CRS Launches the MS-RSM Alumni Network
I am especially excited about the opportunities for peer mentorship and outreach initiatives that the Alumni Network is pioneering, and I look forward to staying involved with the CRS community". ”
Leah Simon, MS (MS-RSM Cohort 2)
From the US’s east coast and west coast and from the UAE and Uruguay, MS-RSM Alumni connected to take part in the inaugural MS-RSM Alumni Network meeting. In these unprecedented times of global solitude, our community virtually connected to reflect on their experiences in the MS-RSM program and how it has contributed to their current educational and career trajectories. Led by Dr. Giulia Vigone and supported by Lauren Ataman (CRS Program Administrator) and Dr. Pamela Monahan (MS-RSM Lecturer), the meeting welcomed 9 MS-RSM Alumni: Dr. Dana Kimelman, MD (Cohort 1), Dr. Sergio Cardona-Gonzalez, MD (Cohort 2), Jules Balough, MS (Cohort 2), Leah Simon, MS (Cohort 2), Anne Lenzo, MS (Cohort 3), Vicky Bakaturski, MS (Cohort 4), Andjela Dragojevic, MS (Cohort 4), Monica Elabed, MS (Cohort 4), and Noelle Ozimek, MS (Cohort 4).
Our alumni are currently pursuing medical studies, continuing their research in PhD programs, working in laboratories and clinics, and taking back to their medical practices the lessons and connections that CRS and the MS-RSM has provided them. Interestingly, over 50% of our alumni have chosen to stay in the greater Chicago area, reflecting the wealth of employment and educational opportunities here. The excitement was palpable as alumni shared their journeys and stories from their time in the program.
Dr. Vigone then shared the new initiatives of the Alumni Network. A key component to this new network is the MS-RSM Ambassadors program, which can extend the reach of our program to other institutions and professional settings. Ambassadors can serve as point-persons for prospective students, provide recruitment materials, or act as custodians of contact information. Additionally, CRS is launching the Alumni Network’s Mentorship Program, where past and present trainees can link up, one on one, to provide educational and career advice and guidance. Dr. Sergio Cardona-Gonzalez, MD., shared his excitement for the event and the initiatives, “It was an immense joy to participate in the very first CRS/Alumni Network meeting! Very happy to see some familiar faces and see how the MS-RSM continues to evolve. Very excited about the initiatives, collaborations, and networking opportunities to keep us connected!”. And, with enthusiasm, Leah Simon shared that “The CRS alumni event was a fun way to reconnect with faces both old and new, and stay tuned regarding ongoing events at CRS. The virtual meeting allowed for me to join in all the way from the UAE, which I was very grateful for! I am especially excited about the opportunities for peer mentorship and outreach initiatives that the Alumni Network is pioneering, and I look forward to staying involved with the CRS community".
As we move forward into the new academic year and welcome Cohort 5, the initiatives of the Alumni Network will be a focal node of our ever-increasing MS-RSM professional network, supporting and encouraging our amazing trainees, past and present.
If you want to learn more or participate in the Alumni network’s initiatives, contact Dr. Giulia Vigone at giulia.vigone@northwestern.edu.