AWSM Events

2024-2025  2023-2024  2022-2023  2021-2022  2020-2021  | 2019-2020  | 2018-2019 | 2017-2018 
2016-2017  2015-2016  |  2014-2015  |  2013-2014  |  2012-20132011-20122010-20112009-2010

2024 - 2025

2023 - 2024

  • AWSM Potluck, May 30, 5:30pm, Naval Square in Grad Hospital. Please fill out this form to RSVP!

PhD preliminary exam practice talks with refreshments:

Time/Date

Presenter

Grad Group

Location

5/9 9:30 AM

Barbara Xiong

GCB

JMEC 502

5/10 9:30 AM

Eren Kafadar

NGG

Smilow 01-102

5/20 9:30 AM

Katherine Xia

CAMB/CPM

JMEC 506W

5/28 9:30 AM

Muskaan Aggarwal

IGG

TBD

5/29 9:30 AM

Sanam Kavari; Angela Gong

CAMB/GE; Chemistry

JMEC 505E

  • Coffee Chat with AWSM Advisors, Wed, Feb 21, 10:00 am, 11-146 Smilow
  • Holiday Party, December 14, 6:00 pm
    Join us to unwind, celebrate the end of the year, and spend some time with friends across the MSTP! We look forward to catching up!
  • AWSM Welcome Dinner, October 16, 5:00 pm
    Join us for a welcome dinner for women MSTPs! Come meet students from all years of the MSTP, as well as women faculty at Penn and CHOP. We’ll do some introductions, and do some brainstorming about AWSM events for the rest of the semester and year, all over dinner!
  • Coffee & Conversation with visiting MSTP alum Jing Hughes, October 9, 2:10 pm, 514 JMEC
    Join us for a conversation with MSTP alum Dr. Jing Hughes! Dr. Hughes is currently an assistant professor of medicine at Washington University in St. Louis. She studies cilial action in diabetes, particularly in islet cells. She is also active in patient care and has participated in clinical trials for drugs in type 1 diabetes. All students are welcome! Coffee and donuts will be available.

2022 - 2023

  • AWSM Tea & Cookies with Marcela Maus, June 23, 2:00 pm, 204 Stellar-Chance
  • AWSM Potluck, October 18, 6pm

2021 - 2022

  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, July 7, 4:30 pm, JMEC: Rm. TBD
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 25, 3:45 pm, 515W JMEC
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 20, 10 am, 501 JMEC with refreshments
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 13, 10 am, 501 JMEC
  • F30 and F31 fellowships panel discussion, October 22, 4:00-5:00pm

2020 - 2021

  • PASH MD/PhD panel discussion (featuring MD/PhD students), May 11
  • Meeting with visiting faculty speaker Tamia Harris Tryon, MD, PhD, April 6
  • SNMA “Wine and Chill” panel discussing career paths of women physician-scientists with Aimee Payne, MD, PhD and Audrey John, MD, PhD, March 20
  • “Picture a Scientist” film screening and discussion with Sarah Henrickson, MD, PhD, Sunny Shin, PhD, and Aimee Payne, MD, PhD, November 18
  • F30 and F31 fellowships panel discussion, October 19
  • Donations made in the Fall to:
    • Comegys Elementary School (in conjunction with the PSOM Health Science Education Group), which allowed 500 students to receive supplies for virtual school and access to the science curriculum platform and
    • sponsor an annual Penn Medicine Anti-Oppression training (facilitated by the Black and Brown Workers Cooperative), organized with StORM, October

2019 - 2020

  • AWSM Potluck, January 22, 7pm, Maria Diaz Ortiz's home (inquire for location)
  • AWSM Holiday Party, December 16, 6:30 pm, 505 JMEC
  • F30 and F31 fellowships panel discussion, October 14, 12 pm, 251 BRB
  • AWSM Kickoff event, September 20, 6-9 pm, Cira Green

