Inquiry, Development, Engagement and Advancement
IDEA Mission
The IDEA Committee was added to the Executive Board of the Cancer Biology (CB) graduate program in 2020. The Cancer Biology program is committed to taking a proactive stance in the creation of an academic environment that is welcoming and celebrates the groundbreaking contributions of scientists from all groups, both nationally and internationally. To this end, the IDEA Committee's specific charges are listed below:
- Building a strong and engaged community in the Cancer Biology Graduate Program
- Building an empathic culture which is responsive to the needs of all students and faculty
- Promoting a wide range of perspectives at CB events and seminar series
- Implementation of recruiting strategies aimed at recruiting the most competitive students nationally and internationally
- Development of innovative infrastructure to support all our students in the CB Program
- Investment into recruitment of local talent to our program starting at middle school and continuing through college
- Increasing knowledge of the current CB faculty and students to strengthen our shared sense of community
We look forward to creating an atmosphere where we utilize the talents of every individual who shares our passion of curing cancer. Importantly, the IDEA committee will work hard to ensure that we pursue our goals of celebrating humanity through our actions at the bench and how we interact with each other.
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Meet the Committee Faculty
Andrew L. Hong, MD
Andrew L. Hong, MD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Hong is a board certified pediatric oncologist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Hong's work is at the intersection of genomics and functional genomics in childhood kidney and brain cancers to identify new therapeutics and mechanisms in pediatric cancers. In 2023, Dr. Hong took over for Dr. Henry as Chair of the IDEA Committee.
Sarwish Rafiq, PhD
Sarwish Rafiq, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Emory School of Medicine. She is a translational scientist with expertise in the preclinical development of immune-based therapies for cancer. Specifically, Dr. Rafiq’s research aims to use mechanistic insight of immune effector cell function against cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment to inform the development of novel and effective cellular therapies.
Meet the Committee Graduate Students
DEJAH BLAKE - PhD CANDIDATE, MEMBER (2022-Present)
Dejah is a fourth-year student in the Rafiq lab examining novel T-cell engineering strategies to improve patient outcomes. She graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Master of Science in Biotechnology. As an under-represented minority, she has participated in several DEI initiatives to foster a welcoming environment for all students. Dejah joined the IDEA committee to help ensure the CB community promotes and maintains an inviting environment for students of all backgrounds. In her free time, she likes to cook, knit, and rewatch her favorite shows.
KORY WELLS - PhD CANDIDATE, MEMBER (2022-Present)
Kory is a first-generation college graduate with a Chemistry/Pre-Med major with a biology minor and a Dozoretz National Institute Mathematics and Applied Sciences (DNIMAS) scholar from Norfolk State University. Also, a first-generation Greek member, a Spring 2019 initiate of the Epsilon Pi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Kory is working to become a translational-scientist focusing on cancer sciences, in the hope to understand and assist in the discovery of cancer treatments. After graduating from a HBCU, Kory matriculated into Emory’s Cancer Biology PhD Program where he wanted to combine his previous knowledge of materials research with biomedicine. Kory ended up joining Dr. Lily Yang’s Lab, a surgical nanomedicine lab that focuses on the development of novel nanoparticles for cancer therapy. Since joining the CB program and becoming a Laney Graduate School Fellow in the fall of 2021 Kory currently serves as a student board member on the Cancer Biology IDEA Committee, Biology TA and participates in internships opportunities geared towards increasing diversity (i.e., ACS DICR and HealthPREP). As a first-generation student, he hopes to serve as an advocate for tailored mentoring and support for students with diverse abilities by helping, teaching, and mentoring individuals to help them grow mentally, emotionally, and intellectually.
Hannah Barge - PhD Candidate, Member (2024 - Present)
Hannah is a second-year student in the Barwick lab examining translational regulators in Multiple Myeloma to improve therapeutic outcomes for patient treatment. She graduated from Lipscomb University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science from Tennessee State University. Hannah is passionate about ensuring people from all walks of life to feel safe to have a voice in the STEM community. Hannah joined the IDEA community in hopes to continue the vision of building a strong diverse community in the Cancer Biology department. In her free time, she likes to explore the outdoors through swimming and cycling in different areas of the state.
Emilie Bonilla - PhD Student, Member (2025 - Present)
Emilie is a first-year student currently doing her laboratory rotations. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida, as well as a Master of Public Health degree from the University of West Florida. Emilie joined the IDEA committee to foster a welcoming environment for all and to make a positive difference in the culture of the Cancer Biology program. In her free time, she enjoys trying new recipes and playing with her dog.
