HMS center launches minority faculty fellowship program

The Harvard Medical School (HMS) Center of Excellence in Minority Health and Health Disparities has launched a faculty fellowship program designed to promote and support the careers of exceptional underrepresented minority junior faculty. The two-year, nondegree-granting program provides specific funding intended to assist participants with their professional development as faculty member researchers and clinician/teachers at HMS and its affiliated hospitals, centers, and institutes. The faculty fellows will focus on and expand the field of work in minority health, and, over time, improve the capacity of the health-care system to address the needs of minority and disadvantaged populations.

The COE fellowship program selection committee recently named four 2003-05 COE Faculty Fellows. The four recipients are as follows:

• Elizabeth I.O. Garner, clinical fellow in obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology, associate gynecologist, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Gynecologic Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her research is titled “A Comparison Study of HPV Vaccine Awareness and Acceptability Among Young African American, Latina and South East Asian Immigrant Women.” In 1994, Garner received her M.D. from HMS and her M.P.H. from the School of Public Health (SPH).
• Nawal M. Nour, instructor in obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive medicine, director of the African Women’s Health Center, and of the Obstetric Resident Practice, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her research is titled “African Women’s Health Research.” Nour received her M.D. from HMS in 1994 and her M.P.H. from SPH in 1999. She was named a Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy recipient in 1998-99.
• Selwyn O. Rogers, Jr., assistant professor of surgery, surgical director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Department of Surgery, General Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His research is titled “Influence of Race on Processes and Outcomes for Colorectal Cancer Care.” Rogers received his A.B. from Harvard College in 1987 and his M.D. from HMS in 1991.
• Celeste R. Wilson, instructor in pediatrics, assistant in medicine, associate investigator, the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research, Child Protection Program, and General Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Boston. Her research title is “Parental Alcohol Screening in Pediatric Practices.” Wilson received her A.B. from Harvard College in 1991. One of the fellowship’s sponsors, the Office for Diversity and Community Partnership (DCP) at HMS, was created to promote increased recruitment, retention, and advancement of underrepresented minority faculty and to oversee all diversity activities involving the School’s faculty, trainees, students, and staff.