July 24, 2024
The ARCHES 23 peer mentoring cohort met for dinner. There was discussion about takeaways of the CTSI retreat that some of us attended in June, funding opportunities, and other ARCHES events. As there is a mix of clinical and basic scientists in the group, there was also informative discussion about our research from a clinical or fundamental perspective and the unique needs that both encounter.
June 24, 2024
We met for dinner at Burma Love to discuss our careers, current research, and future plans. We also talked about what we'd like to get out of the ARCHES Peer Mentoring Circle. Lastly, we both expressed an interest in figuring out ways to collaborate in the future.
June 18, 2024
Dr. Tina Raines-Bennett joined the most recent event. The discussion and planning continued around the Innovation research lab/hub at UCSF. There was discussion of writing retreats, promotion standards, networking and collaboration, the role of a Research Career Coach and how to run a research group.
June 11, 2024
May 10, 2024
We met for a midcareer networking event and discussed pressing issues including mentees wanting to co-submit grant applications, expectations for campus-wide service, norms within the different segments of campus, and other issues.
May 7, 2024
In March 2020, our cohort of faculty in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences gathered for an inaugural meeting. Rumblings of pandemic-related closures and cancellations loomed large, and none of us could imagine how our lives would be disrupted. Despite much uncertainty, our group committed to regular (now virtual) meetings. Our initial goal was to collaborate and provide peer mentorship for research that advances gender equity in the scientific workforce. Our group has met consistently since and we have come to understand how peer mentorship complements, rather than duplicates, mentorship from senior faculty. This meeting was held to celebrate four years of partnership and collaboration, and provide a space for reflection and looking ahead.
April 29, 2024
The event was attended by 7 of 9 current Watson Scholars: Kwame Adjepong, Oscar Aguilar, April Bell, Waru Gichane, Camille Jackson, Lucy Ogbu-Nwobodo, and Michael Waul. Over dinner, we discussed some of the challenges that we faced in our ongoing work and talked through specific strategies to address workplace challenges. We also talked about finding joy and purpose in our work.
March 25, 2024
We had a great event with 3 faculty and 6 mentees including PhD, Masters, and undergraduate students and staff mentors. We started with a general round of introductions in which mentees described their research interests and faculty talked about their research. Mentees then had the opportunity to have one-on-one chats with faculty and others with whom they were interested in learning more about.
March 15, 2024
This was a networking and fellowship dinner for faculty and residents in the department of dermatology. It was an incredibly fun and restorative event coming at the perfect time.
March 15, 2024
Community building opportunities such as this one play a crucial role in supporting trainees and faculty by fostering a sense of belonging, providing networking opportunities, and offering mentorship and support. This special Spring event coincided with Match Day whereby our psychiatry residency training program matched incoming residents, continuing our work towards diversifying our educational training program in the department. Overlooking the beautiful Bay, in a private setting of the restaurant, this was an incredibly fun event, filled with celebration whereby faculty and trainees of color connected with each other, sharing personal and work experiences, challenges, and aspirations—all of which can help combat feelings of isolation and stress.
March 15, 2024
Attendees discussed some of the challenges faced as Black women in the academy, including identifying and cultivating mentors and sponsors. They also shared their ongoing work and talked through specific strategies to address workplace challenges.
March 12, 2024
The ARCHES 23 cohort met and discussed the shape of their ARCHES experience and support. They learned more about each other's research and discovered that though they're all doing very different research, there is both nuance and overlap in their experiences within academia.
February 21, 2024
Researchers from several SOM Departments gathered at the Black Wellness Center at Mt. Zion. The group began strategic planning for the Innovation Research Hub. The goal of this hub is to offer a range of impactful deliverables and activities designed to enhance collaboration, productivity, and community building at all stages of the research pipeline.
January 24, 2024
This dinner networking event allowed faculty leaders from anesthesia, surgery, orthopedic surgery, and ophthalmology to strategize upcoming initiatives. This has helped tremendously with further collaboration as we are planning our next Grand Rounds. These Grand Rounds have been well attended and well received. This event has also allowed us to kickstart potential ideas around the initiatives within the School of Medicine.
January 19, 2024
Three Mid-Career Scholars from the current cohort (2022-2024) and one from the original cohort (2020-2022) met for dinner on January 19th, in lieu of our regularly scheduled monthly meeting in January 2024. We had a great time and plan to continue meeting to support each other moving forward after graduation.
October 21, 2023
The event provided attendees with the chance to hear from women in medicine about their experiences. Some key topics were women's health (reproductive rights), resilience, and intersectionality.
October 12, 2023
This Mid-Career Peer-Mentorship Circle met together in-person to have dinner and discuss mid-career issues. Participants shared their experiences on hiring, grant applications, mentoring of early career faculty, and discussed the mentorship group needs going forward. They identified future opportunities for ARCHES Mid-Career Mentorship meet ups and supports including walks and discussion of lessons learned during their time at UCSF.
September 27, 2023
A group of researchers gathered at CHORI in Oakland. The group was clinical-researchers, primary researchers, learners and faculty. Discussion included cross cutting collaboration in research, community building, mentorship and sponsorship, best practices.
September 15, 2023
Over lunch, participants discussed some of the challenges faced as Black women in the academy. Participants also chatted about their lives including families, work, future projects, and possibilities for collaboration.