On Friday, February 24, 2023, the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance (MVA) hosted Dr. Clayton C. Yates, John R. Lewis Professor of Pathology at Johns Hopkins University and Director for Translational Health Disparities and Global Health Equity Research at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, for a discussion with students about his career journey and professional development.
Students from Meharry Medical College and Pearl Cohn High School were able to participate in an intimate conversation with Dr. Yates while asking questions about his experiences in his vast career. Dr. Yates embarked words of wisdom and tips to navigate the medical school experience as he reminded students of the power of having a “a career of ideas.”
Dr. Karen Winkfield, Executive Director of the MVA, thanked Dr. Yates for intentionally spending time with students at MMC while lending his insight as a member of the HBCU community. Dr. Winkfield moderated the discussion while also sharing the successes and obstacles she faced throughout her career.
Dr. Clayton Yates is an internationally recognized expert in prostate cancer health disparities research, cell biology, molecular biology, and molecular pathology. Before joining the faculty at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Yates served as a professor at Tuskegee University in the Department of Biology and Center for Cancer Research. Dr. Yates earned his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Department of Pathology and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine Department of Urology.
Dr. Yates served as the Keynote Speaker at the 22nd Annual Meharry-Vanderbilt-Tennessee State University Cancer Partnership (MVTCP) Symposium, where he presented his research on immuno-oncology targets in patients with African ancestry.
The Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance team would like to thank Dr. Clayton C. Yates for his incredibly thoughtful perspective, engaging conversation, and energizing calls-to-action. Thank you, Dr. Yates!