ISH Live (#ISHLive) is an initiative from the New Investigator Committee (NIC) introduced to offer networking and career advice, as well as to reach out to new, prospective members of ISH.

This series of virtual events will be home to panel discussions, webinars, scientific discourse and social activities, all focused on helping trainee to early career investigators (pre-tenure) move their careers forward.

EVENT REPORT & RECORDING: 17th November 2021

Watch the event recording

The 2nd edition of ISH Live, held on the 17th of November, was truly an international event, with a total of 63 registrants from 31 different countries (Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, France, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, India, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, USA Zambia)! Additionally almost half (31) of the registrants were not ISH members.

The carefully selected panel of guests included: Professor Stephanie Watts, Dr. Dylan Burger and Dr. Josie Fullerton (academic research), Dr. Lilian Mbau (physician) and Ms. Christina LeCluyse (licensed clinical social worker). These experts ranged from new investigators starting their careers to more senior, established investigators discussing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their personal and professional lives. With the input of Ms. LeCluyse, the panel also discussed how they envision overcoming the barriers that the pandemic has created.

The session was hosted by Dr. Augusto Montezano, member of the Mentorship and Training Committee (MTC), and Dr. Neusa Jessen, member of the New Investigator Committee (NIC). Together, they guided the discussion to touch on various subjects including initial reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on career trajectory and job stability, and action plans to mitigate the negative effects of COVID-19. They also encouraged discussions on the impacts of COVID-19 on mental health, a conversation that was enriched by having Ms. Christina Lecluyse as part of the panel. They addressed issues relating to lack of connectivity, overcoming a negative mindset, imposter syndrome, and building resilience through adversity.

Polls on the impact of COVID-19 on work-related stress in researchers were posted to Twitter prior to the event to stimulate conversation on the topic. The increase in work-related stress and its impact on mental health in researchers was highlighted, as was the importance of peer support and connectivity during these times.

The diverse backgrounds and career experiences of the panel contributed to a rich session that was much more than a simple round table discussion. It consisted of open dialogue and the sharing of experiences and emotions regarding the challenges of the past two years, an exchange that brought solace to many and encouraged building resilience as a group.

Watch this space for information on the next event!