2024 NIH-KWiSE Joint Annual Symposium with NIH-KSA(Global Collaboration in Life Science)
Korean-American Women in Science & Engineering (KWiSE), NIH Chapter, (NIH-KWiSE) successfully organized the Joint Annual Symposium titled “BelongMed Conference 2024” on November 4th and 5th, in collaboration with NIH-KSA (NIH-Korean Scientist Association). This event marked a significant partnership between the two organizations, aimed at fostering in-person participation to enhance synergistic collaboration, networking, and impact within the NIH community. The conference was highly informative, synergistic, and motivational, with a strong emphasis on patient engagement to shape the future of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology in the life sciences.
The inaugural BelongMed Conference was hosted by NIH-KWiSE and NIH-KSA at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in partnership with the NIH Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Building on the success of the May BelongMed Symposium, this conference continued to focus on Precision Health and Music as Medicine.
A highlight of the event was the participation of Wonki Hong, a patient from Korea living with progeria. Wonki’s inspiring story and unique experiences contributed significantly to the discussions, emphasizing the importance of patient perspectives in advancing precision health and driving healthcare innovation.
The conference explored critical aspects of patient care, including nutrition, gender/sex differences, complementary therapies, the microbiome, advanced therapeutics, and innovative technologies—each pivotal to advancing Precision Health. The event’s overarching goal was to promote Health Equity through inclusive networking and mentorship in clinical research, with special attention to minority status, genetics, and gender disparities.