The Ohio State University College of Medicine is an important leader in the broader effort to retain and support early-career physician scientists, support women and underrepresented faculty and address racism in the academic environment. The institution recently received funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation — in concert with the American Heart Association, the Burroughs Welcome Fund, the John Templeton Foundation, the Rita Allen Foundation, and the Walder Foundation — to specifically support physician scientists whose research and careers have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ginny L. Bumgardner, MD, PhD, professor of Surgery and associate dean for Physician Scientist Education and Training at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Rebecca Jackson MD, professor of Medicine, and director of the OSU Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences are the Principal Investigators of this $550,000 grant.
Dr. Bumgardner and Dr. Jackson shared that four early career faculty members at the college were recently awarded this unique funding support aimed at preventing derailment of physician scientist careers impacted by COVID-19 and other such stressors.
“This grant acknowledges a cultural shift. In order to do your best at an institution, you need to have support when ‘life’ happens, and a recognition that life now not only includes family caregiving responsibilities, but also other unexpected pressures like those associated with COVID-19,” Dr. Bumgardner says. “There are times when a safety net is needed—institutional support— so that early career clinician scientists don’t get derailed.” Read full article here.
Author: Kelli Trinoskey
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Bumgardner on her new appointment as the Associate Dean for Physician Scientist Education and Training!! She will be responsible for providing vision and leadership for the education and training of clinician scientist learners and faculty in the College of Medicine.
“I am a second-year undergraduate pharmaceutical science major at the Ohio State College of Pharmacy. As a part of the Bumgardner Lab, I hope to learn more about immunology and how current research in the field can impact transplant surgery. I am excited to grow as a researcher and learn how to effectively investigate various research questions.”
“I’m a sophomore at Ohio State University, with a major in Health Sciences and a minor in International Relations and Diplomacy. My goal is to work in health equity and help decrease global health disparities. I believe understanding immunology is critical for this, as understanding the immune system helps us understand how we fight diseases, no matter who or where we are. In the Bumgardner lab, I hope to learn more about the intricacies of T cells’ functions and am excited to study the immune systems of living specimen.”