{"id":14186,"date":"2021-02-11T09:08:35","date_gmt":"2021-02-11T13:08:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/?p=14186"},"modified":"2022-03-21T15:57:58","modified_gmt":"2022-03-21T19:57:58","slug":"women-in-science","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumna Provides a Trusted Voice in Science, Health"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Jill
Jill Weatherhead ’05, M.D., Ph.D., a physician-scientist and Director of Medical Education in the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, works in a lab with her mentors, Drs. Peter Hotez and Maria Elena Bottazzi, who are co-chairs in the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Tropical Medicine. Photo credit: Baylor College of Medicine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Kalamazoo College alumna, key to Baylor College of Medicine\u2019s fight against COVID-19, set a goal of communicating more effectively and regularly with the public about science and health in 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle did I know this pandemic would come and science communication would be so critical,\u201d said Jill Weatherhead ’05, M.D., Ph.D., a physician-scientist and Director of Medical Education in the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine<\/a> in Houston. \u201cOver the past year, I\u2019ve wanted to discuss the pandemic with the public honestly and openly with transparency. I\u2019ve wanted to share scientific knowledge with the community to make sure people are safe and have a better understanding of what’s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weatherhead has been very successful with that goal. Even a simple glance at her Twitter handle, @JillWeather<\/a>, shows evidence of that. Recently, she\u2019s been a resource for scientific publications and Houston-area media outlets regarding subjects such as COVID-19 trends, and the vaccine\u2019s efficacy and safety. She even details her own experience with receiving the vaccine in pictures, video and personal reports.<\/p>\n

\"Jill
Jill Weatherhead ’05 has been a resource for scientific publications and Houston-area media outlets regarding subjects such as COVID-19 trends, and the vaccine\u2019s efficacy and safety.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Transparency and media communication are really important to show I’m not only talking the talk, but walking the walk,\u201d she said. “I want people to know that I’m doing the same thing and that I’m holding myself to the same standard. Seeing the positives and the negatives of those recommendations are critical to instilling trust in what you’re saying. That doesn’t mean the vaccine process is perfect or that I didn’t have some small side effects. But when the vaccine comes to you, please take it. Then, please continue to wear a mask and social distance. I’m trying to exemplify that.”<\/p>\n

Such spotlights make Weatherhead an ideal example of someone the United Nations celebrated<\/a> on February 11, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, along its theme of \u201cWomen Scientists at the Forefront of the Fight Against COVID-19.\u201d<\/p>\n

U.N. statistics show that fewer than 30 percent of scientific researchers in the world are women and only about 30 percent of all female students select fields in science, technology, engineering or math to pursue in their higher education. Representation among women is especially low professionally in fields such as information and communication technology at 3 percent; natural science, mathematics and statistics at 5 percent; and engineering at 8 percent.<\/p>\n

To change such numbers, the U.N. General Assembly established its international day to celebrate women scientists and build equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. Weatherhead is doing her part as an Infectious Disease expert at Baylor to encourage and support women entering into science especially those starting their educational journeys.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think one of the biggest lessons I learned is not to be afraid to challenge yourself and try new things,\u201d Weatherhead said when asked about advice for women interested in scientific disciplines at K. \u201cThere are things that are going to be comfortable and things that are going to be uncomfortable at K, so challenge yourself. It\u2019s important to grow and figure out where you see your career going.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Weatherhead attended K, trying new things meant a study abroad<\/a> experience at the Universidad de San Francisco in Ecuador.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat experience alone really shaped the trajectory of my whole career,\u201d she said. \u201cI worked at an inner-city hospital, and I wrote a thesis on the health inequities caused by poverty in Ecuador. That was the first time where I saw the impact of access to health care, health communication and community outreach. It really opened my eyes to a whole different side of the world that I didn’t know existed. I honestly feel that I came back a different person.\u201d<\/p>\n

That experience inspired her interest not only in infectious disease, but tropical medicine, a subspecialty within infectious disease research, focusing on afflictions that most commonly affect people living in extreme poverty within certain climates.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn order to have these diseases, you need to be living in poverty in areas where there’s poor sanitation and waste management; areas where the diseases can flourish in warm, humid climates,\u201d Weatherhead said. \u201cWe see a lot of these infections here in Texas, as well as in other areas along the Gulf Coast where the climate and pockets of poverty support them. My lab focuses on how these infections of poverty lead to long-term, detrimental health consequences in children and adults and aims to develop new interventions to prevent these infections.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weatherhead\u2019s efforts and sacrifices clearly benefited Baylor and the Houston area last year and will continue to do so as the pandemic progresses through her direct care of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and through her community outreach and service.<\/p>\n

