Audience
Professor Pam Mertz selected as incoming Chair of the Health Sciences Advisory Committee
Academic Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Pamela Mertz, Professor of Biochemistry, as the next Chair of the Health Sciences Advisory Committee (HSAC). Dr. Mertz will undergo preparation and training this spring from outgoing chair, Dr. Andrew Koch, before assuming the role fully this summer.
As one of the key leadership positions in support of academic excellence at the College, the HSAC Chair serves as a mentor, advisor, and disciplinary expert to those students interested in attending graduate school in the health sciences, and/or highly competitive postgraduate scholarships/fellowships. The primary responsibility of the HSAC chair is to advise students about how best to navigate the path into biomedical programs. Responsibilities also include the critical work of reviewing the required application materials, as well as coordinating and conducting practice interviews for the student, and working with students in the Pre-Health Club.
Dr. Mertz is an accomplished biochemist and STEM educator who has worked informally for years with HSAC students undergoing their mock interviews. She has served as advisor of the student chapter of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), and has been repeatedly tapped to advise incoming SMCM students over the summer, and has mentored countless students on their path to biomedical summer internships, summer REUs, post
baccalaureate programs at NIH, medical school, vet school, and dental school. Of note: not only has Dr. Mertz been a strong advocate for the Seahawk Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) program, but this summer she will also serve as the co-director.
An active member in the leadership of ASBMB, Dr. Mertz also serves on the journal editorial board of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education.
Our congratulations and thanks to Dr. Mertz for serving our students in this important role.
Announcement Group
