College Hosts Academic Medicine Conference Featuring Nine Workshops

University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix students, residents and fellows took advantage of nine workshops designed to help them explore the many facets of academic medicine at the 2018 BNGAP Academic Medicine Career Development Southwest Regional Conference.

BNGAP, which stands for Building the Next Generation of Academic Physicians, offers sessions that provide insight into academic medicine. Its mission is to “help diverse medical students and residents become aware of academic medicine as a career option" by offering conferences throughout the country.

Valerie Romero-Leggott, MD, vice chancellor for Diversity at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and a member of the BNGAP Board of Directors, co-hosted the conference in early March at the college, along with Francisco Lucio, JD, associate dean of Diversity and Inclusion.

"Attendees learned from medical school faculty mentors from across the Southwest in a truly collaborative endeavor to cultivate our future health care leaders," Lucio said.

Dr. Romero-Leggott spoke about how these kinds of sessions impact future academic physicians.

"Each time I participate in the BNGAP conferences, I am humbled and re-energized as we see firsthand the sincere appreciation and empowerment of the attendees,” she said.

Dylan Sabb, a second-year medical student, said in addition to learning about various career tracks within academia, he was able to talk with faculty and administrators from regional institutions and learn how best to begin preparing for a residency and a career in academics.

Arielle Rubin, a fourth-year student, said she left the conference “with a new sense that academic medicine was not only something I was interested in, but something I am capable of and qualified to do. I would encourage any student with a passion for their community and who is looking to have a larger reach to consider academic medicine.”

The conference was made possible through sponsorships from the college’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Phoenix Children's Hospital, BNGAP and Banner –  University Medical Center Phoenix.