Kimberly Meza: Excited to see how continuing generations of iCure program will impact the cancer research workforce

Kimberly Meza, Pathobiology Doctoral Student at Brown University, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Yesterday I had the distinct honor to speak as one of the first alumni of the inaugural cohort of NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities iCURE fellows. It is fantastic to see how the program has impacted so many of my peers and has become a top contributor of Black/African-American and Hispanic/Latinx trainees within the NCI – NIH: Intramural Research Program.

I am excited to see how continuing generations of this program will impact the cancer research workforce and contribute to the amelioration of cancer health disparities through greater representation of marginalized identities. Thank you to keynote address by Dr. H. Nelson Aguila for summarizing the impact to date!

I advise current trainees to take advantage of the resources within and outside of the NIH. Namely Biomedical Science Careers Program, SACNAS, Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists, ASCO, AACR, American Society for Cell Biology, Black in Cancer, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cientifico Latino, Yale Ciencia Academy, and the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education.

My personal ‘hot take’ is not to waste time on imposter syndrome. I feel that too many URM trainees get stuck talking about why YOU feel it and how to overcome it on an individual basis.

However, I feel strongly that it’s a systemic issue that requires dismantling obstacles larger than any one individual could ever take on and should be addressed from multiple levels.

So to individuals — do find a community of peers, mentors and sponsors that will be there for when the doubts creep in but don’t count yourself out.

Thank you iCURE journal club, Max and Erika, for the invitation and opportunity to connect with fellows and alums!”

Source: Kimberly Meza/LinkedIn