Lunch and Learn
International Women Faculty Share Tips on Finding Teaching Opportunities
The Office for Women's Careers (OWC) held a Society for Internationally Trained Women Faculty and Fellows Networking Lunch on March 13 to help foster community among women physicians and scientists born or trained outside of the U.S.
During each networking lunch, guest speakers discuss a particular topic, this time focusing on how to navigate the Harvard Medical School (HMS) curriculum to identify teaching opportunities for BWH faculty.
Nora Osman, MD, Department of Medicine and associate director in the Office for Multicultural Faculty Careers, and Raina Fichorova, MD, PhD, director of the Genital Tract Biology Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, and co-chair/founder of the Society for Internationally Trained Women Faculty, shared their experiences and advice with the 14 women in attendance.
Participants gather at the luncheon. |
"For us, having graduated or come from foreign countries, it can sometimes be difficult to blend in and figure out how things work," said Fichorova, who was born and studied in Bulgaria. "Sometimes, we need help to learn how to get things done, including how to publicize to medical students and proactively seek teaching and mentorship opportunities."
According to Fichorova, teaching is an essential component in expanding the breadth of experience of BWH research and clinical faculty. For those working particularly in research, Osman suggested focusing their teaching energies on mentoring medical students. She shared tips on recruiting students to help in their laboratories on either a short-term (e.g., 4 to 6 weeks) or long-term (e.g., one year) basis, to attain mentorship, fulfill medical school credits and gain valuable work experience.
As far as acquiring students, Fichorova suggested that faculty post available positions on the Harvard Catalyst Web site, and keep their researcher profile updated on the site since students frequent it when investigating potential opportunities.
The STARS Program (Summer Training in Academic Research and Scholarship) was another valuable resource Fichorova recommended as a way to recruit college and first-year medical students from minority backgrounds to engage in clinical and translational research projects.
OWC, a member office of the Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, offers multiple networking opportunities throughout the year for women faculty to meet new colleagues, discuss issues, and learn about resources to help them succeed at BWH and HMS.
Upcoming events include the Women Faculty Networking Lunch at 850 Boylston Street on April 24, the Senior Faculty Women's Networking Lunch on May 16, and the OWC Annual Spring Luncheon on May 23.
For more information about the Office for Women's Careers, please e-mail owc@partners.org or call 617-732-8595.