Talk celebrates women and girls in science

Their stories are as unique as the paths they took into the health professions, but each agreed that mentors made the difference in shaping their professional lives.

On Feb. 11, three UNMC faculty members talked about their journeys during a UNMC panel presentation on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

“Mentors shaped me into who I am today,” said Amber Donnelly, Ph.D., professor and director of the UNMC Cytotechnology Program, who remembers the names of each and every mentor she’s had. “Give back, become a mentor,” she said. “You’ve been helped along the way. Now, it’s your turn to help others.”

She also learned that saying “yes” to opportunities makes a difference. “If you say ‘no,’ you close the door,” she said.

Jasmine Riviere Marcelin, M.D., assistant professor and associate medical director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, used graphics of country flags to talk about her journey and the influence mentors had on her.

A native of the small Caribbean island of Dominica, she said she was fortunate to have women who looked like her serving as role models. At age 8, a visit to her doctor clinched her decision to become a doctor. A female neighbor was the prime minister of Dominica and, when she lived in Antigua, there were more women role models.

She subsequently earned her medical degree, lived in Canada and New York City and ultimately did residency training at Mayo in Rochester, Minn. “I was plagued by the question of whether I belonged since I was from the Caribbean, but finally realized,’I worked and worked and here I am, and I deserve to be here as much as my peers.”

When Ashley Wysong, M.D., founding chair and associate professor and William W. Bruce, M.D., Distinguished Chair of Dermatology, was 13, she shadowed a surgeon. “I scrubbed in and I loved it. Seek a mentor and go all in.”

She said not to be afraid to do different things. She also talked about taking five years off after graduating with her bachelor’s degree to be a professional athlete.

“I learned about teamwork. If you put everything out there, you can’t lose. Don’t be afraid to do the unexpected.

“Mentorship is so key,” Dr. Wysong said. “It’s been a key theme throughout my life. It really makes me tick. There’s always an opportunity to influence others.”