30 Dec ITHS Alumni Gather for Networking Event
On December 4th, ITHS held its first Alumni Event in the Petersen Room at UW’s Suzzallo Library. Former participants of the ITHS KL2 career development program and TL1 training program gathered to enjoy lunch and networking before listening to a keynote address on leadership from Hilaire Thompson, PhD, RN, ANRP, as well as two Works in Progress presentations from past KL2 scholars.
Dr. Hilarie Thompson
Dr. Thompson, who is executive dean of the UW School of Nursing, director of the TL1 program, and a former KL2 scholar, discussed her career and her leadership philosophy, giving advice on balancing responsibilities and how to build a strong research team. Watch video of her address below.
Megan Moore, PhD, interim director of the Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center, and TL1 program co-director, spoke next. She discussed her ongoing work with Dr. Vern Harner of UW Tacoma to understand how to improve healthcare for trans people in emergency settings. Read about Dr. Moore’s work as KL2 scholar on care for those with traumatic brain injuries here.
Dr. Moore presents her work
Finally, Germán Gornalusse, PhD, MS discussed his research on HIV transmission. Our third KL2 alumnus of the event, Dr. Gornalusse, is a research assistant professor in the UW School of Medicine who has done work in genetic engineering of human stem cells in addition to publishing groundbreaking studies on HIV/AIDS parthenogenesis.
Dr. Gornalusse discusses his research
The event was attended by about 40 ITHS education program alumni, program leadership and ITHS Principal Investigator and former KL2 director John Amory, MD. A contingent of far-flung alumni were able to hear the keynote address via Zoom.
The alumni took advantage of the networking opportunity, catching up with their former cohorts as well as making new connections with unfamiliar faces. The event was well-received and plans are already being made for future alumni events.
Learn more about the ITHS TL1 program for graduate students here, and the KL2 program for post-docs here. ITHS also offers training for investigators and professional research staff through our Translational Workforce Development programs.
All photos by Lisa Stromme Warren
