The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) awarded Florida State University College of Medicine student DanTasia Y. Welch (M.D., '25) and her mentor, Dr. Shermeeka Hogans-Mathews, a blue ribbon for the poster they presented at the 2023 Conference on Medical Student Education Jan. 26-29 in New Orleans.

Welch presented a poster summarizing her research on the effect of breastfeeding on postpartum depression (PPD) in non-Hispanic Black women. She proposed the project in her successful application for the 2022 Summer Research Fellowship Program. Hogans-Mathews, an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health and a 2015 graduate of the College of Medicine’s M.D. program, supervised the research.

Research has shown that breastfeeding releases “feel good” hormones like oxytocin and reduces the levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol. Yet, breastfeeding rates are lower among Black women and PPD rates are higher. Welch’s research explored the reasons behind the lower rates of breastfeeding.

Of the more than 80 posters at the conference, only 13 were selected for blue ribbons. A panel of three judges independently evaluated each poster. Criteria included clarity, relevance to family medicine student education, strength of methods and overall effectiveness.

Welch was also one of the 2023 STFM Foundation Student Scholarship award winners, which provided financial support for her to attend the conference. Hogans-Mathews' department nominated Welch for the scholarship and assisted with her travel expenses.

“I am very honored to be one of the scholarship award winners and to attend and present at the conference,” Welch said.

Welch also co-presented, with Hogans-Mathews, a seminar on promoting wellness while tackling perfectionism – shining a light on the inner critic – at the conference. Both were national presentations. Hogans-Mathews hopes to navigate a path as a leader in physician wellness, specifically the perils of perfectionism, and is providing Welch a chance to accompany her on that journey.

“DanTasia exemplifies the College of Medicine mission and is inquisitive, teachable and very intelligent. She caught on to research very quickly,” Hogans-Mathews said. “Our time together solidified the need for mentorship of all students, especially those from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in medicine (URM), particularly as we advance academic medicine.”

URM groups – Black, Hispanic and Indigenous – together comprise one-third of the U.S. population, Hogans-Mathews said, but less than 7% of U.S. medical school faculty.

In notifying Welch and Hogans-Mathews of the scholarship award, the STFM Conference co-chairs said the award not only recognizes Welch’s strong commitment to academic family medicine through scholastic, volunteer and leadership pursuits, it also acknowledges her potential for a career in academic medicine.

“I had a great experience working with and learning from my mentor, Dr. Hogans-Mathews, and advisor, Dr. George Rust, for my Summer Research Fellowship,” Welch said. “I am also super-excited about networking with students, faculty and other health professionals passionate about academic family medicine.”

The Summer Research Fellows' posters, including Welch's, were on display Oct. 26, 2022, in the atrium, as well as Feb. 3, 2023, at the College of Medicine's annual Research Fair.

“The opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of a faculty mentor, especially on a topic of their own choosing, has been a tremendous asset for the medical careers of our students,” said Jeffrey N. Joyce, senior associate dean for research and graduate programs.

“We believe that the support we provide, both financially as a stipend and through connecting our students with mentors, allows our students to conduct research that impacts communities. It also is a great environment to develop leadership skills, such as those demonstrated by DanTasia.” 

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