2018 - 2019

  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 28, 12 pm, 253 BRB
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 22, 12 pm, 253 BRB
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, April 26, 12:30 pm, 253 BRB
  • Breakfast with CRISPR pioneer Dr. Jennifer A. Doudna, April 29, 9:00 am, 302 CRB
  • Happy Hour with applicants at Penn Preview, April 12, 5:45 pm, 514 JMEC
  • "Lessons from the Emergency Room: Projecting Authority in Crisis Situations -- collaborative leadership development workshop with the Penn Emergency Medicine women's organization" Officially hosted by WWIB. March 2019
  • Panel discussion exploring leadership and careers in healthcare and biomedical sciences. Panelists include:  Heather Steinman (PhD, MBA), the Executive Director of Technology Transfer and the VP of Business Development at the Wistar Institute;  Dr. Dora Mitchell, the VP of Operations at Carisma Therapeutics;  Linda Miller (PhD), the Senior Director of Strategic Planning at CHOP (and former Engagement Manager at McKinsey). February 2019
  • AWSM Potluck, January 16, 7pm
  • F30 and F31 fellowships panel discussion, October 12, 11 am, 251 BRB
  • Welcome social event, September 26, 6-9 pm, City Tap House
  • Planning meeting, September 12, 3 pm, 516 JMEC

2017 - 2018dr. nabel with women students

  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 10, 12 pm, 252 BRB
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 8, 12 pm, 252 BRB
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 4, 12 pm, 252 BRB
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, April 23, 12:30 pm, 251 BRB
  • Happy Hour with applicants at Penn Preview, April 20, 6:30pm, 516 JMEC
  • Sarah-Jane Leslie, The Brilliance Trap: Genius and Gender, Jan 22, 5pm, Law Auditorium
  • Panel Discussion with upperclass (wo)men about writing an F30/F31 application (we will try to give some general advice and point out useful resources), October 9
  • Fall Potluck, September 29, 7pm
  • Planning meeting, September 11, 1 pm, BRB 801

2016 - 2017

  • 6/01/17 at 12-1:30pm in BRB 253. Emma Lewis, IGG, PI: Mike Silverman & Sushila Toulmin, IGG, PI: Scott Hensley
  • 5/25/17 at 12-1:30pm in BRB 253. Vanessa Dang, IGG, PI: Jorge Henao-Meija & Ruth Choa, IGG, PI: Taku Kambayashi
  • 5/18/17 at 12-1pm in BRB 253. Linda Zhou, GCB, PI: Jennifer Cremins
  • Informal discussion with alum Dr. Catherine Wu, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard in Hem-Onc, Member of the Broad Institute and Founder/Scientific Advisory Board Member of Neon Therapeutics , May 11, 2:30pm, 253 BRB
  • Happy Hour with applicants at Penn Preview, April 20, 6:30pm, 515 JMEC
  • Penn Med, Penn Law & Wharton Women's Happy Hour: Mix and mingle with the women of Penn's other graduate schools, March 29, 5pm, Mad Mex
  • Anne Marie Slaughter on feminism in the age of Trump, March 17, 3 pm, Bodek Lounge in Houston Hall
  • Melissa Gilliam on challenging dominant narratives, March 15, 1 pm, JMEC Law Auditorium
  • Fall Potluck, November 3, 7pm
  • Dinner with Dr. Dianna Milewicz, September 27, 7pm, White Dog Cafe
  • Planning meeting, September 19, 4 pm, JMEC 516 E

2015 - 2016

  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 13, 12 pm, 253 BRB
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 6, 12 pm, 253 BRB
  • AWSM monthly brown bag lunch, May 5, 12-1pm, 516 JMEC
  • Discussion of “The Confidence Gap”, The Atlantic, 12-1:30 pm, 301 BRB
  • Happy Hour with applicants at Penn Preview, April 7, 6:30pm, 516 JMEC
  • AWSM outreach at Central High School, April 6
  • AWSM monthly brown bag lunch, April 6, 12-1pm, 516 JMEC
  • MSTP monthly event panel discussion co-sponsored by AWSM, Making a Successful Transition from Trainee to Junior Faculty, March 16, 5pm, Austrian Aud, CRB
  • AWSM monthly brown bag lunch, March 14, 12-1pm, 514 JMEC
  • AWSM outreach at Carver High School of Engineering and Science, March 14
  • AWSM monthly brown bag lunch, February 5, 12-1pm, 516 JMEC
  • “Talking Transitions” lunch, Dec 15, 12-1 pm, 514 JMEC
  • Discussion of JAMA article on gender differences in start-up packages, led by Alice Chen-Plotkin, MD & Josh Plotkin, PhD, along with Aimee Payne, MD, PhD, Nov 30, 3:00-5:00, 501 JMEC
  • Fall planning meeting, October 20, 5pm, 503 JMEC
  • Welcome potluck, September 18, 6:30pm

