News & Posts
Pride 2023: LGBTQIA+ Resources from BU and Beyond
Happy 2023 Pride Month! In honor of Pride, we have compiled a list of resources for celebrating and supporting our LGBTQIA+ community. Below, you will find resources, information, and events, from Boston University, the greater Boston community and beyond. We recognize that this is not an exhaustive list, and we are always willing to add more resources, information, and events. Please email Sarah Rowan at srowan@bu.edu if you have a resource you would like us to include below. Resources at Boston University Resources and Organizations Around Boston and Beyond Pride Month BU and Community Events Boston University Events BU Pride Festival June 1 at 3 p.m. BU Beach (267-290 Bay State Road) Learn more Boston Area Community Events Womxn of Color Weekend June 1 Provincetown, MA Learn more Provincetown Pride June 2-4 Provincetown, MA Learn more 2023 Trans Resistance March & Festival June 3 at 11 a.m. Jamaica Plain, MA Learn more Pride Festival at Boston Nature Center June 3 at Noon Mattapan, MA Learn more Pride 2023 Kick-Off Boston Harbor Cruise June 4 at 3:30 p.m. Boston, MA Learn more Boston's... More
PhD Student Spotlight: Emilie Mausser ‘23
Emilie Mausser is a PhD candidate in the Molecular and Translational Medicine program through the Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS). Emilie’s research in the lab of Professor of Medicine Deborah Anderson, PhD, works on developing a nonhormonal, on-demand contraceptive product. Emilie successfully defended her dissertation in March 2023 and will graduate in the upcoming May 2023 Commencement exercises. Read more about Emilie below! What did you complete your dissertation research on and how did you settle on that topic? In the lab of Dr. Deborah Anderson, we are developing a nonhormonal, on-demand contraceptive product. The human contraception antibody (HCA) specifically binds a sperm membrane protein and causes them to clump up within seconds of adding the antibody. HCA is undergoing clinical development but appears to be safe and effective after a Phase I trial. As about half of all pregnancies are unintended, developing new contraceptive products that are easily assessable and nonhormonal... More
MS Student Spotlight: Khoa Duong (HPE ‘23)
Khoa Duong is a student in the Masters in Health Professions Education program at Graduate Medical Sciences. A pulmonary doctor and medical teacher from Vietnam, Duong was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in the United States. Khoa attended medical school at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and received a master’s degree in public health from the Universite Paris Sud. Read more about Khoa below! Tell me about your journey to Boston. What brought you to the area? My name is Khoa Duong. I am a pulmonary doctor and medical teacher from Vietnam. I work at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City. Becoming a medical teacher, I grew a passion for teaching and sharing. I won the Fulbright Scholarship to study a master’s degree in the US. This is what has brought me to Boston University, where... More
Boston University to Open New LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center
A joint memo from Jean Morrison, University provost and chief academic officer, and President Robert A. Brown announced a brand-new LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center at Boston University, expected to open at the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year. The center will be located on the second floor of 808 Commonwealth Avenue, on the Charles River Campus, near existing spaces like the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground and the LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty & Staff. At Graduate Medical Sciences, we are excited to work with the new LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center to continue to provide a safe space, resources, events and opportunities for connection via channels like our Community Catalyst Center (C3) gPLUS affinity group. Read the full story from BU Today here.
Assistant Dean for Admissions, Diversity & Inclusion Shoumita Dasgupta, PhD, Presents on Genetic Essentialism at Feb. 1 C3 Seminar
The Community Catalyst Center welcomed Assistant Dean for Diversity & Inclusion Shoumita Dasgupta, PhD, to present on “Histories and Futures of Genetic Essentialism: On Bias, Its Origins, and Its Harms” during a Feb. 1 seminar held in the Instructional Building. Dr. Dasgupta’s seminar explored the history of eugenics and discussed its echoes of oppression in the current and future practice of genomic science and medicine. By integrating historical archives, scientific data, present-day case studies and real-world examples, the seminar demonstrated the pervasive influence of eugenics on 21st century science and offered several recommendations for challenging genetic essentialism and promoting the ethical practice of contemporary genomic medicine. Forty people – including students, faculty and staff from GMS – attended the seminar. Dr. Dasgupta currently teaches a Graduate Medical Sciences course called “Deconstructing Systemic Bias: Where Biology Ends and Bias Begins,” which explores the relationship between race, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, gender, ability status and identity. The... More
Join C3 on Wednesday, Feb. 1 for “Histories and Futures of Genetic Essentialism: On Bias, Its Origins, and Its Harms”
Join the Community Catalyst Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a seminar on "Histories and Futures of Genetic Essentialism: On Bias, Its Origins, and Its Harms." The seminar, hosted in L-112, will be facilitated by Shoumita Dasgupta, PhD. Dr. Dasgupta is the Assistant Dean of Admissions, Assistant Dean for Diversity & Inclusion and Director of Graduate Studies, Genetics and Genomics at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Click here to register now!
