Virtual WIMS Day to Provide Networking, Career Development Opportunities
The UK College of Medicine’s Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) will host its sixth annual Visiting Professor Program, also known as “WIMS Day,” this fall as a virtual program. The event will serve as an opportunity for faculty, staff, and learners to network, develop their career skills, and learn about the strides women have made in medicine and science.
This will be the third WIMS Day organized by April Hatcher, PhD, associate professor of neuroscience, who was recently named chair of WIMS. Prior to her role as chair, Dr. Hatcher was co-chair of the program committee, along with Meera Gupta, MD, and contributed to regular professional development programming for the College of Medicine throughout the year in addition to the annual WIMS Day. This year, Dr. Hatcher organized the program committee and special WIMS workgroup to collaboratively design the agenda for the day.
“I believe our lineup this year will offer a holistic learning experience for all women who seek to advance their skills and increase their networking opportunities in their health and research careers,” Dr. Hatcher said. “This event has been successful in years past, and I look forward to continuing the tradition of WIMS day in a nontraditional format this year. We hope the virtual meeting space will encourage easy access to events and promote community among a larger audience in the College of Medicine and beyond.”
This year’s WIMS Day keynote speaker is Alicia D.H. Monroe, MD, a veteran physician and academic administrator who now serves as the senior vice president of academic and faculty affairs at the Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Monroe will host two skill-building sessions during the event, a morning keynote discussing early career reflections and an afternoon keynote centered on building resilience.
Female faculty members in the UK College of Medicine will run a set of workshops during WIMS Day focused on career development. Lisa Cassis, PhD, UK Vice President of Research; Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf, PhD, associate professor of molecular and cellular biochemistry; Regina Fragneto, MD, professor of anesthesiology; and Lisa Tannock, MD, senior associate dean for faculty affairs and development will host a morning workshop for mid-career and late-career faculty to discuss ways to combat the gender gap and advance their careers. WIMS Day also will include an afternoon workshop for learners and younger faculty that will share insight on successful career transitions. Monica Chau, PhD, assistant professor of neurosurgery; Sylvia Ofei, MD, MPH, assistant professor of pediatrics; Brittany Rice, PhD candidate; and Hollie Swanson, PhD, professor of pharmacology and nutritional sciences, will host this workshop.
Coinciding with the UK College of Medicine’s focus on wellness, WIMS Day will hold two sessions promoting well-being in the workplace. Amy Rodquist-Kodet and Jackie Hanson of the UK Health and Wellness team will hold a morning experiential session that will involve hands-on learning through yoga and other mindfulness exercises. WIMS Day will close with an hour reserved for reflection on the event and more networking.
Those interested in attending virtual WIMS Day can click here to learn more.
