Collaboration and Connection at Inaugural Early Career Leadership Council Networking Events

People sit at tables as a presenter stands at the front of the room next to a monitor — Scenes from the ECLC networking event at Hackensack Meridian Health’s Center for Discovery and Innovation in New Jersey

Three attendees add sticky notes to a poster — Scenes from the ECLC networking event at Hackensack Meridian Health’s Center for Discovery and Innovation in New Jersey

(June 27, 2025) — Early career faculty members at Georgetown Lombardi in D.C. and New Jersey gathered recently for two networking events hosted by the Georgetown Lombardi Early Career Leadership Council (ECLC). Both offered meaningful opportunities to connect across institutions, share experiences, and spark ideas for future collaboration.

Rachel Rosenstein, MD, PhD, co-chair of the ECLC in New Jersey and a Georgetown Lombardi Executive Committee representative, led an event on June 20 at Hackensack Meridian Health’s Center for Discovery and Innovation. She shared highlights of the ECLC’s efforts to support early career faculty at Georgetown Lombardi. The morning was dedicated to sharing ideas that sparked thoughtful conversations and new connections, followed by a hands-on workshop on excellence in academic collaboration, where participants explored what it takes to build meaningful, effective partnerships.

On June 26, Batsirai Mabvakure, PhD, and Martha Gay, PhD, chair and co-chair of the ECLC in D.C., hosted a networking event at 2115 Wisconsin Avenue. This event also sought to foster connections across institutions, disciplines and research programs and help strengthen relationships among early career faculty.

Georgetown Lombardi Director Louis Weiner, MD, joined the event on Thursday. He reminded the group about the importance of pushing beyond personal comfort zones and connecting with new and different fields in this challenging time for early career faculty. He encouraged participants to work with mentors, collaborate with each other, and to be excited and energized by people with different ideas.

See the ECLC webpage for more information about its work, and to ask questions about and offer feedback on early career faculty support at Georgetown Lombardi.

A man and a woman with notes in their hands giving a speech — Scenes from the ECLC networking event at Georgetown Lombardi in Washington, D.C.

A man giving a speech while other listen — Scenes from the ECLC networking event at Georgetown Lombardi in Washington, D.C.