Women on the front lines of health care and science will share their much-needed expertise in a videoconference as part of MTSU’s National Women’s History Month celebration.

Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross

“MTSU Women of Color in Health Care: Women STEM Professionals in the Workforce After Graduation” is slated for 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, March 8, at https://mtsu.zoom.us/s/89586019959.

This event will bring MTSU students, graduates and professionals in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, fields together to share stories about their career paths.

“I am delighted that these women are giving back to the community by sharing their stories,” said Judith Iriarte-Gross, a professor of chemistry and director of MTSU’s Women in STEM Center. “Role models DO matter.”

Panelists will include:

TaRisha Lake

Amber Dorsey

Betsy Akpotu

• Betsy Akpotu, a junior majoring in biotechnology and genetics and veteran of study-abroad research into polymerase chain reaction, a method used to make copies of DNA samples, in Scotland and vermicompost, the use of worms to decompose waste, in India;

• Amber Dorsey, committee member for the medical care section and the maternal and child health section of the American Public Health Association. She is pursuing a doctoral degree focusing on the intersectional approach to understanding the experiences of African American women as it relates to health literacy and maternal health outcomes;

• TaRisha Lake, a consultant senior microbiologist with ALKU, a specialized consultancy firm based in Andover, Massachusetts, where she is responsible for lead revisions of existing assays and identifying opportunities for new assay development.

Dr. Dani Terrell

Creea Shannon

Dr. Arielle Ross

• Dr. Arielle Ross, a practicing pharmacist who is active in the National Pharmaceutical Association, an organization focused on closing health disparities in ethnic minorities;

• Creea Shannon, family champion for the B.R.I.D.G.E. to Success program at the Center for Health Policy at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee;

• Dr. Dani Terrell, physician in her third year of neurosurgical residency at Louisiana State University-Shreveport;

This event is sponsored by the MTSU National Women’s History Month Committee, the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, the Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, and Housing and Residence Life Living Learning Communities at MTSU.

“This opportunity (provides) a spotlight to honor the women of color who entered the medical field after they earned their degrees here at MTSU,” said Scott Hendricks, area coordinator for housing at MTSU. “They are able to share their stories to (people in) the community who are interested in following similar paths.”

For more information, contact Iriarte-Gross at judith.iriarte-gross@mtsu.edu.

— Gina K. Logue (gina.logue@mtsu.edu)