2014 - 2015

  • Informal discussion with alum Dr. Diane Krause, MD, PhD, Professor of Laboratory Medicine, Pathology and Cell Biology at Yale, May 19, 4:30pm, JMEC 505
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 15, 12pm, 501 BRB
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 8, 12pm, 1412 BRB
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 1, 12pm, 301 BRB
  • Happy Hour with applicants at Penn Preview, April 23, 6:30pm, 506E JMEC
  • AWSM Happy Hour at New Deck, February 13, 5pm
  • “Talking Transitions” lunch, Dec 10, 12-1 pm, 801 BRB
  • Fall Planning Meeting, November 17, 1pm, 801 BRB
  • Panel on MD/PhD programs for undergraduate women, November 10, 7pm, 111A Stemmler Hall
  • Lunch with Teresa Woodruff, PhD, Thomas J. Watkins Memorial Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director, Women’s Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Oct 29, 1 pm
  • Welcome potluck, October 23, 6:30pm

2013 - 2014

  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 21, 1pm, 204 Stellar Chance
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 15, 12pm, 301 BRB
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 8, 12pm, 301 BRB
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, April 28, 3pm, 501 BRB
  • Happy Hour with applicants at Penn Preview, April 24, 6:30pm, 252 BRB
  • Informal discussion with alum Sujata Bhatia, MD, PhD, PE, Assistant Director for Undergraduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering, Harvard University, April 15, 4:30-5:30pm, 1412 BRB (POSTPONED)
  • Informal discussion with P. Kay Lund, PhD, Sarah Graham Kenan Professor in the Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, April 9, 5 - 6:30pm, 901 BRB
  • University of Pittsburgh Women in Science and Medicine Association conference: Doctoral Directions: Innovating in Your Biomedical Career, April 4-5, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Informal discussion with alum Jeannie Lee, MD, PhD, Professor of Genetics and Pathology, Harvard Medical School, HHMI Investigator, April 2, 2:15-3:30pm (sponsored by the Penn Medicine Office of Development & Alumni Relations)
  • Chalk talk, March 4th, 12 - 1:00pm, 701 BRB
  • National Symposium for the Advancement of Women in STEM, Feb 21-22, Boston, MA
  • Informal discussion with Laurie Glimcher, MD, Dean of Weill Cornell Medical School, January 14, 10 - 11:00am, M162, JMB
  • "Talking Transitions" lunch, December 17, 12-1:30pm, 253 BRB
  • Fall Planning Meeting, October 14, 1pm
  • Welcome potluck, October 2, 6 pm

2012 - 2013

  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, May 13, 3:30pm, 1101 BRB
  • PhD preliminary exam practice talks, April 29, 10am, Johnson Pavilion 150-154
  • Happy Hour with applicants at Penn Preview, April 25, 6:30pm, 252 BRB
  • Informal discussion with Susan Smyth, MD, PhD, MD-PhD Director and Chief of Cardiology, University of Kentucky, April 2, 11 - 11:30am, 1101 BRB
  • Informal discussion with Mignon Loh, MD, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at UCSF, February 5, 2:30 - 3:30pm, 1001 BRB
  • WMPSA Happy Hour at Distrito, January 14, 5pm
  • Dinner and discussion with AWSM: Triumphs and Pitfalls for Women Physician-scientists, December 6, 6 - 7pm, 251 BRB
  • Chalk talks, November 19, 12 - 1:30pm
  • Potluck and screening of documentary Miss Representation, October 13, 7pm
  • Welcome potluck, September 15, 7pm
  • Fall Planning Meeting, September 7, 1pm
  • WMPSA Happy Hour at New Deck, August 28, 5pm

