COM Outlook Spring 2020

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | 13 NSU, establish the INIM Discov- eries to Diagnostics Laboratory, and endow her position.” Klimas not only selected familiar clinicians and research- ers from UM, but also brought in international personnel and experts from various educa- tional backgrounds. Creating an institute with physicians, nurses, and STEM Ph.D.s would allow Klimas and the INIM to dive into various areas of medi- cine and diseases. “One of the many things I am proud of is this amazing clinical group,” Klimas said. “Taking care of people with long-term, chronic, painful, and disabling diseases is taxing and takes a tremendous amount of compassion. That is the rootstock of this group. Proof of the team members’ ability to go and pursue the knowledge they need to be effective clinicians goes far beyond the research portfolio.” Paying It Forward Along with a renowned institute, Klimas has created a culture that revolves around the inclusion and continuous support for women in medicine. In so doing, Klimas honors the strong role models, including her mother and several of her professors, who instilled in Klimas the importance of continuing to open doors for women in the field. “I truly live by this rule,” Klimas explained. “While my generation made sure the next would see even more opportuni- ties, we still have more to do to find equality in our job opportuni- ties, our salaries, and the balance of our household responsibilities and relationships.” Klimas lives her values by inviting and encouraging accom- plished and up-and-coming female researchers to work on groundbreaking initiatives. Two of her former D.O. students, who happened to be women, helped design online platforms to aid in research. She also joined the American Medical Women’s Association to help women in the field network while giving back. The current cohort of 62 male and female team members continues to make impressive strides in the INIM. Recent institute accomplishments in- clude an additional $8.5 million awarded in 2018 to further the next phases of Gulf War illness research, implementing the next phases of ME/CFS research after years of fundraising, and con- tinuing traditional research for various diseases. “I hope I have established a long-lived institute, dedicated to advancing knowledge, translating science to care, and providing that care in a teaching environment that passes the same ideals on to the students of the KPCOM,” Klimas concluded. o Members of the Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine team gather for a group photo at NSU’s Oceanographic Campus. FAST FACTS NANCY KLIMAS, M.D. Hometown • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Education • M.D., University of Miami • Fellowship, University of Miami • Residency, University of Miami • Internship, Baylor University Memorable Life Experiences • kayaking the white waters of Virginia with FBI agents and Attorney General Janet Reno • seeing every Cirque du Soleil show • traveling to Australia, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand (her favorite), Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, and most of Europe • being there when her grand- daughter Callie was born, along with raising her daughters • witnessing her AIDS patients surviving and living longer, healthier lives