(WISDOM): Utilizing Interprofessional Mentorship to Promote Graduate Education
Nicole C. Woitowich
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064
INTRODUCTION
Women are well represented in science,
technology, math, and engineering.
Women in Scientific Discovery or Medicine (WISDOM)
Women are well represented in health
was an organization founded in 2013 at Rosalind
related professions.
Franklin University of Science and Medicine
Having a mentor would help me achieve my
(RFUMS). It is a mentorship program designed to
academic and career goals.
inspire and encourage young women to pursue
I would like to meet other women who are
graduate
education
in
science,
technology,
professionals in my future career.
mathematics, engineering, and healthcare related
I do not need an advanced degree (beyond
fields. Through seminar series, campus tours, and a bachelors) to be successful in my field.
mentor-mentee relationships, the undergraduate
I worry about having both a career and a
students at our partner institutions learn about a
family.
variety of graduate and professional programs.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Created and organized by graduate students, it has
grown to encompass over 60 members at the Survey of attitude and perception towards careers and graduate education in STEM and
health care. Survey participants were female undergraduate students majoring in STEM fields
graduate and undergraduate levels.
(n=19).
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
WISDOM members explain DNA base Students tour the Dr. Scholl Feet First
pairing by making double stranded museum at RFUMS and learn about the
field of podiatric medicine.
bracelets at STEMapalooza.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
100%
WISDOM has already begun to establish partnerships
with local high schools and the Girl Scouts of Greater
Chicago and Northwest Indiana. In the next year we
hope to expand our program to include K-12 health
science outreach.
OUTREACH EVENTS
Career Seminar Series:
• “In the lab and off the bench: Satisfying science
careers in the real world,” Stephanie K. Levi, Ph.D.
• “How I found pharmacy,” Brenda Marshall, RPh,
MBA
Students visit the RFUMS Simulation
and Skills laboratory.
Students participate in an activity which
teaches the basics of transcription and
translation.
PARTICIPATION
WISDOM is composed of an interprofessional team of
students from every college or school at the university.
These include: The School of Graduate and
Postdoctoral Studies, Chicago Medical School, Dr.
William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine,
College of Pharmacy, and the College of Health
Professions. The undergraduate student participants
attend a private liberal arts college and are majoring in
either biology or chemistry.
Workshop Events:
• “Pursuing graduate
education in the health
sciences,” campus tour
• SciGirls role model training
• STEMapalooza
Science Expo
WISDOM @ RFUMS
• WiSci Seminar series
Students attend the first career seminar
series to learn about life in and after
graduate school.
The WISDOM pipeline encourages participation and
retention for women in STEM and health care related
fields at all stages in academia.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
WISDOM is supported by the Rosalind Franklin Fellowship
at RFUMS.