This weekly publication allows MSM students to stay informed, engaged and connected. Please share your news and updates with us by clicking the link below. If you are not receiving this communication, please send an email to marcomm@msm.edu.

Important Parking Guidelines from Public Safety

We recognize that parking demand increases significantly during the academic year. The administration is actively working to expand parking capacity and identify overflow options and additional parking solutions in the short term for the Main Campus. In the meantime, we ask for your continued cooperation in adhering to the guidelines outlined in the following message. Read more

August 5: Update the Passwords for Your MSM Devices

To enhance our cybersecurity and align with best practices, Morehouse School of Medicine is updating its password requirements. Beginning August 5, all network passwords must be alphanumeric and at least 15 characters long. Longer passwords significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. This update reflects our commitment to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and a more secure digital environment.

What You Can Do:

Use a passphrase: Choose a memorable sentence that's difficult to guess. Example: CoffeeBreaksMakeMondaysBetter1!

Try a password manager: These tools can securely generate, store, and manage your passwords.

Important: If you haven’t updated your password by August 5, you’ll be prompted to create a new one the next time you log in.

August 13: Student Welcome Back & Resource Fair

It's time for another great academic year! All students and faculty are invited to the Welcome Back event on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, from Noon – 2:00 p.m. in the Calvin Smyre Education Conference Center. This event is intended to warmly welcome students back for the fall with food, resources and fun games.

August 18: PA Class of 2025 Capstone Presentations

The MSM Department of Physician Assistant Studies invites you to attend the Capstone Presentations of the Class of 2025 on Monday, August 18 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the NCPC Auditorium. Join us as our students showcase their original research and community engagement projects, highlighting work in family medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, rural health and more. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments and gain insight into the issues shaping the future of health care.

Take Charge of Your Financial Future with BrightPlan

At Morehouse School of Medicine, we believe financial wellness is just as important as academic excellence and leadership development. That’s why we’ve partnered with BrightPlan—a comprehensive platform to help you build lifelong financial confidence and success. Whether you're tracking spending, managing loans or planning for the future, BrightPlan gives you the tools to take control of your money—on your time, at your pace. Contact Carl Johnson at carljohnson@msm.edu for more information. Sign up now

Calling Vendors for 11th Annual Community Engagement Day

Join us on Saturday, October 4 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. for the 11th Annual Morehouse School of Medicine Community Engagement Day at the CT Martin Natatorium & Recreation Center (3201 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30311). We're calling on passionate vendors to provide FREE services and resources to uplift and empower our community! This opportunity is open to MSM departments/centers as well as the general public. Read more

Meet Our New Student Life Program Manager

Zipporah Dorsey has been employed at MSM for two years. Before her current promotion, she worked in the Office of IMpact and INnovation (SACSCOC) and interned with the Marketing and Communications team. Zipporah is passionate about purpose-driven communication and creating inclusive, memorable experiences that help individuals enjoy where they are while building a strong foundation for their future. n this new role she will serve as a liaison between students and adminstration. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her rescue dog, Oreo—and never turns down a Cinnabon cinnamon roll.

MSBT Student Ariana Williams Selected as APHL–CDC Fello

Morehouse School of Medicine congratulates Master of Science in Biotechnology student Ariana Williams on being selected for the Association of Public Health Laboratories-CDC fellowship. The program places candidates like Ariana in state or federal public health laboratories, where they collaborate on high-impact projects focused on detecting and responding to health threats. Read more

Positive Feedback: Emerging Student Leadership Academy 2025

"This 2-day Academy is a professional development program, facilitated by the Office of Career Connections, focused on building essential competencies such as leadership, communication, critical thinking, professionalism, and teamwork. The curriculum aligns with the core competencies identified by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and informed by some components of the AAMC 4-Phase career planning process. This experience serves as a valuable opportunity for skills translation and further career exploration. I highly recommend it."

-Kentrell L. Burks

"As a graduate student in the Master of Science in Biotechnology program and a professional in quality assurance, this opportunity allowed me to grow beyond technical expertise and focus on the leadership mindset required to make a lasting impact in healthcare and biotechnology. Through the academy, I gained practical leadership skills, executive-level mentorship, and a powerful network of like-minded peers and changemakers. The experience affirmed my belief that leadership is not just about titles—it's about service, integrity, and the courage to advocate for equity and innovation in the spaces we occupy."

-Donza McGruder

PrEP Awareness Focus Group

The AUCC-Student Health and Wellness Center (SHWC) is looking for Morehouse School of Medicine student volunteers to participate in a 60-minute focus group on PrEP awareness and uptake. Eligible participants must be 18-26 years old, HIV negative, not currently on PrEP, English-speaking and enrolled at Morehouse School of Medicine. For questions, please email Brittany Talbott at btalbott@msm.edu. Sign up here

You're Invited: Seminar with Dr. Christopher Mason

MSM's Institute of Translational Genomic Medicine invites you to a special seminar featuring Christopher Mason, PhD on Thursday, August 7, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in NCPC Room 104. Join us to explore cutting-edge advancements in next-generation sequencing, including novel algorithms for tumor evolution, genome evolution, DNA/RNA modifications and more. Lunch will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Future of Sickle Cell Disease Event

This Scientific American event will gather sickle cell researchers, industry experts, patient advocates and MSM students to discuss cutting-edge new treatments and the road to a cure for the painful and deadly disease. Register now

Georgia CTSA Session: Spatial Biology

Join researchers and clinicians from across the Georgia CTSA for a session on Spatial Biology on September 18. Blue Sky Groups are unstructured meetings that provide a unique opportunity for attendees to drive the agenda and catalyze future collaborations and research opportunities. The discussion will be opened by Dr. Yana Zavros, a leading researcher in the department of Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences. Learn more

August 30: 50th Anniversary 2025 MACC One Love Cycling Event

Join us as we pedal for a purpose on August 30 at 8 a.m. at The Renaissance Festival, 6905 Virlyn B. Smith Rd, Fairburn, GA 30213. All cyclists must register first. After registration, you can ride as an individual or part of "Team MSM". All Team-MSM participants must register for the event and purchase a cycling kit (cycling jersey and cycling shorts).

Get Started Now!

Step 1: Register now

Step 2: After registering, click here to purchase an MSM-branded Cycling Kit.

NOTE: All routes are well-marked and can be downloaded. Learn about each route here: 27 mi, 44 mi, 62 mi, and 101 mi.

August 2025

08.01 | Leadership Council Retreat Closing Day

08.06 | MSM Passwords Reset

08.06 | 2nd Yr Students Meet & Greet

08.07 | Research Day

08.08 | GEBS/GEPH Orientation

08.09 | Performance Self-Reviews Due

08.09 | Banner Upgrade (Employees)

08.11 | New Hire Orientation

08.11 | Research Retreat

08.13 | Welcome Student Event & Resource Fair

08.14 | Beloved Benefit

08.18 | 50th Anniversary Golf Tournament

08.18 | Class of 2025 Capstone Final Presentations

08.22 | Georgia Doula Coalition

08.22 | PRC/Community Coalition Board Retreat

08.25 | MD1/MD 2 Learning Communities Meet & Greet

08.23 | Banner Upgrade (Students)

08.26 | Student Testing

08.26 | Medical Education Day w/ AAMC

08.26 | Congressional Fireside Chat

08.31 | Last Day of Smartsheet Access

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