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The Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORCs), supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), host an initiative to identify the barriers and challenges to success of scientists from URiA groups and to identify actionable strategies to overcome these challenges. The goal is to provide specific recommendations to improve equity and inclusion for the NORCs, NORC-associated institutional leadership, and scientific societies such as the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and The Obesity Society (TOS).

Each event is from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Central). And all sessions will be recorded and widely distributed through NORCs, NIDDK, the American Society of Nutrition, The Obesity Society, and other interested groups.


September 11

Advancing the (NIH) Funding Success of Scientists from URiA Groups

  • Moderator: Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, FAAP, FACP, FAHA, FTOS
    Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics
    Director of Diversity, Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard
    Director of External Consultative Care, MGH Weight Center
    Massachusetts General Hospital/ Harvard Medical School
  • Speaker: Barriers to obtaining NIH funding for URiAs - Jean Lud Cadet, MD
    Senior Investigator
    Chief Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch
    Chief, Molecular Neuropsychiatry Section
    NIH/ NIDA IRP
  • Speaker: Policy-based solutions to improve funding outcomes for URiAs - E. Dale Abel, MD, PhD
    John B. Stokes III Chair in Diabetes Research
    Director, Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center
    Professor, Medicine, Biochemisty and Biomedical Engineering
    Francois M. Abboud Chair in Internal Medicine
    Chair/Department Executive Officer, Department of Internal Medicine
    University of Iowa
Watch Video - 9/11/2020 Event
September 25

Improving the Promotion and Tenure Success of Scientists from URiA Groups

  • Moderator: Michelle Cardel, PhD, MS, RD, FTOS
    Assistant Professor, Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics
    Director, Obesity Research Alliance
    Associate Director, Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases
    University of Florida College of Medicine
  • Speaker: Current landscape of promotion and tenure in academia by race/ethnicity and why these disparities exist - Joan Reede, MD, MPH, MS, MBA
    Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership
    Harvard Medical School
  • Speaker: Solutions to improve outcomes in promotion & tenure attainment in URiA groups – Jose Fernandez, PhD
    Professor and Vice Chair for Education
    Department of Nutrition Sciences
    University of Alabama at Birmingham
Watch Video - 9/25/2020 Event
October 9

Increasing the representation of individuals from URiA groups in leadership

  • Moderator: Steven Grinspoon, MD
    Director, Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard
    Chief, MGH Metabolism Unit
    Massachusetts General Hospital/ Harvard Medical School
  • Speaker: Defining demographics of leaders in academic leadership, the need for diverse representation, and reasons for URiA underrepresentation – Sherita Golden, MD, MHS
    Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer
    Professor of Medicine
    Johns Hopkins Medicine
  • Speaker: Discuss leadership development programs and other solutions for improving advancement of URiA in academia – James Gavin, III, MD, PhD
    CEO & Chief Medical Officer at Healing Our Village, Inc.
    Emory University
  • Speaker: Personal story of a leader from group URiA: How I made it - pros versus cons – Gary Bennett, PhD
    Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Duke University
    Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, Global Health & Medicine
Watch Video - 10/09/2020 Event
October 23

Enhancing the overall experience of scientists from URiA groups

  • Moderator: Jim Hill, PhD
    Director, UAB Nutrition Research Center (NORC)
    Department Chair, Nutrition Sciences
    University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Health Professions
  • Speaker: Real life challenges and experiences of being URiA: The role of institutional challenges and racism - Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, FAAP, FACP, FAHA, FTOS
    Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics
    Director of Diversity, Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard
    Director of External Consultative Care, MGH Weight Center
    Massachusetts General Hospital/ Harvard Medical School
  • Speaker: My Story of Life in Academia as one who is URiA - Terri Lynn Major-Kincade, MD, MPH
    Attending Neonatologist, MEDNAX Medical Group, JPS Healthcare Systems
    Chair Steering Committee for African American Outreach, Texas March of Dimes, Perinatal Health Disparities
    National Board Member Perinatal Loss and Infant Death Alliance
    National Board Member Return to Zero Hope Foundation
  • Speaker: Strategies for academic institutions to create safer, more inclusive, and more supportive environments in which URiA can flourish - Antonio Farias, MS, MFA
    Chief Diversity Officer & Senior Advisor to the President
    University of Florida
Watch Video - 10/23/2020 Event
October 30

Addressing the additional challenges for URiA women

  • Moderator: Tiffany Carson, PhD
    Assistant Professor, Division of Preventive Medicine
    University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine
  • Speaker: Additional challenges navigating a career in academia as a woman - Michelle Cardel, PhD, MS, RD, FTOS
    Assistant Professor, Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics
    Director, Obesity Research Alliance
    Associate Director, Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases
    University of Florida College of Medicine
  • Speaker: Racism and impact on advancement of black women URiA- Monica Baskin, PhD
    Professor and Vice Chair for Culture and Diversity
    Department of Medicine
    Associate Director for Community Outreach and Engagement
    O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center
    University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine
  • Speaker: Navigating a career in academia as a URiA with a disability – Anjali Forber-Pratt, PhD
    Assistant Professor, Department of Human and Organizational Development
    Vanderbilt Peabody College
  • Speaker: Navigating the crossroads for LGBTQIA+ in academia – Alicia Fernandez, MD
    Professor, College of Medicine
    University of California, San Francisco
    Internist, Zuckerberg San Francisco General

Panel Discussion: A discussion of intersectionality including gender, race/ethnicity, cultural norms, ableness, and sexual orientation.

Watch Video - 10/30/2020 Event

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