Dr. Kate Zhong, senior director of clinical research and development for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, will address the next generation of Nevada leaders at the Women’s Research Institute’s NEW Leadership Nevada Summer Institute June 9. Dr. Zhong will share her leadership path, early experiences that influenced her values, and what she considers to be important leadership qualities.
The Institute, held June 6-11 at UNLV, provides Nevada’s college women a unique opportunity to identify their own leadership style, develop skills, and meet women from a variety of fields who have valuable information to share. Dr. Zhong is part of a dynamic line up of guests that will address Institute participants throughout the week. She leads a clinical research team conducting trials to advance the prevention, early detection, and treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Huntington’s disease.
Dr. Zhong’s story is of a first-generation immigrant who grew up in an impoverished environment and came to this country as a young woman with one small suitcase. “I am delighted to share my journey, a journey I hope will inspire our future women leaders to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams, the American dream,” Dr. Zhong said.
Dr. Zhong’s work has established the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health as one of the largest and most active clinical research facilities for neurodegenerative disorders in the country. She is actively engaged in public education and community activities on clinical research, healthy aging, and brain wellness. She was named “Alzheimer’s Ambassador” by Vegas Magazine, awarded the Girl Scout badge for her leadership and exemplary achievements research and development, and was honored as a
“Woman to Watch” in Las Vegas in 2014. Dr. Zhong is also featured in the WRIN/VegasPBS production of “MAKERS: Women in Nevada History,” which profiles her as one of today’s women of achievement.
“It is important to provide high quality training to Nevada’s future women leaders,” said Joanne Goodwin, director of UNLV’s Women’s Research Institute of Nevada. “Part of that is hearing from women like Dr. Zhong who have demonstrated a path to leadership that is uniquely their own. There are always lessons to be learned from the success of others.”
National Education for Women’s (NEW) Leadership is an award-winning program developed by Rutgers University Center for American Women and Politics. In 2001, WRIN became the first site in the southwestern and Rocky Mountain states to host this program. The program brings together college women representing all academic disciplines from across the state to learn about women’s leadership and civic participation from accomplished women leaders. Program speakers come from a variety of backgrounds, including law, business, politics, education, community activism, non-profit organizations, banking, gaming, small business, medicine, real estate, and more.
The keynote dinner will be held June 9 on the UNLV campus. For more information, contact the Women’s Research Institute of Nevada at (702) 895-4931 or wrin@unlv.edu.
NEW Leadership Nevada 2016 Sponsors
The NEW Leadership Nevada 2016 Presenting Sponsor is Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Additional sponsors include: Altria Client Services; Bureau of Reclamation; Caesars Entertainment; Catch 22 Life Services; Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health; CORE Academy; Findlay Honda Henderson; Nevada International Women’s Forum; Soroptimist International of Greater Las Vegas; UnitedHealthcare; and UNLV’s Student Life Funding Committee, William S. Boyd School of Law, and Women’s Council. The Women’s Research Institute of Nevada is grateful to The Eleanor Kagi Foundation – A Lynn M. Bennett Legacy for its ongoing support.
About WRIN
A part of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the mission of the Women’s Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) is to champion Nevada women and their communities through research and education. Visit wrinunlv.org for more information about WRIN and NEW Leadership Nevada.
