UNTHSC conference to feature NIH principal deputy director
The principal deputy director of the National Institutes of Health will be the keynote speaker at a January conference in Fort Worth focusing on advancing equality in STEMM fields through mentorship.
Dr. Lawrence Tabak, known for his leadership in promoting workforce development, will speak during the first day of the Jan. 16 and 17 conference at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. He will share insights into the NIH’s mentorship priorities and its role in fostering innovation and inclusivity in biomedical research.
UNTHSC was awarded a $43,000 competitive grant from the NIH to support the conference titled “Broadening Biomedical Research Workforce Participation Through Culturally Responsive Mentorship.”
The conference will explore strategies to advance equality in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine – or STEMM – through mentorship. It will convene leaders, mentors, researchers, students and administrators to address challenges in mentorship and foster organizational change.
“For organizations to intentionally embrace mentorship at an institutional level, they must assess and align their priorities, norms and policies to fully value mentorship,” said Dr. Damaris Javier, principal investigator for the R13 grant and associate director for Research Training Programs at UNTHSC’s Institute for Health Disparities.
The event reflects NIH’s emphasis on mentorship as a strategic priority and a requirement in many grant applications to foster workforce development.
Other conference highlights will include sessions on asset-based approaches to enhance equality in research, strategies to embed mentorship practices into organizational frameworks, and breakout sessions and networking.
“UNTHSC’s efforts are setting a new standard for mentorship in biomedical research,” said Dr. Jamboor Vishwanatha, director and regents professor at UNTHSC’s Institute for Health Disparities. “We are paving the way for a more equitable and innovative research workforce.”
Registration is now open for the two-day event. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to implement culturally responsive mentorship at their institutions, meeting NIH expectations and advancing workforce diversity.
For more information or to register, visit mentorship2025.dryfta.com.
Funding for this conference was made possible by R13GM155997 from NIGMS. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of NIH; nor does mention by trade names, commercial practices or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
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