Programming & Student Committees

The American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) is a national organization dedicated to addressing the needs of future physician-scientists with respect to their training and career development. Our local APSA chapter supports the Vanderbilt MSTP’s trainees in realizing their educational and professional career goals by fostering opportunities for students to build connections with their peers, engage with physician-scientists who are leaders in their fields, and learn about cutting-edge translational research. Specifically, we organize the Physician-Scientist Speaker Series (PSSS), a biannual seminar that introduces students to outstanding local (fall) and national (spring) physician-scientists from various scientific and clinical backgrounds, as well as those who have unique career paths. These events provide a forum for students to discuss challenges that physician-scientists face, while developing an understanding of how to approach these obstacles, and present students with narratives that incorporate lessons on maintaining balance between science, medicine, and personal-life. The Vanderbilt APSA chapter also facilitates student attendance at the Southeastern Medical Scientist Symposium (SEMSS) and National Joint Meeting between APSA, ASCI, and AAP.

Leadership
Yash Pershad (APSA Representative) and Thomas Clarity (APSA Representative-Elect)

Each year, the members of the G2 class assume the responsibility for planning the upcoming MSTP retreat. The goal of this retreat is to welcome in the new M1s, to celebrate program transitions (G1 white coat ceremony, graduating students), and to learn about the science of upper level graduate students. The members of the G2 class decide the retreat location, theme, and keynote speaker, and are able to alter retreat programming to reflect the values and interests of their class. As such, each MSTP retreat reflects the members of the G2 class, and illustrates how each individual class integrates with the entire program.

Leadership
TBD

The College Advisory Board (CAB) is the cornerstone of the MSTP College System and is responsible for organizing the activities with the goal of developing strong relationships and vertical mentorship within each college. An elected G2 and G1 representative from each college organize CAB Days for ~5 days per academic year that facilitate group discussions centered on a broad range of topics spanning from faculty/mentor led career talks to skill workshops.  Representatives also help plan college outings and social events. A CAB President coordinates the efforts of the CAB Committee by organizing an annual meeting with faculty mentors and the MSTP leadership team, and maintaining open lines of communication throughout the year as needed.

Leadership
CAB President – Kevin Zhang
Avery-Cohen CAB leaders – Emma Hope and David Nemoto
Edwards-Goodpasture CAB leaders – Anvith Reddy and Emma Fritsch
Stahlman-Thomas CAB leaders – Marlisa Shaw and Channing Chi
Sutherland-Watkins CAB leaders – Thomas Clarity and Cass Atzrodt

Data, Ideas, & Beverages (DIB) is our weekly summer seminar series that features graduate phase students giving 30-45 minute TED style talks on topics including research in progress, exciting side projects, scientific topics of interest, didactics like biostatistics and personal journeys. DIB serves as a way to introduce new students to various labs and all that Vanderbilt has to offer. This is also a time to allow fellow G-phase students to update colleagues on a couple of pieces of data, seek out advice on how to interpret a tricky figure or curious result, and tell their story.

Leadership
Hannah Giannini, Dayle Wang, Fei Yang

The MSTP Communications Committee is responsible for generating content for the Vanderbilt MSTP website, managing MSTP social media accounts, and publishing the monthly MSTP Newsletter. Our content supports the larger goals of the MSTP: fostering critical thinking, broadening scientific backgrounds, providing career development advice, and maintaining a work-life balance. Another goal of the Communications Committee is to bring the MSTP together as a community by involving MSTP alumni and prospective students.

Leadership
Newsletter: Jeewoo Kim (Editor-in-Chief), Anvith Reddy and Dayle Wang (Managing Editor)
Social Media: Jeewoo Kim, Landon Clark

Contact
mdphd@vanderbilt.edu

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The goals of the MSTP Individual Fellowship Mock Study Section are (1) to provide actionable feedback on central fellowship documents to students applying for grants and (2) to provide a training opportunity for senior MSTP students to learn how grants are reviewed at study section. Grants are reviewed by at least one senior MSTP student and one faculty member according to NIH guidelines and discussed in a formal study section. Mock study sections are convened for each of the three major NIH individual fellowship submission deadlines.

