Second Women and Science event raises $31,000 for fellowships

Brief

Dr. Rachel Brem, a postdoctoral fellow, values the training fellowships that helped shape her career. Photo by Todd McNaught

More than 150 people attended the second annual Women and Science symposium and luncheon on April 28 in Pelton Auditorium and the Public Health Sciences building. The event drew $31,000 in donations for the center's Training Fellowship Program, which provides salary support for fellows of both sexes in all center divisions. Dr. Deborah Banker, a staff scientist in the Clinical Research Division, collaborated with the Development Department to host the event.

"Many people are unaware of the educational and professional training that the center sponsors, and we wanted to invite the community to help support those efforts," Banker said. "Our goal is to present scientific topics that will interest and inform our community, demonstrate the diversity of scientific research being accomplished at the center, and introduce community participants to a diversity of women scientists, including young scientists who are undergoing critical graduate and post-graduate training here. We formulated this year's scientific agenda in response to suggestions that we received from last year's participants."

The program, hosted by Jean Enerson of KING 5 News, featured talks by Drs. Julie McElrath and Lee Nelson of the Clinical Research Division. McElrath spoke about her research to develop a preventive vaccine for HIV/AIDS, and Nelson spoke about her studies on autoimmune diseases. Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc., was the presenting sponsor for the event.

At the luncheon that followed, Dr. Rachel Brem, postdoctoral fellow in the Human Biology Division, spoke to the attendees about the critical role training fellowships play in developing scientific careers and the exceptional mentoring that is available to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at Fred Hutchinson.

Although featured research topics will change, all Women and Science events will raise money to support fellowships at the center.

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