- Email: [email protected]
Marcella Nunez Smith, MD, MHS
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Marcella Nuñez Smith, MD, MHS
The Editorial Board of the Journal of the National Medical Association has dedicated this column in recognition of the outstanding academic, scientific, social and cultural accomplishments of NMA members in all aspects of the medical profession. It is anticipated that these members will serve as both an inspiration to our young members and as a “road map” to assist them in planning for a successful career. Interested members are encouraged to contact the honorees directly. Submissions for this column are encouraged and should be forwarded to [email protected].
Marcella Nuñez Smith, MD, MHS, is assistant director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program and assistant professor of the Section of General Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Keyword: awards, achievement, and recognition J Natl Med Assoc. 2010;102:1267-1268 Author Affiliation: IQ Solutions Inc, Rockville, Maryland. Correspondence: Natalia Barolín, Health Communications Manager, IQ Solutions Inc, 11300 Rockville Pike, Ste 901, Rockville, MD 20852 (nbarolin@ iqsolutions.com, [email protected]).
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arcella Nuñez-Smith, MD, MHS, a member of the National Medical Association (NMA) for more than 5 years, is an assistant director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars program and on faculty in the Section of General Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine. She completed residency training at Harvard University’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a fellowship at the Yale Clinical Scholars program, where she also received a masters in health sciences. Dr Nuñez-Smith’s career path wasn’t always so clear. While still a resident, a former clinical scholar suggested she think about going into clinical research. Although relatively new to research, she applied to the Clinical Scholars program just 3 days before the application deadline and was accepted. She was a participating scholar at Yale from 2004 to 2006, where she focused on workforce diversity, cancer disparities, and the impact of the media on health. Acknowledges Dr Nuñez-Smith: My experience as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation [RWJF] Clinical Scholar transformed me. I am committed to increasing the number of women and other minority physicians who want to make an impact on health care policy; and I am just as passionate about
JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
recruiting and training the next generation of providers to be change agents for health care for all populations well into the future. Dr Nuñez-Smith continues to focus on issues of diversity and discrimination within health care settings. Her original research on health care workforce diversity has been published in numerous journals, including the Annals of Internal Medicine. She is the principal investigator on 2 ongoing grants to support research on diversity and discrimination in health care and collaborates with several national organizations, including the NMA. In fact, the NMA’s president-elect, Dr Cedric Bright, is coauthor on some of her publications and was helpful in assembling the sample for a survey of past and current members of the NMA. As an assistant director for the RWJF Clinical Scholars program, Dr Nuñez-Smith teaches elements of VOL. 102, NO. 12, DECEMBER 2010 1267
MARCELLA NUÑEz SMITH, MD, MHS
the qualitative curriculum and works on streamlining the process of scholar recruitment to encourage more racial/ ethnic minorities to participate. The program provides postdoctoral training for young physicians interested in research and leadership careers in health policy and academic medicine. Through innovative research, clinical scholars work with communities, organizations, practitioners, and policy makers on issues important to the health and well-being of all Americans. The Clinical Scholars program encourages us to think “outside the box.” We can be creative and explore novel strategies that include community-based participatory projects, as well as projects that include government and the private sector.
1268 JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Dr Nuñez-Smith has been recognized for excellence in research and teaching with a number of awards and distinctions. In 2008, she was awarded the prestigious Association of American Medical Colleges Herbert W. Nicken’s Faculty Fellowship in recognition of her contributions to health care workforce diversity and health equity. Dr Nuñez-Smith continues to teach medical students, residents, and fellows, and remains active in clinical practice. The Clinical Scholars program is currently accepting applications through February 28, 2011. For more information or to apply online visit http://rwjcsp.unc.edu/.
VOL. 102, NO. 12, DECEMBER 2010
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Marcella Nuñez Smith, MD, MHS
The Editorial Board of the Journal of the National Medical Association has dedicated this column in recognition of the outstanding academic, scientific, social and cultural accomplishments of NMA members in all aspects of the medical profession. It is anticipated that these members will serve as both an inspiration to our young members and as a “road map” to assist them in planning for a successful career. Interested members are encouraged to contact the honorees directly. Submissions for this column are encouraged and should be forwarded to [email protected].
Marcella Nuñez Smith, MD, MHS, is assistant director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program and assistant professor of the Section of General Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Keyword: awards, achievement, and recognition J Natl Med Assoc. 2010;102:1267-1268 Author Affiliation: IQ Solutions Inc, Rockville, Maryland. Correspondence: Natalia Barolín, Health Communications Manager, IQ Solutions Inc, 11300 Rockville Pike, Ste 901, Rockville, MD 20852 (nbarolin@ iqsolutions.com, [email protected]).
M
arcella Nuñez-Smith, MD, MHS, a member of the National Medical Association (NMA) for more than 5 years, is an assistant director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars program and on faculty in the Section of General Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine. She completed residency training at Harvard University’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a fellowship at the Yale Clinical Scholars program, where she also received a masters in health sciences. Dr Nuñez-Smith’s career path wasn’t always so clear. While still a resident, a former clinical scholar suggested she think about going into clinical research. Although relatively new to research, she applied to the Clinical Scholars program just 3 days before the application deadline and was accepted. She was a participating scholar at Yale from 2004 to 2006, where she focused on workforce diversity, cancer disparities, and the impact of the media on health. Acknowledges Dr Nuñez-Smith: My experience as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation [RWJF] Clinical Scholar transformed me. I am committed to increasing the number of women and other minority physicians who want to make an impact on health care policy; and I am just as passionate about
JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
recruiting and training the next generation of providers to be change agents for health care for all populations well into the future. Dr Nuñez-Smith continues to focus on issues of diversity and discrimination within health care settings. Her original research on health care workforce diversity has been published in numerous journals, including the Annals of Internal Medicine. She is the principal investigator on 2 ongoing grants to support research on diversity and discrimination in health care and collaborates with several national organizations, including the NMA. In fact, the NMA’s president-elect, Dr Cedric Bright, is coauthor on some of her publications and was helpful in assembling the sample for a survey of past and current members of the NMA. As an assistant director for the RWJF Clinical Scholars program, Dr Nuñez-Smith teaches elements of VOL. 102, NO. 12, DECEMBER 2010 1267
MARCELLA NUÑEz SMITH, MD, MHS
the qualitative curriculum and works on streamlining the process of scholar recruitment to encourage more racial/ ethnic minorities to participate. The program provides postdoctoral training for young physicians interested in research and leadership careers in health policy and academic medicine. Through innovative research, clinical scholars work with communities, organizations, practitioners, and policy makers on issues important to the health and well-being of all Americans. The Clinical Scholars program encourages us to think “outside the box.” We can be creative and explore novel strategies that include community-based participatory projects, as well as projects that include government and the private sector.
1268 JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Dr Nuñez-Smith has been recognized for excellence in research and teaching with a number of awards and distinctions. In 2008, she was awarded the prestigious Association of American Medical Colleges Herbert W. Nicken’s Faculty Fellowship in recognition of her contributions to health care workforce diversity and health equity. Dr Nuñez-Smith continues to teach medical students, residents, and fellows, and remains active in clinical practice. The Clinical Scholars program is currently accepting applications through February 28, 2011. For more information or to apply online visit http://rwjcsp.unc.edu/.
VOL. 102, NO. 12, DECEMBER 2010