Committee on Minority Faculty Advancement
The Committee on Minority Faculty Advancement is committed to supporting faculty from underrepresented groups in medicine and the biomedical sciences (URGMBS) by addressing the professional advancement needs, advocating and facilitating the dissemination of knowledge and skills, and providing resources necessary to achieve successful advancement of careers in academic medicine at the University of Washington. In addition, this committee will highlight the unique needs of URM faculty to aid in the recruitment, retention, and promotion of URM faculty, to increase the diversity of the medical school faculty.
Dr. Tara Reid Receives Prestigious Grant to Advance Syphilis Vaccine
Dr. Tara Reid Awarded Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award for Medical Scientists Dr. Tara Reid, a board-certified specialist in internal medicine and infectious diseases, has been awarded the prestigious Career Award for Medical Scientists (CAMS) from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. Based in Seattle, Dr. Reid earned both her MD and PhD in Pathobiology from the University…
Dr. Claudia Vasquez’s Groundbreaking Organ Development Research
Dr. Claudia Vasquez’s laboratory investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying functional organ development. Her research centers on the Malpighian tubules, the renal system of fruit flies, which undergo remarkable transformations in cell shape and organization to form elongated structures responsible for urine production. Using cutting-edge techniques in cell and tissue biology, genome editing, and advanced…
Five Questions with Ayokunle Olanrewaju, PhD
Dr. Ayokunle Olanrewaju, an Assistant Professor in Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington, received the prestigious Beckman Young Investigator Award in 2024. This honor recognizes promising early-career faculty in the chemical and life sciences, providing crucial research funding to develop innovative methods, instruments, and materials. Dr. Olanrewaju’s groundbreaking research focuses on developing a…
Professional Career Advancement Activities
Sponsor CMFA members’ attendance at AAMC minority faculty leadership development seminars; coordination of in-house professional development workshops.
Build Community/Relationships
CMFA holds an annual welcome event in the fall inviting faculty, members of UW Network of Underrepresented Residents and Fellows, UWSOM student affinity groups, Health Sciences affinity groups and others. CMFA also partners with UWNURF and UWSOM student affinity groups to recognize heritage months;
Personal and Career Care
Encouraging self-advocacy and self-promotion for faculty.
Mentorship and Sponsorship
Actively engage faculty within our system who can serve as mentors to junior and mid-level faculty. Annually recognize a faculty member who has been nominated by their peers for the Minority Faculty Mentoring Award.
