Generations of Pride - Texas Southern University

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHTBiomedical Symposium Offers Career Insight for TSU StudentsBy Osjetta Gascey - MorrisTexas Southern University studentsacquired career advice from someof the country’s most notable healthprofessionals during the 20th AnnualSymposium on Career Opportunitiesin Biomedical Sciences in April atboth the Houston Westin Galleria andthe Westin Oaks Hotels.The symposium, sponsored bythe Minority Health ProfessionsFoundation, increased students’understanding of the range of excitingcareer options available to them inthe health professions and biomedicalfields. Engaging the audiencewith their stories of triumph andperseverance, the conference featuredspeakers including noted neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson,Houston’s own Dr. John Alderete and the ThreeDoctors: Dr. Sampson Davis, Dr. Rameck Hun and Dr.George Jenkins.Students, many of whom made their first visit toTexas, attended an opening session in the College ofEducation and viewed poster presentations and a sevenminutefilm composed of footage of TSU’s campus,classrooms and lab activities showing guests what TSUand the city of Houston has to offer. Mayor Bill WhiteBy K. BroussardTexas Southern Universitycontinues to be the vanguardof cutting-edge research andcollaborative programming.In an effort to exposestudents to current researchtrends, advanced techniquesand careers in prostate cancerresearch, TSU has partnered withthe University of Texas M.D.Anderson Cancer Center forthe Undergraduate CollaborativeTraining Program in Prostate Cancer.Each spring, after intensive screening, the Universityselects four TSU students of excellent academic standing.Upon selection, they begin their research at UT-M.D.22 Spring 2006 • Generations of PrideDr. Ben Carson presents at theSymposium.and Dr. Mark Clanton, deputy director ofthe National Cancer Institute attended theopening reception later that evening.The symposium also featured the ThreeDoctors who spoke candidly about theirdisadvantaged backgrounds and the pactthat they made as young men to attendcollege and medical school together inorder to reach their goals. The doctors alsoencouraged students to further developtheir skills as tomorrow’s leaders.The conference showcased a collegevendor fair in an effort to providepreparatory academic and financial aidassistance information to students seekingto further their education. The event alsoserved as an outlet for students to interactwith others as they developed their networking andsocial skills.University recruiters were on hand to targetminority students who have the potential for succeedingin biomedical and health professions careers such asmedicine, dentistry, pharmacy, pharmacy health, andallied health.The symposium closed with a powerful presentationby Dr. Carson, senior director of pediatrics at JohnsHopkins Medical Institute.TSU Students Participate in Cancer Research Training ProgramParticipants of the Training Program aftera presentation.Anderson Cancer Center for the summer.Funded by a research grant from theUnited States Department of Defense,the program includes a student provisionfor attendance to a national meeting.Students selected to this program receivea $4,000 stipend and usage of a laptop forthis 10-week research-training period.TSU faculty involved with trainingand direction of students are Dr. PalurGunasekar, faculty mentor and visitingassistant professor in the Department ofBiology, and Dr. Debabrata Ghosh, faculty academicadvisor and professor in the Department of Biology.The research grant runs through April 2008.