus
RSVP
What obstacles do people with criminal convictions face when it comes to employment and education? What do employers and schools miss out on when they discriminate on the basis of criminal histories? How can Harvard do better on this issue?
This workshop for administrators, faculty, and other community members will explore how Harvard can become more welcoming for formerly incarcerated people and others impacted by the justice system (i.e. with a criminal record). Led by experts from Prison-to-Professionals and Jobs for the Future’s Center for Justice and Economic Advancement, the workshop will address the specific challenges faced by justice-impacted individuals and survey best practices for including and supporting justice-impacted students and employees.
We will offer the same workshop two times on Friday, November 8: first on Harvard's Cambridge campus from 10-12, and then on Harvard's Longwood campus from 2-4. RSVP to attend and for location information.
This event is sponsored by the Culture Lab Innovation Fund of the Harvard University Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, with additional support from the Mahindra Humanities Center, the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, the Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy, and the Institute on Policing, Incarceration & Public Safety at the Hutchins Center.
Please contact Thomas Dichter at Thomas_Dichter@hms.harvard.edu if you have any questions.
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63 Hispanic and Latino Leaders to Know | 2024
Becker’s Hospital Review
Marcela G. del Carmen Amaya, MD. President at Massachusetts General Hospital and Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, and Executive Vice President for Mass General Brigham (Boston).
Dr. del Carmen leads a more than 33,000-employee, 1,000-bed academic medical center with 3,200 physician members. She has led and promoted the creation and implementation of programs designed to alleviate physician burnout including an annual wellbeing summit, lactation support program, scholarship opportunities, listening sessions and parental support. To date, 65% of Massachusetts General Hospital physicians have participated in these programs. She has also overseen efforts to reduce administrative burden among caregivers, including a pilot program designed to manage patient communications, thus resulting in a 28% reduction in inbox messaging among participating practices. She is the first woman and Latino to ascend to the academic rank of professor in obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology and in gynecologic oncology at Harvard Medical School. Her research addresses disparities in gynecologic cancer outcomes in underserved minorities and rare cancer malignancies. She has authored more than 250 papers in peer-reviewed studies as well as a textbook. She is the recipient of numerous teaching and service awards.
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The Center for Diversity and Inclusion
55 Fruit Street, Bulfinch 123
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-724-3832
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