2011 - 2012

  • Informal discussion with Susan Dymecki, MD, PhD, Professor of Genetics at Harvard, March 5, 5:15pm, 1101 BRB
  • WMPSA Happy Hour at Distrito, Tuesday, January 24, 5:30 - 7pm
  • WMPSA Women physician scientist panel event: "Triumphs and Pitfalls", Tuesday, January 10, 5:30 - 6:30pm, Student Lounge - 213 Stemmler Hall
  • PGWISE Discussion Event and Lunch: Is Science Gendered? December 14, 12-1:30pm, Penn Women's Center at 3643 Locust Walk
  • PGWISE bookclub: "A PhD is Not Enough: A Guide to Survival in Science.", December 8, 6pm in 315 Levine and December 14, 5:30pm in 315 Levine
  • WMPSA Happy Hour at Tinto, December 6, 5pm-7pm
  • Penn Forum for Women Faculty Event: "Removing the Gender Hurdles that Hinder the Pace and Success of Women in Higher Education," led by Geraldine Richmond, November 17, 3:30pm
  • Fall Planning Meeting, September 21, 4pm
  • Penn Graduate Women in Science & Engineering (PGWISE) BBQ, August 17, 5-7pm
  • WMPSA welcomes the first year MSTP women: happy hour at the Penn Museum summer nights music series, August 10, 6 - 8pm

2010 - 2011

  • WMPSA dim sum social at Joy Tsin Lau, June 12, 11am
  • Penn Graduate Women in Science and Engineering (PGWISE) bookclub. “Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers.” May 9, 5:30pm (Levine 512) and May 10, 6pm (Levine 307)
  • Happy Hour with applicants at Penn Preview - April 28
  • Seminar and interactive workshop by Valerie Young, Ed.D. -“How to Feel As Bright and Capable As Everyone Seems to Think You Are: What Every Woman and Man Needs to Know About Competence, the Impostor Syndrome, and the Art of Winging It.” April 12, 4- 6:15 pm (Chemistry Building, Room 102)
  • Penn Graduate Women in Science and Engineering (PGWISE) Alumnae-Student Luncheon, March 26, 12-2pm, Hall of Flags, Houston Hall.
  • Informal discussion with Lucy Godley, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at University of Chicago, March 14, 11-11:45am, BRB 1201
  • Steering Committee Meeting, February 23, 1-2pm, BRB 1412
  • Happy Hour at City Tap House, February 16, 5pm-7pm
  • Informal Q&A discussion with a panel of women physician-scientist faculty. "What NOT to do setbacks for women physician-scientists"January 11, 5-6pm, Medical Student Lounge.
  • Penn Graduate Women in Science and Engineering (PGWISE) bookclub “The Madame Curie Complex: The Hidden History of Women in Science.”January 10 and 18, 5pm.
  • Happy Hour at Biba, December 13, 5:30pm-7:30pm
  • Happy Hour at Landmark Americana, October 12, 5pm-7pm
  • Happy Hour at World Café Live, September 1, 5pm-7pm
  • Committee mtg to plan for the upcoming year will be scheduled for later this month.

2009-2010woman student receiving an award

  • Women's MD-PhD Student Social - August 24, 5pm-7pm – Happy Hour at World Café Live
  • Informal discussion with Dr. Betsy Nabel, Director of the NHLBI, regarding issues facing women physician scientists – September 22, 3:30-4:30 – prior to her talk for the wider community at 5:00.
  • Finding the Mentors You Need: A Perspective from Both Sides of the Table – October 21, 5:30-7:00 – sponsored by Graduate Medical Education (GME) and FOCUS on Health & Leadership for Women. Special arrangements were made to include women MD-PhD students, and online registration is required.
  • Women’s MD-PhD Student Dinner on December 15th.
  • Happy Hour with applicants April 22
  • Discussion of the book Women Don't Ask June 8
  • Informal discussion with program alum Jeannie T. Lee, MD, PhD on June 21st, prior to her talk for the Cell and Developmental Bio Seminar Series.