Empowering Futures: The MDC Microbiology Girls Club

Parents are familiar with the decisions involved in summer camps; when to start a child, and which camp to choose. Interests may change over time and once a student is in middle school, potential career ideas may serve as a guide. For twenty-four students this summer, the MDC Microbiology Girls Club being held at Miami-Dade College, Homestead Campus is a perfect fit. The camp, in its seventh year, is six weeks long; the expanded length from previous years is supported by an additional grant from the Children’s Trust.

As explained in a press release: 

“Students will be guided through exciting experiments to identify unknown bacteria at the microbiology lab, attend lectures, attend career development and growth mindset workshops, tour the labs and end each day with 30 minutes of physical fitness. Students will complete approximately 90 volunteer service hours each and 1,890 volunteer service hours as a group.

“Dr. Madison is a STEM educator, consultant and advocate as well as a biomedical scientist. She has nearly two decades of research experience in retrovirology, parasitology and host innate immune

responses. She enjoys conducting biomedical research, teaching, engaging in student recruitment, retention and career development and inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals. Since November 2017, she has worked as Director of HIV Research and Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology and General Biology at MDC Homestead Campus. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee.”

In speaking with Dr. Madison, she was fascinated with science at an early age and microbiology encompassed multiple areas for her. While the number of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math has increased, the fields are still approximately seventy percent male. Goals and philosophy were also cited in the press release. “The Microbiology Girls Club allows me to live my life passion and purpose to increase accessibility for girls into higher education and careers in the biological sciences.”

"I’m passionate about not only STEM but also sustainability for our Earth, I always tell my students to live your lives with purpose, vision, impact, service to others, and service to our planet; it will be a life well-lived with an everlasting legacy."

From dissecting a sheep’s kidney, visiting the Nurse Simulation Center, to being outside to learn Lacrosse basics, and talking excitedly in a goal-setting workshop, students are given the opportunity to not only advance their knowledge but also be inspired by the lunchtime lectures from other women in STEM careers.

Estefany Galvan Garcia, a student at MAST-Homestead, is in her second year of camp with a plan to become an ophthalmologist. She has enjoyed it so much, that she brought a friend in this year and her favorite part is hearing from the wonderful women in STEM; how they chose their careers, and the obstacles they have over come. “It’s motivation for me when I face challenges.”

She highly recommends the camp for any student. With the expanded length of the camp, Dr. Madsion has four assistant instructors and in watching the enthusiasm of the students, she feels confident programs such as this will help, “Stem the leak in the STEM pipeline” when it comes to encouraging young women to pursue science.