Dr. Roger Mercer has been named director of the College of Medicine Translational Science Laboratory. Dr. Mercer will be responsible for the ongoing development, overall operation and coordination of daily technical activities of a new state-of-the-art facility for the identification of biomarkers taken from biological samples and for high end proteomic and metabolomic analyses.  With more than 25 years experience in academia and in the biotech industry, Dr Mercer will play a leadership role in the College of Medicine’s Translational Science Initiative within its multi-site clinical research network.

Services will be available for a fee, and will include all aspects from sample processing to molecule identification, including posttranslational modifications, and will be open to potential college and university users at FSU, as well as users from other universities or entities. As a “hands-on” scientist and teacher with experience in biological mass spectrometry and analytical chemistry, Dr. Mercer’s addition to the College of Medicine will be invaluable to our forward movement in research. Dr. Mercer earned his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto in 1990.

An ordinarily quiet corner of the College of Medicine’s Research Building was teeming with science-minded sightseers Aug. 25 for the open house of the Translational Science Laboratory.

As many as 150 visitors, many from the other science centers at Florida State, came to see this new collection of cutting-edge research equipment all housed in one space.

“We were joined by colleagues from across campus who have research interests that will be complemented by the new lab,” said Myra Hurt, senior associate dean for research and graduate programs. “A lot of research energy was generated.”

Hurt conducted some of the tours herself, as did lab director Roger Mercer and several others. One of the first visitors in line was retired state Sen. Durell Peaden, who was instrumental in the legislative effort to create the College of Medicine in 2000. Also among those touring the lab were Tom Jennings, FSU vice president for university advancement; Ross Ellington, FSU associate vice president for research; Janet Kistner, chair of the FSU Department of Psychology; Rick Hyson, director of Psychology’s Neuroscience Program; Bryant Chase, chair of the FSU Department of Biological Science; Andy Jhanji, executive vice president of the FSU Foundation; John Fogarty, dean of the College of Medicine; four College of Medicine department heads, Janine Edwards (Medical Humanities and Social Sciences), Ric Gonzalez-Rothi (Clinical Sciences), Richard Nowakowski (Biomedical Sciences) and Daniel Van Durme (Family Medicine and Rural Health); and numerous faculty members, staff members and students.

“Our hope is that the lab will help build interdisciplinary research in the college, across the university and elsewhere,” Hurt said. “There are exciting research opportunities ahead for all of us.”

The Center for Underrepresented Minorities in Academic Medicine held a workshop for the Youth Health Leadership Group associated with the Center on Better Health and Life for Underserved Populations, directed by Dr. Penny Ralston.

The Center for Underrepresented Minorities in Academic Medicine hosted a workshop for SNMA February 2014 titled “Margin/Mission: Mission Creep in Academic Medical Centers".

Dr. Lisa Johnson presented along with Drs. Rodriguez and Campbell at the 40th Annual Society of Teachers of Family Medicine meeting in May 2014 in San Antonio Texas on “Developing mentoring programs for underrepresented minority faculty”.

View the Grand Rounds presentation
 

The Center for Underrepresented Minorities in Academic Medicine along with the Council on Diversity and Inclusion sponsored a AAMC webinar on “Mitigating Stereotype threat in academic medicine” on Wednesday July 23, 2014.

This webinar was designed to educate participants on the ways stereotype threat impacts our medical school environment and provide ways to address and prevent threat. This webinar was recorded and can be made available for review.

Suggested reading: Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do (Issues of Our Time) by Claude M. Steele and 'Whistling Vivaldi' And Beating Stereotypes.

Rust, Satcher et al: Triangulating on Success (American Journal of Public Health)

IOM Report: Primary Care & Public Health: (2012)

Briefing Slides

Video