Conference Empowers Next Generation of Ladies in Science

SAN DIEGO - Aug. 12, 2013 - PRLog -- San Diego’s smartest female high school students graduated UCSD’s summer Oncofertility Science Academy (OSA) this past Saturday.  OSA inspires exceptional 10 - 12th grade women to become the world’s top scientists and physicians.

Following a rigorous selection process 14 applicants were selected by the Academy for intimate hands-on instruction by UCSD faculty physicians and professors. “We teach young women to know what it means to be dedicated,” said Pat Winter, who founded the OSA in 2008 in collaboration with UCSD.

Their intense curriculum spotlights the rapidly growing field of reproductive options for young cancer patients. Dressed in snazzy white coats, the girls learn about reproductive physiology, cancer biology, in vitro fertilization, and reproductive bioethics.

“We must continue to attract and inspire young women to pursue fulfilling careers in science, technology, engineering, and math,” says Dr. Ericka Senegar-Mitchell, a protein chemist and distinguished educator of biotechnology.  She affectionately calls OSA scholars her fellow ‘sisters in science’, who presented their final research projects at the end of the course. Top presenters may proceed to national conference venues.

Academy Director R. Jeffrey Chang, MD, Director of Reproductive Endocrinology at UCSD, said, “We are so proud to introduce the future leaders in medicine”, and is determined to grow the vital program (http://repromed.ucsd.edu/oncofertility/).