Kafi Sanders '99 has a lot of interests – medicine, Africana
studies, global health systems, medical research – and she hopes she can
pursue them all.
The interdepartmental biology and psychology major is taking advantage
of a new minority post-baccalaureate teaching fellowship that lets her
teach a few sessions of the College's undergraduate science courses and
continue the research she started as an undergraduate. (Clarissa Buckner
'98 is also participating in the NSF fellowship, which brings minority
students together with faculty mentors to learn more about college
teaching.)
Sanders has been working with Carol Weisse, associate professor of
psychology and director of health professions, on research focusing on
ethnicity and pain reporting and decisions about pain management. The
collaboration began with Sanders' senior thesis. They are examining
physicians' differing prescriptions for pain medication based on patient
race and gender.
“I would love it if our research made a difference,” Sanders
says. “That's the whole point of research: to study a topic … and
spread the word. These are issues that the general public should be
thinking about because people's welfare is at stake.
“I intend to take all that I've learned in the fellowship and
apply it to a broader spectrum while pursuing a master's degree in
public health,” she says.