Page 28 - 2019 Annual Report

DEPARTMENT OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
Dr. Anna Wirta Kosobuski Tackles Health and Educational Disparities Among Native American Students
Anna Wirta Kosobuski, EdD, aims to target the pervasive health disparities of Native Americans in Minnesota through her work at the Medical School, Duluth campus.
“My ultimate goal is to help build a diverse, Native American science workforce,” Dr. Wirta Kosobuski says.
Deeply rooted in northern Minnesota, Dr. Wirta Kosobuski feels closely connected to the Duluth campus’ mission to serve the medical needs of rural Minnesota and Native American communities.
“Native Americans are severely underrepresented in the sciences and in medicine. With support and mentorship, we can turn that around,” she says.
DEPARTMENT OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY & PHYSIOLOGY
Dr. Emilyn Alejandro Finds Inspiration in Academic Medicine
Recently designated a McKnight Land-Grant Professor, Emilyn U. Alejandro, PhD, feels privileged to be a member of a department with so many distinguished researchers.
Dr. Alejandro’s research is focused primarily on the prevention of diabetes, which is one of the most common chronic diseases.
“We hope to increase our scientific knowledge surrounding this disease, but at the end of the day, we hope that our research effort has the potential to change the world,”
she says.
One of Dr. Alejandro’s main drivers is seeing the success of her trainees in the lab.
“For me, it’s extremely fulfilling when you are able to help the next generation of junior scientists move forward in their careers,” she says.
26 med.umn.edu/impact-medicine