Shoumita Dasgupta, PhD, and Karin Schon, PhD, selected as Assistant Deans for Diversity & Inclusion
Congratulations to GMS faculty Shoumita Dasgupta, PhD and Karin Schon, PhD, both selected as Assistant Deans for Diversity & Inclusion at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine! They will serve in their roles alongside Alexis Ramirez, MD, and Ebonie Woolcock, MD. Read the full message from Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion Angelique Harris, PhD, below. To: Faculty, Staff, & Students From: Angelique Harris, PhD, Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion RE: New Assistant Deans for Diversity & Inclusion I am pleased to share that Shoumita Dasgupta, PhD, Karin Schon, PhD, and Alexis Ramirez, MD, have been selected by an advisory search committee comprising faculty and staff to serve alongside Ebonie Woolcock, MD, as Assistant Deans for Diversity & Inclusion at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. They replace Drs. Rafael Ortega, Thea James, Ali Guermazi, Samantha Kaplan and David Henderson, who have stepped down from this role. The assistant deans will serve as liaisons for faculty, staff, More
Volunteering Opportunities in and Around Boston This Season
Throughout the year, and especially during the holiday season, there are thousands of people in need throughout the Greater Boston area. Many organizations exist in and around the city that are critical to meeting these needs, and many of them are accepting volunteers. Below is a list of organizations accepting help that you can volunteer with this holiday season and beyond. Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) You can volunteer at BHCHP by becoming a patient navigator escorting patients to outside appointments, assisting in the waiting room and reminding patients of their appointments, or becoming an AA/NA group assistant conducting support groups. Learn more and apply to volunteer here. Rosie's Place Rosie's Place was founded in 1974 as the first women's shelter in the United States. This season, you can volunteer by hosting a holiday gift drive, sending holiday cards/gifts, honoring someone special, catering a meal, stocking their food pantry, showing your support... More
GMS Travels to Anaheim, CA, for ABRCMS Conference
Graduate Medical Sciences was thrilled to send several representatives to the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS), held from Nov. 9 through 12 in Anaheim, CA. For 20 years, ABCRMS has been a leading conference for underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Attending students had the chance to view research presentations, network, attend professional development seminars and speak to graduate institutions about their STEM-based programs. This year's GMS representatives at ABRCMS included Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion Angelique Harris, PhD Assistant Professor of Medicine Isabel Dominguez, PhD, PhD student Chelsea Skeete and MD/PhD student Kristine Abo. In addition, students from last year's Summer Training as Research Scholars (STaRS) cohort attended and helped to share information about the program. Learn more about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at GMS here. You can also find more information about our outreach programs and initiatives for underrepresented students here.
Student Spotlight: Jhonatan Henao Vasquez
Jhonatan Henao Vasquez is a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Graduate Program in Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM). Henao Vasquez entered Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS) through the Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS). He currently works in the Pulmonary Center, researching MIWI2 positive multi-ciliated cells. Fourth-year PhD candidate Jhonatan Henao Vasquez is keeping his options open, but he knows that he sees himself returning to industry work. Originally from Colombia, Henao Vasquez and his family immigrated to New Hampshire when he was 2 years old. After earning a chemistry degree from College of the Holy Cross, Henao Vasquez was on the fence about heading straight to graduate or medical school. First, he decided to work at several area biotechnology companies, starting with positions at Lonza Biologics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals before moving to Moderna. “Industry is something I’ve had the goal in mind to do,” Henao Vasquez said. “I want to learn what’s new in science... More