Leadership
Reilly Fankhauser and Yash Pershad (co-chairs)

The MSTP Leadership Workshop I Committee is responsible for the curriculum development and organization of the biennial Leadership Workshop for G1/G2 students. The goal of this workshop is to provide formal instruction on leadership competencies fundamental to the physician-scientist career path. The committee forms an academic year prior to the event.

Leadership
Kevin Zhang (Co-Chair) and TBD (Co-Chair)

The MSTP Leadership Workshop II Committee is responsible for the curriculum development and organization of the biennial Senior Leadership Workshop, a half-day workshop for senior level MSTP students (M3/M4). The goal of this workshop is to revisit leadership concepts introduced in Leadership Workshop I and focus on leadership skills necessary for the next steps in the physician-scientist career path (clinical team dynamics, leading a team, career transitions).

Leadership
Bruno Hidalgo and Anvith Reddy

The goal of the Outreach Committee is to introduce children in Nashville and the surrounding areas to science and medicine topics and careers. We host the annual Mini-MSTP and booths at various local events, including Brain Blast, MEGAMicrobes, and STEM Night. The Outreach Committee also organizes an undergraduate mentoring program for Vanderbilt undergraduates interested in MD-PhD training.

Leadership
Adam Abdulrahman (Chair) and Hannah Giannini (Vice Chair)

The MSTP Seminar Series is the flagship course of the Vanderbilt Medical Scientist Training Program. It is a student-driven seminar course guided by Advising College faculty preceptors. The seminar series is interdisciplinary in scope, with topics drawn from all areas of biomedical research. The primary focus is on cutting-edge, discovery-based and hypothesis-driven research. Guided by the faculty preceptors and topic-specific experts, students in the MSTP have primary responsibility for choosing the publications to be presented as centerpieces of the seminars. More advanced students are asked to serve as mentors before, during, and after the presentations.

The Seminar Series Planning Committee coordinates with the MSTP Leadership Team and College Leaders in organizing, scheduling, and managing weekly seminar events while developing and introducing new initiatives within the MSTP Seminar Series. Members meet several times during the summer and once in the winter to complete planning activities, and actively respond to issues and feedback that arise within the Seminar Series during the year.

Leadership
Sam Palmer (Chair) and Aamina Dandy (Vice Chair)

Check the MSTP Calendar for upcoming seminars

The Southeastern Medical Scientist Symposium (SEMSS) is an American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) regional meeting that brings together aspiring physician scientists from schools around the southeastern United States. The focus of this event is to provide networking opportunities and expand upon the career development knowledge of MSTP students, educate undergraduate students interested in MSTP programs, and share the interesting science that both undergraduate and MSTP students are involved in. We feature outstanding plenary and keynote speakers, representing the best and newest ideas in fundamental, clinical, and translational science. We are proud of eight years of fostering a collaborative and interdisciplinary educational environment for biomedical science trainees within the region.

Leadership
Gabby Longway and Sara Stiens (Co-Chairs)

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The MSTP Student Advisory Committee (SAC) is a student-run board that meets monthly with the mission to resolve arising problems, address important questions, and to facilitate programming in the MSTP. It is comprised of the MSTP Leadership Team and three student representatives from each MSTP class.

Chair: The individual who served as Chair-Elect during the previous academic year will serve as Chair of the SAC for the next academic year.

Chair-Elect: The Chair-Elect will ideally begin this position during their G1 or G2 academic year and will serve a two-year term (first year as Chair Elect, second year as Chair).

Representatives: There are three student representatives per class. Each representative is expected to serve a two-year term. These positions are appointed by MSTP Leadership for M1 students and then are appointed by representatives at the end of their term. Approximately, all students in the MSTP are expected to serve on SAC at some point.

Leadership
Mark Petrovic (SAC Chair) and Emma Hope (SAC Chair-Elect)

The goal of the MSTP Wellness Committee is to address the mental health needs specific to the MSTP community. The committee serves to enhance the wellness of the student body through programming aimed at decreasing stigma, increasing exposure to resources, and educating about the challenges facing physician-scientist trainees.

Leadership
Jack Trapani (Co-Chair) and Hannah Giannini (Co-Chair)

The Women in Training Series (WITS) committee is dedicated to supporting women training in the physician-scientist career pathway. Through the lens of service, advocacy, and leadership, this sub-committee organizes events to foster connection among students and identify career opportunities and obstacles, with the goals of increasing retention among female physician-scientists and promoting long-term career success.