K helped cement that deep commitment to service.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would say my K-Plan<\/em><\/a> was the foundation of my current career,\u201d Weatherhead said. \u201cWithout my K-Plan<\/em> I would not be where I am.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Kalamazoo College alumna, key to Baylor College of Medicine\u2019s fight against COVID-19, set a goal of communicating more effectively and regularly with the public about science and health in 2020. \u201cLittle did I know this pandemic would come and science communication would be so critical,\u201d said Jill Weatherhead ’05, M.D., Ph.D., a physician-scientist and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":147,"featured_media":14195,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[232],"tags":[31,168,157],"post_formats":[],"class_list":["post-14186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","tag-alumni","tag-health","tag-public-health"],"yoast_head":"\r\nAlumna Provides a Trusted Voice in Science, Health - News and Events<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Jill Weatherhead \u201905 is an ideal example of someone the United Nations is celebrating during this year\u2019s International Day of Women and Girls in Science.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Kalamazoo College Alumna Provides a Trusted Voice in Science, Health\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Jill Weatherhead \u201905 is an ideal example of someone the United Nations is celebrating during this year\u2019s International Day of Women and Girls in Science.\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"News and Events\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KalamazooCollege\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-02-11T13:08:35+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-03-21T19:57:58+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"674\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Andy Brown\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Kalamazoo College Alumna Provides a Trusted Voice in Science, Health\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@kcollege\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@kcollege\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Andy Brown\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/\",\"name\":\"Alumna Provides a Trusted Voice in Science, Health - News and Events\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-02-11T13:08:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-03-21T19:57:58+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/8b54e37c984840c05e9ec797b6616166\"},\"description\":\"Jill Weatherhead \u201905 is an ideal example of someone the United Nations is celebrating during this year\u2019s International Day of Women and Girls in Science.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":674,\"caption\":\"Jill Weatherhead in lab_fb\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Alumna Provides a Trusted Voice in Science, Health\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/\",\"name\":\"News and Events\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/8b54e37c984840c05e9ec797b6616166\",\"name\":\"Andy Brown\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a85189587f7af74a5efd2cb4233df125?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a85189587f7af74a5efd2cb4233df125?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Andy Brown\"},\"description\":\"As the Director of News and Social Media, Andy shares the stories that distinguish Kalamazoo College through social media, the Web and the news media. Contact him at abrown@kzoo.edu.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/contact-us\/\"]}]}<\/script>\r\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Alumna Provides a Trusted Voice in Science, Health - News and Events","description":"Jill Weatherhead \u201905 is an ideal example of someone the United Nations is celebrating during this year\u2019s International Day of Women and Girls in Science.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Kalamazoo College Alumna Provides a Trusted Voice in Science, Health","og_description":"Jill Weatherhead \u201905 is an ideal example of someone the United Nations is celebrating during this year\u2019s International Day of Women and Girls in Science.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/","og_site_name":"News and Events","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KalamazooCollege","article_published_time":"2021-02-11T13:08:35+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-03-21T19:57:58+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":674,"url":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Andy Brown","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Kalamazoo College Alumna Provides a Trusted Voice in Science, Health","twitter_creator":"@kcollege","twitter_site":"@kcollege","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Andy Brown","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/","url":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/","name":"Alumna Provides a Trusted Voice in Science, Health - News and Events","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg","datePublished":"2021-02-11T13:08:35+00:00","dateModified":"2022-03-21T19:57:58+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/8b54e37c984840c05e9ec797b6616166"},"description":"Jill Weatherhead \u201905 is an ideal example of someone the United Nations is celebrating during this year\u2019s International Day of Women and Girls in Science.