Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

A: My name is Bria N. Brumfield. I am 23 years old with a Bachelors of science in Health Science from Spelman College. I am currently receiving my Master of Science in Biotechnology & Medical Cannabis Therapy while being a full-time Clinical Research Coordinator at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, IL.

Q: What University do you attend? What program are you enrolled in?

A: I am currently getting my Masters of Science in Biotechnology and Medical Cannabis Therapeutics at Morehouse School of Medicine. The thing I appreciate the most about this program is being able to learn about something I am extremely passionate about in an online learning environment allowing me the time and space to maintain my career in clinical research.

Q: Do you have a mentor in the program you attend? Tell us about them!

A: I do not yet have an official mentor, but I am very inspired by the work that my program director, Dr. Hemant Kumar Bid, has done and all of the opportunities he presents his students. I look forward to learning more from him for the remainder of my Master’s program and hopefully beyond.

Q: Are you involved in any student activities?

A: I am the MSBT Student Representative within the Graduate Education in Biomedical Science Student Government Association. I also run the Chicago branch of a student-run nonprofit LovingStone Organization that works hard to assist unhoused communities in both Chicago and Atlanta.

Q: What do you plan to do after graduation?

A: I plan to combine my experiences to further conduct research on medical cannabis and its effectiveness in treating various conditions.

Q: What got you interested in cannabis as medicine?

A: I did a project on the legalization of cannabis my senior year of high school. It was then that I first learned of its medical legalization in certain states, and that prompted me to dive deeper into what it meant to be utilized medically. After realizing some of its benefits, not understanding why it’s so harshly criminalized and how little information/research exists, a passion was struck in my heart that I wasn’t aware of how to fulfill for a long time.

Q: What are some of your favorite ACS features (besides free student membership)?

A: I absolutely love the ACS weekly “Did you know facts”, having the access to a plethora of academic journals, and having the opportunity to volunteer within such a welcoming organization.

Q: What does ACS mean to you?
A: The ACS means a great deal to me, because it has provided a very welcoming and informative environment for a topic I am so passionate about. I am so excited to continue my participation and introduce more likeminded individuals to this amazing networking and learning opportunity.