USC PRC Student, Jasmin Parker-Brown accepted into Southeastern Chapter of the American Academy of Sports Medicine Leadership and Diversity Training Program (LDTP)
Jasmin Parker-Brown, a second-year doctoral student in the Arnold School of Public Health and graduate research assistant with the University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center, was recently selected as one of five new members of the Southeastern Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine’s Leadership & Diversity Training Program (LDTP) The LDTP facilitates opportunities for students, who are from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, to participate in mentored experiences at the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Annual Southeastern Regional Meeting and throughout the year. The LDTP provides financial support to attend the Annual Regional Meeting and connects each student with an ACSM Fellow as a mentor for the current calendar year. During this year’s Annual Regional Meeting, which was held February 23–25, 2023 in Greenville, South Carolina, LDTP mentees attended several events, including the SEACSM Networking Social, The Emily Hymes Mentoring Breakfast, and the SEACSM Lecture and Luncheon, where mentees and mentors of the program were recognized. Mentees and mentors also worked together during the meeting to create an itinerary and goals to ensure an optimal SEACSM experience. Some of these experiences included participating in the Minority Health Research Interest Group meeting, attending special interests symposia, and meeting with past LDTP awardees/and mentors. Jasmin shared that her biggest takeaway was “the overwhelming support for students to create connections with colleagues and to be active voices within the organization.”
As a second-time attendee of the SEACSM Annual Meeting, Jasmin states that she found the experience to be “encouraging and motivating,” expressing that she is now emboldened to not only become more active within the Southeastern Chapter, but also plans to run for student-led positions within the regional Chapter and attend the National ACSM Meeting later this spring.