ACGME Equity Matters is an initiative that supplies a framework for continuous learning and process improvement in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and anti-racism practices. The virtual initiative runs from August 2021 through December 2022.

Equity Matters aims to drive change within graduate medical education (GME) by increasing physician workforce diversity and building safe and inclusive learning environments while promoting health equity by addressing racial disparities in health care and overall population health. The ACGME Equity Matters initiative will provide a comprehensive curriculum of ideas, models and data to support interventions that address structural barriers to developing a diverse physician workforce to care for diverse patient populations.

The framework includes two key components: 1) educational resources that will be available to all involved in GME, and 2) collaborative Learning Communities drawn from national stakeholder groups made up of GME Sponsoring Institutions and programs, including faculty members and individual residents/fellows, as well as specialty societies and other health care partners.

Dr. Bradby is participating in two leadership communities in ACGME Equity Matters -- as a member of the DEI Leadership Community and as a representative of the Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine (CORD EM) in the OPDA/CMSS Learning community (OPDA – Organization of Program Director Associations, CMSS – Council of Medical Specialty Societies). Dr. Cunningham is also serving in the DEI Leadership Community.

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Lemasson & Polakowski's NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award: Role of HTLV-1 HBZ in viral infection

Dr. Isabelle Lemasson, PI, and co-PI, Dr. Nicholas Polakowski, from BSOM Department of Microbiology and Immunology have been awarded an NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21) from the NIAID (NIH). This grant will live for two years to support their research on a retrovirus called Human T-cell Leukemia Virus type 1 (HTLV-1).

HTLV-1 is a virus that infects the host’s T-cells to cause a rare but fatal form of leukemia or, alternatively, a neurological disorder. The funded research focuses on one of the viral proteins, known as HBZ, which activates the expression of a host cellular protein called myoferlin. While myoferlin is known to play an important role in muscle development, its presence in HTLV-1-infected T-cells was unexpected, and indeed, its function in these cells is thus unknown. Lemasson and Polakowski found that myoferlin enhances the ability of T-cells containing the virus to infect other T-cells. Correlated with this observation, they found evidence that myoferlin reduces intracellular degradation of the viral envelope protein. The envelope protein is essential for the binding and entry of virus particles into target T-cells.

Lemasson explains: "This funding will be used to characterize the specific role of myoferlin in the HTLV-1 infection process and in the intracellular trafficking of the viral envelope protein. It will also be used to identify compounds that bind to and inhibit HBZ as a means of reducing myoferlin expression and therefore viral spread."

The team hopes that this research will help lead to the development of novel therapeutics that inhibit HTLV-1 infection and hence reduce the chance of diseases development.

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THRIVE@ECU®

THRIVE, which stands for “Towards Hiring, Resources, Inclusion, Value, and Excellence,” is supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) Advance grant. One of the main NSF Advance program goals is to develop systemic approaches to increase the participation and advancement of women in academic STEM careers. The grant will run through 2023.

Dr. Allison Danell is the Principal Investigator on the THRIVE grant. To see the rest of the THRIVE@ECU® team, including Kristen Myers, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator; Crystal Chambers, JD, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator; Anny Sperry, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator, and others, visit https://thrive.ecu.edu/team/.

The grant was sought out to take three key actions at ECU:

1. Change Culture: Build a culture of inclusion by increasing the multicultural competencies of faculty and leaders to engage and advance faculty development across identities, as well as intersections thereof.

2. Build Support: Provide resources and cultivate support networks within and among STEM units

3. Implement Structural Change: Institutionalize strong campus-wide diversity accountability policies and practices

THRIVE@ECU® had a busy fall with a “Picture A Scientist” screening and panel discussion, the launch of a male faculty group called “Advocates and Allies,” and several social gatherings as part of the “Community Building in STEM” series. They also facilitated a two-part leadership development series titled “Stepping Up in STEM,” featuring leaders at Duke University and at University of Texas at Austin who spoke to ECU faculty about senior leadership positions and about leadership skills that are transferable from the research group setting to academic organizations.

Bloxton House, a historic building in the heart of main campus, has been up-fitted for THRIVE@ECU® team's meetings and workspace. It is only occupied part-time, so connecting with them virtually is the best plan. Everyone is welcome to engage (and thrive!) online by visiting https://thrive.ecu.edu to learn more.

The next Community Building in STEM series is being hosted by Brody School of Medicine on January 10, from 8:30 – 9:30 in Brody Commons. Stop in for coffee and pastry and to wish faculty colleagues a Happy New Year!

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Dr. John Farrow and Dr. Everett Pesci's NIH R21 Grant Award: “Understanding the role of CsrA in Acinetobacter baumannii survival and infection"

Drs. John Farrow and Everett Pesci of BSOM Microbiology and Immunology have been awarded a two-year NIH R21 grant for their research “Understanding the role of CsrA in Acinetobacter baumannii survival and infection”.

Their research is focused on Acinetobacter baumannii, an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that has extremely high rates of antibiotic resistance. The majority of A. baumannii infections occur in hospitalized, critically ill individuals, and spread in the hospital setting is a major concern for this pathogen. The grant is based on studies that identified factors that help A. baumannii survive on dry surfaces. One factor, the RNA-binding regulatory protein CsrA, is important for environmental persistence and growth within a host.

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Brody Women's Faculty Committee

Brody Women's Faculty Committee (BWFC) was created as a result of the work of the Advisory Committee for Women in Medicine (ACWM), established in 2004 by Dean Cynda Johnson to address the needs of female faculty. In 2005, the ACWM recommended the establishment of a Women in Medicine committee to promote networking, celebrate accomplishments and share information of relevance to women professionals. Since its inception, the BWFC has grown in membership and has expanded the scope of its initiatives and activities.

The purpose of BWFC is to provide a forum for women professionals to augment their professional skills and also enhance their career development. This is accomplished through advocacy, mentoring, collaboration, education and peer support to facilitate a work environment supportive of women professionals at BSOM. The BWFC is a welcoming community of women who work to improve awareness of issues of particular interest to women, especially with respect to equity, family issues and diversity.

Some of the past events can be found here.

Each year, officers are elected to represent the BWFC; these officers will constitute the Executive Committee of the BWFC: past chair, chair, chair-elect, program chairs (minimum of two), and secretary/treasurer.