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg","width":1200,"height":674,"caption":"Jill Weatherhead in lab_fb"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Alumna Provides a Trusted Voice in Science, Health"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/","name":"News and Events","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/8b54e37c984840c05e9ec797b6616166","name":"Andy Brown","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a85189587f7af74a5efd2cb4233df125?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a85189587f7af74a5efd2cb4233df125?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Andy Brown"},"description":"As the Director of News and Social Media, Andy shares the stories that distinguish Kalamazoo College through social media, the Web and the news media. Contact him at abrown@kzoo.edu.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/contact-us\/"]}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Andy Brown","author_link":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/author\/abrown\/"},"guten_post_layout_featured_media_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",1200,674,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb-150x84.jpg",150,84,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",1200,674,false],"large":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb-600x337.jpg",600,337,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",1200,674,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",1200,674,false],"ab-block-post-grid-landscape":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",600,337,false],"ab-block-post-grid-square":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",600,337,false],"pl-blogpost-landscape":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",600,337,false],"pl-blogpost-square":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",600,337,false],"guten_post_layout_landscape_large":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",1200,674,false],"guten_post_layout_portrait_large":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",1200,674,false],"guten_post_layout_square_large":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",1200,674,false],"guten_post_layout_landscape":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",600,337,false],"guten_post_layout_portrait":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",600,337,false],"guten_post_layout_square":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",600,337,false],"campus-posts-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",300,169,false],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",300,169,false],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",400,225,false],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab_fb.jpg",600,337,false]},"category_info":"<a aria-label=\"archive of category Alumni\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/category\/alumni\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Alumni<\/a>","tags_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/tag\/alumni\/\" rel=\"tag\">alumni<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/tag\/health\/\" rel=\"tag\">health<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/tag\/public-health\/\" rel=\"tag\">public health<\/a>","social_share_info":"<a data-share=\"facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/\" class=\"pl-facebook-share social-share-default pl-social-share\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fab fa-facebook-f\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a><a data-share=\"twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/\" class=\"pl-twiiter-share social-share-default pl-social-share\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fab fa-twitter\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a><a data-share=\"linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/women-in-science\/\" class=\"pl-linkedin-share social-share-default pl-social-share\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fab fa-linkedin-in\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a>","wordExcerpt_info":"<figure id=\"attachment_14191\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14191\" style=\"width: 584px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-14191 size-large\" src=\"\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-in-lab-600x440.jpg\" alt=\"Jill Weatherhead and her science mentors in a lab\" width=\"584\" height=\"428\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14191\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jill Weatherhead ’05, M.D., Ph.D., a physician-scientist and Director of Medical Education in the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, works in a lab with her mentors, Drs. Peter Hotez and Maria Elena Bottazzi, who are co-chairs in the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Tropical Medicine. Photo credit: Baylor College of Medicine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A Kalamazoo College alumna, key to Baylor College of Medicine\u2019s fight against COVID-19, set a goal of communicating more effectively and regularly with the public about science and health in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLittle did I know this pandemic would come and science communication would be so critical,\u201d said Jill Weatherhead ’05, M.D., Ph.D., a physician-scientist and Director of Medical Education in the National School of Tropical Medicine at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bcm.edu\/\">Baylor College of Medicine<\/a> in Houston. \u201cOver the past year, I\u2019ve wanted to discuss the pandemic with the public honestly and openly with transparency. I\u2019ve wanted to share scientific knowledge with the community to make sure people are safe and have a better understanding of what’s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Weatherhead has been very successful with that goal. Even a simple glance at her Twitter handle, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JillWeather\">@JillWeather<\/a>, shows evidence of that. Recently, she\u2019s been a resource for scientific publications and Houston-area media outlets regarding subjects such as COVID-19 trends, and the vaccine\u2019s efficacy and safety. She even details her own experience with receiving the vaccine in pictures, video and personal reports.