Hope Through Training the Next Generation of Biomedical Research Scientists

As the new coronavirus spreads across the country, social distancing and stay at home orders are in place, and our campus remains under a state of emergency, The Ohio State University remains open for business and the mission of the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program remains: to train talented, predoctoral students in interdisciplinary approaches to biomedical research, to think critically and to acquire the proficiencies needed for future success in the rapidly evolving fields within biomedical sciences. Our mission focus and the contributions of our 150 students and 300 associated faculty members who work at Wexner Medical Center, in the health sciences colleges at The Ohio State University, and the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, bring hope for tomorrow, even in the midst of COVID-19.

 It has been a pleasure to connect with our incoming class of budding biomedical scientists from around the U.S. and world via virtual meetings originating from my home office to China, California, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, New Jersey, North Carolina, and here in Ohio just to name a few (more to come on the incoming class in May). I am the voice of calm, a trusted resource who makes the complex easier to navigate. I don’t always know the answers, but always provide assurance that we will find the answer together. We’ve provided flexibility in terms of start date and coordinated distance learning options to accommodate the ongoing challenges associated with the pandemic.

 Over the last month operational leadership has been made more challenging with the complex and unprecedented procedures related to virtual learning, telework, closure of facilities, and the cancellation of in person events. There are some days when we start down one path and quickly realize that we must circle back and do things differently. Navigating complex processes and systems has become second nature in my day to day work. In this time of the pandemic, we’ve facilitated online exams, Zoom meetings one-on-one and in groups, research via telework, and smooth transitions for first year students in partnership with our stakeholders. I am grateful for the new ways we’ve connected with our community through virtual town halls led by our leadership team. We’ve provided resources to support the continued productivity, mental health, and well-being of our community.  

We’ll get through this time of challenge together and I’m comforted knowing that the training of best and brightest scientists, who are so committed to finding cures and new discoveries, continues.