This week, we talk with Ashani Weeraratna about her inspiring path from apartheid South Africa to director, professor and activist.

• Ashi cites good advice that she remembers “ read voraciously … and be engaged with the literature”
• She insists that mentoring is all about the trainees and hearing their individual needs
• Ashi believes that diversity of thought needs diversity of population and stresses the importance of welcoming different groups into the lab
• For her, representation matters and it is key to achieving full equity
• She also comments on the importance of the microenvironment (for cancer cells and for researchers)
• She shares her thoughts about juggling a life in two cities
• And she encourages us to remember that “the most important trait is kindness”
• And Ashi concludes by telling us to enjoy the journey

She mentioned these institutions, people and resources

• St. Mary's College of Maryland : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Mary%27s_College_of_Maryland
• George Washington University : https://www.gwu.edu/
• Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center : https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kimmel_cancer_center/
• National Institutes of Health : https://www.nih.gov/
• Wistar Institute : https://wistar.org/
• University of Pennsylvania : https://www.upenn.edu/
• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health : https://publichealth.jhu.edu/
• National Cancer Institute : https://www.cancer.gov/
• Steven Patierno : https://medicine.duke.edu/profile/steven-patierno
• Jeff Trent : https://www.tgen.org/faculty-profiles/jeffrey-trent/
• National Cancer Advisory Board : https://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/ncab/ncab.htm

To find out more about Ashi visit her websites or follow her on Twitter

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/faculty/3918/ashani-t-weeraratna
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/profiles/details/ashani-weeraratna
https://research.jhu.edu/members/ashani-weeraratna/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashani_Weeraratna
on Twitter : @AshaniTW

“Is Cancer Inevitable?” by Ashi : https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12767/cancer-inevitable

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