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14193\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14193\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-14193 size-medium\" src=\"\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/files\/2021\/02\/Jill-Weatherhead-300x300.png\" alt=\"Jill Weatherhead women in science\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14193\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jill Weatherhead ’05 has been a resource for scientific publications and Houston-area media outlets regarding subjects such as COVID-19 trends, and the vaccine\u2019s efficacy and safety.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>“Transparency and media communication are really important to show I’m not only talking the talk, but walking the walk,\u201d she said. “I want people to know that I’m doing the same thing and that I’m holding myself to the same standard. Seeing the positives and the negatives of those recommendations are critical to instilling trust in what you’re saying. That doesn’t mean the vaccine process is perfect or that I didn’t have some small side effects. But when the vaccine comes to you, please take it. Then, please continue to wear a mask and social distance. I’m trying to exemplify that.”<\/p>\n<p>Such spotlights make Weatherhead an ideal example of someone the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/observances\/women-and-girls-in-science-day\">United Nations celebrated<\/a> on February 11, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, along its theme of \u201cWomen Scientists at the Forefront of the Fight Against COVID-19.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>U.N. statistics show that fewer than 30 percent of scientific researchers in the world are women and only about 30 percent of all female students select fields in science, technology, engineering or math to pursue in their higher education. Representation among women is especially low professionally in fields such as information and communication technology at 3 percent; natural science, mathematics and statistics at 5 percent; and engineering at 8 percent.<\/p>\n<p>To change such numbers, the U.N. General Assembly established its international day to celebrate women scientists and build equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. Weatherhead is doing her part as an Infectious Disease expert at Baylor to encourage and support women entering into science especially those starting their educational journeys.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think one of the biggest lessons I learned is not to be afraid to challenge yourself and try new things,\u201d Weatherhead said when asked about advice for women interested in scientific disciplines at K. \u201cThere are things that are going to be comfortable and things that are going to be uncomfortable at K, so challenge yourself. It\u2019s important to grow and figure out where you see your career going.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When Weatherhead attended K, trying new things meant a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/k-plan\/study-abroad\/\">study abroad<\/a> experience at the Universidad de San Francisco in Ecuador.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat experience alone really shaped the trajectory of my whole career,\u201d she said. \u201cI worked at an inner-city hospital, and I wrote a thesis on the health inequities caused by poverty in Ecuador. That was the first time where I saw the impact of access to health care, health communication and community outreach. It really opened my eyes to a whole different side of the world that I didn’t know existed. I honestly feel that I came back a different person.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That experience inspired her interest not only in infectious disease, but tropical medicine, a subspecialty within infectious disease research, focusing on afflictions that most commonly affect people living in extreme poverty within certain climates.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn order to have these diseases, you need to be living in poverty in areas where there’s poor sanitation and waste management; areas where the diseases can flourish in warm, humid climates,\u201d Weatherhead said. \u201cWe see a lot of these infections here in Texas, as well as in other areas along the Gulf Coast where the climate and pockets of poverty support them. My lab focuses on how these infections of poverty lead to long-term, detrimental health consequences in children and adults and aims to develop new interventions to prevent these infections.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Weatherhead\u2019s efforts and sacrifices clearly benefited Baylor and the Houston area last year and will continue to do so as the pandemic progresses through her direct care of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and through her community outreach and service.<\/p>\n<p>K helped cement that deep commitment to service.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would say my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/k-plan\/\"><em>K-Plan<\/em><\/a> was the foundation of my current career,\u201d Weatherhead said. \u201cWithout my <em>K-Plan<\/em> I would not be where I am.\u201d<\/p>\n","comment_info":"No Comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14186","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/147"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14186"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14186\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14382,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14186\/revisions\/14382"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14186"},{"taxonomy":"post_format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_formats?post=14186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}