22 September, 2022

Shirmia Artis is a Research Project Coordinator with the All of Us Research Program at Baylor Scott & White Health. Shirmia has been with the program since 2017. Shirmia is the Quality Assurance and Biobank Lead and oversees four different Central and North Texas sites. Shirmia comes from a background in laboratory and compliance with 20 years of experience. Shirmia graduated from Trident University International with a Master’s degree in Health Science, Public Health Epidemiology. She is currently a Ph.D. student at Walden University, obtaining her doctorate in Public Health Epidemiology. She is a member of the Alpha Beta Kappa (ABK) Honors society and the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) Honors Society. Shirmia plans to continue working in research to become a Principal Investigator. Shirmia has two kids, one boy and one girl, and two grandsons. She likes to dance, play poker, watch plays and musicals, and enjoy life outdoors in her past time.

Adebola Bamidele is a first year medical student at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) South Georgia in Moultrie, GA. She received her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at the College of Wooster in 2019. In 2021, she received her master’s degree in biomedical sciences from Quinnipiac University.

During her undergraduate career, Adebola conducted a project titled: The Effects of Phytophthora sojae Effector Protein PsAvh110 on the PHO Regulon within Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Currently, Adebola is working with Dr. Holly Horan to investigate the relationship between genetic factors associated with endometriosis and demographic variables such as race and age. The research that she is conducting aligns with her future career goal of becoming an OBGYN.

Jonica Carlton Best is a first-year student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine South Georgia in Moultrie Georgia. Before entering medical school, she commissioned as an Officer in the United States Air Force and currently holds the rank of Second Lieutenant. Upon completion of medical school, Jonica hopes to specialize in psychiatry.

Jonica has also received her undergraduate degree from Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia. Here, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Honors College with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. While at Columbus State, Jonica worked as a waitress, sandwich artist, and volunteer in the emergency room. Also, in her undergraduate career Jonica completed research on topics ranging from altruism, adverse childhood trauma, and prosocial behavior. Her senior thesis examined how cults are perceived in society. Upon graduation, Jonica worked full time as an autism therapist and behavioral health aide. Currently, she is working with Dr. Eboni Winford on research exploring societal attitudes on rape culture.

Georgina Boateng was born and raised in Ghana, West African. She migrated to the United States with her sisters at the age of 13. She graduated from East Carolina university with a degree in Biology and Neuroscience. She is a first generation first year medical school at PCOM South Georgia and serves as a first generation chair at her medical school. She also serves as a stakeholder for the Sickle Cell Disease Implementation Consortium Research. She loves her family and hopes to become a neonatologist later on in the future.