UAB Graduate School and the Office of Postdoctoral Education will celebrate UAB’s 4th Annual Mentoring Week April 2-6, 2018. The theme will be “Communication Matters.” It will be filled with fun and informative events that have been organized by faculty from across the Hub. Mentoring Week activities are open to the entire UAB community.
CCTS supports Mentoring Week and encourages our Clinical and Translational Science Training Program (CTSTP) and other graduate trainees to attend, because good communication skills really do matter—they are critically important not only to translational research, but also to developing effective mentoring relationships, multidisciplinary science teams, clinical trial recruitment and retention protocols, interventions for reducing health disparities, and numerous other CCTS mission-relevant initiatives.
The activities for Mentoring Week are listed below. For more information, visit the UAB Graduate School website or view the Mentoring Week flyer.
Monday, April 2
The week kicks off with the Mentoring Academy for Faculty at the Edge of Chaos from 10am-1pm. It will include breakout sessions that focus on communicating team science, cultural awareness, career development, social media/presentations, and manuscript/grant writing. Faculty will be able to participate in two sessions (45 minutes each), which will include a discussion/case study centered on the respective topic together with appropriate resources. Faculty will also hear from a lunch panel with panelists who have received the Dean’s Excellence in Mentoring Award. Registration is required.
Tuesday, April 3
Theater Delta will perform their interactive theater piece “Communication of Original Research” at the Edge of Chaos from 12-2pm. This interactive theater group will be exploring the trainee/mentor relationship to improve communication, receiving feedback, developing boundaries, and more.
Wednesday, April 4
A keynote seminar on “Scientific Storytelling” by Dr. Rafael Luna will take place at Bevill Biomedical Research Building from 12-1pm. Dr. Luna, former Executive Director of the National Research Mentoring Network, is currently Associate Dean at Boston College and the author of The Art of Scientific Storytelling. Dr. Luna will also meet individually with interested faculty and trainees during his visit.
Thursday, April 5
Dialogue in the mentor/mentee relationship can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. Gain the tools needed to create meaningful and productive dialogue - even when it may feel difficult. Matt Copeland, UAB Human Resources, will present “Crucial Conversations” at the Edge of Chaos from 12-1pm.
Friday, April 6
We will end the week with a Mentor On-Boarding poster session and social event at the Edge of Chaos from 2-4pm. From training support to campus student groups, we aim to connect you with those who will support you and your trainees.
Many thanks to CCTS web specialist Kate Matthews for her contributions to this news brief.