Our commitment to education includes mentoring undergraduate students interested in women’s health and the influence of sex and gender on health. This fellowship is designed to enrich students’ studies by learning about timely health questions and the most contemporary approaches to the science of women’s health. Here is a look at what two of our former fellows are doing now.
Benjamin Fait, ‘17
Upon graduation, Ben was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study the brain biology of hunger in a world-renowned lab specializing in this work at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain.
Returning to the United States, Ben began doctoral studies in neuroscience at Rockefeller University in New York City, and is currently working in a laboratory devoted to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) research.In this context, he is studying the connectivity of corticospinal circuits, which transport signals from the brain, down the spinal column, and to muscles allowing skilled movements. As in his past research, his focus is on increased understanding of how brain processes affect bodily and behavioral functioning. “My work at WHRY has made me a scientist who considers sex as a biological variable automatically when designing experiments and reviewing data,” he said. “It is easy to forget these everyday decisions can percolate over time into major health disparities and scientific blind spots.”
As a WHRY fellow, Ben worked with Dr. Mazure and WHRY’s Communication Officer to develop his interest in health policy and scientific communications. In particular, he played a major role in producing a series of videos in which “the person on the street” was asked health literacy questions regarding women’s health. The questions and answers successfully sparked conversations about women’s health, and the videos of these encounters have subsequently been used to call attention to the value of studying the health of women as well as men. During his fellowship, Ben also published in the widely read political newspaper, The Hill, in which he discussed the importance of funding biomedical research and supporting careers in science.
He continues to advocate for health policy, authoring a perspective during the Covid-19 pandemic on the need to address the public’s distrust of scientists and the disregard for scientific advice. It was featured in Science & Diplomacy, a publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which is the world’s largest multi-disciplinary scientific society.
“I’m grateful to WHRY for instilling in me the value of thinking about the impact of sex and gender as an issue affecting both the practice of science and the health of women. I know these are lessons I will carry with me throughout my career,” he said.
Rose Davis, ’18
After graduation from Yale, Rose chose a position in London advising personalized healthtech startups. She subsequently was recruited by an emerging health care company to oversee their business and operation strategy. This role provided Rose with a first-hand look at entrepreneurship, the health care industry in the UK and Europe, and the role of technology in access to health care services.
To further inform her interest in biotech, Rose earned a master’s degree from Imperial College London in Applied Biosciences and Biotechnology. She then joined a venture capital firm where she now focuses on funding start-up technology companies. Her main focus is healthtech with an emphasis on companies that work to improve the health of women.
"My job is to meet with entrepreneurs in the early stages of building," she said. "They pitch ideas, I ask questions, try to understand the opportunity, and then build a case as to why it would make a good investment."
As a WHRY undergraduate fellow, Rose worked with Dr. Lisa Freed, director of Yale New Haven Hospital's Women's Heart and Vascular Program, shadowing her at the clinic and helping to formulate clinical research questions as Dr. Freed collaborated with WHRY on integrating health research into clinical practice.
"My time at WHRY informed a lot of ho I think about health and health care," Rose said. "I am proud that my company is backing cutting-edge health companies that can improve the health and well-being of women."
She particularly embraces the opportunity to continue learning in "a job that doesn't feel like a job."
"I met with 10 founders today, all doing something different from one another, all entrenched in their specific expertise," she said. "I am constantly talking to brilliant people who are passionate and want to make a difference in this world."