Jamila Smith-Young Inspires Young Women at SHE Leads the Way Symposium
More than 70 students and parents attended the third annual SHE (Science, Health, Empowerment) Leads the Way Symposium for young women in middle school, high school and college on Monday, Oct. 21 at the Garrett Auditorium on the campus of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis and remotely at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Leake. Baptist Health Sciences University (BHSU) HealthCORE presented the keynote speaker, Jamila Smith-Young, D.N.P., M.P.H., C.P.N.P.-A.C., a nurse practitioner and graduate of BHSU’s nursing program. She is married to Memphis Mayor Paul Young.
She is the founder of Forward 901, a nonprofit that focuses on enhancing the overall quality of life in Memphis by supporting programs and events for young and disadvantaged populations. She earned her Bachelor of Science in microbiology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Baptist Health Sciences University. She holds a Master of Science degree in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and in public health from Walden University. She later earned a doctorate degree in nursing practice from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Monday’s event was part of the SHE Leads the Way program, which promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields while offering educational events, mentoring and networking with female leaders in health and science. Click here to view a video of the event.
“We were thrilled to welcome Jamila Smith-Young back to Baptist Health Sciences University to inspire the next generation of female students through our SHE Leads the Way program,” said Biomedical Sciences Chair and Associate Professor at Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine Lilian Nyindodo, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S. “One of the goals for the Baptist HealthCORE program, which SHE Leads the Way is part of, is to address the need for more diversity and representation in the medical field. By offering such events as SHE Leads the Way, we can engage with girls in our community who are interested in learning about working in the health care profession.”
Professor Nyindodo serves as BHSU HealthCORE co-chair along with Chair and Associate Professor of Health Administration and Public Health at BHSU Briana Jegier, Ph.D.
“The opportunity for young people to meet personally with successful health care professionals is important for them as they make decisions about their future careers,” said Professor Jegier. “With SHE Leads the Way, we show young people how to become a professional in health care and STEM, and connect them with the resources and mentors they need. We hope to create a pipeline into health care careers for students from underrepresented populations.”
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The SHE Leads the Way Symposium at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis brought together over 70 students and parents to inspire young women in STEM. Hosted by BHSU HealthCORE, the event featured BHSU alumni Jamila Smith-Young, D.N.P., M.P.H., who shared her journey in nursing and public health. SHE Leads the Way promotes health care careers for young women through mentorship and networking, aiming to increase diversity and support underrepresented students in STEM.