“Meharry trained me how to learn, think critically, and problem-solve with data.”
Somewhere in a CT scan, there is a pattern too subtle for the human eye to catch. Finding it — and understanding what it means for a patient’s treatment — is exactly the kind of problem LaPorchia Davis works on. As a Meharry SACS student and Novartis fellow, she sits at the intersection of medical imaging, machine learning, and clinical insight, doing work that could one day mean earlier diagnoses, smarter treatment plans, and better outcomes for patients.
She didn’t arrive here by accident.
She arrived here because of how she was trained.
When you first stepped into Novartis, what helped you feel prepared for such an advanced research environment — and how did Meharry SACS contribute to that readiness?
Coming into Novartis, I felt prepared not because I knew everything, but because Meharry trained me how to learn, think critically, and problem-solve with data. At the School of Applied Computational Sciences (SACS), I was constantly working with real-world biomedical datasets, learning to clean messy data, build machine learning models, and translate technical findings into meaningful clinical insight. That experience mirrored the translational mindset at Novartis.
SACS also emphasized interdisciplinary thinking connecting computation, medicine, and real-world impact. By the time I stepped into Novartis’ research environment, working with complex imaging pipelines and large-scale biomedical data felt like a natural next step rather than an overwhelming leap.
You’ve spoken about the impact of mentorship at Novartis. How did that experience build on the guidance you received at Meharry?
“That combination of Meharry’s academic rigor and Novartis’ applied, high-impact mentorship helped me grow both technically and professionally.”
Meharry gave me a strong academic and technical foundation, but Novartis expanded that into scientific leadership and industry-level thinking. At Meharry, my professors helped me understand the “why” behind the methods — statistics, modeling, and biomedical relevance. At Novartis, my mentors showed me how those same skills drive decisions in global drug development and translational research.
The mentorship culture at Novartis was incredibly empowering. I wasn’t just completing tasks — I was encouraged to ask questions, share ideas, and think like a scientist whose work could influence real patient outcomes. That combination of Meharry’s academic rigor and Novartis’ applied, high-impact mentorship helped me grow both technically and professionally.
For readers unfamiliar with imaging data science and AI, can you describe your research focus and what it means for the future of healthcare?
My research sits at the intersection of medical imaging, machine learning, and clinical insight. I work with imaging data like CT scans and combine it with computational methods to extract patterns that aren’t visible to the human eye — patterns that can support earlier disease detection, risk prediction, and more personalized treatment planning.
Through this fellowship, I contributed to imaging data workflows that connect raw scan data to quantitative models — essentially helping turn images into measurable, decision-support information. Opportunities like this show that Meharry students aren’t just learning theory. We’re actively contributing to the future of precision medicine and AI-driven healthcare.
What did it mean to represent Meharry and SACS inside a global organization like Novartis?
“Students from historically underrepresented institutions absolutely belong in elite scientific spaces.”
It meant everything. I carried Meharry with me into every meeting and every project. Representing SACS at a global company like Novartis showed that students from historically underrepresented institutions absolutely belong in elite scientific spaces.
Partnerships like these expand what’s possible by creating pathways, not just inspiration. Students can see a direct line from their classroom at Meharry to contributing inside a world-renowned pharmaceutical research organization. That visibility and access change what students believe is attainable — and that belief is powerful.
How has this fellowship shaped your trajectory, and how has Meharry supported that growth?
This fellowship solidified my commitment to biomedical imaging AI and translational data science. It helped me see how my work can bridge research, clinical impact, and technology development. I’m leaving with stronger technical skills in imaging analytics and machine learning — but also with the confidence to see myself as a scientist who belongs in high-level research environments.
Meharry supported that growth by giving me both opportunity and encouragement — from rigorous coursework to mentorship and research exposure. SACS didn’t just teach me tools. It helped shape my identity as a computational biomedical scientist.
What would you say to Meharry students considering opportunities like this one?
Apply. Even if you don’t feel ready. Growth happens in rooms that stretch you.
Experiences like this aren’t about being the most advanced person in the room. They’re about being curious, willing to learn, and brave enough to step into new spaces. Meharry prepares you more than you realize. Opportunities like this fellowship can transform how you see yourself, your career path, and the impact your skills can have on the world.
Your Next Chapter Starts Here
LaPorchia’s story is a powerful example of what Meharry SACS makes possible. When a foundation built on real-world biomedical data, interdisciplinary thinking, and a commitment to equity meets the right opportunity, the result isn’t just career advancement — it’s contribution to science that could change lives.
What defines Meharry SACS is the culture our students describe: the research-minded environment from day one, the faculty who connect computation to real human impact, the oath to do no harm with the technology we create, and a community that holds us accountable to building AI systems that serve everyone — especially those who have been underserved by traditional healthcare systems.
If you’re ready to be more than a programmer or data analyst — if you want to be a discoverer, an innovator, and a force for equity in computational medicine — Meharry SACS is where your journey begins. Here, your curiosity becomes discovery. Your ideas become solutions. And your work becomes the future of healthcare.
Ready to explore your own uncharted territory? Join us.
