During Buggs's first year at Harvard Medical School, however, she met a faculty member whose very presence exemplified what Buggs herself was capable of achieving. Maria Alexander-Bridges, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard--and a black woman--had graduated from the same Detroit high school as Buggs.
"Suddenly, I could envision myself doing what she was doing," says Buggs, who is now in her third year at Harvard. "I needed to see someone do it to convince me I could do it, too." Last year, Buggs had a chance to collaborate with Alexander-Bridges and cement their relationship--thanks to a $5,000 fellowship she received from the New York-based Commonwealth Fund.
"The support Maria gives me is awesome," says Buggs, 24, who worked with Alexander-Bridges this past summer, investigating how insulin regulates cell function. "She's shown me how to survive in this profession, and she's been a real inspiration. This research project helped solidify ...
