Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship

The recipients of the 2024 Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowships are:

Abdulla Ahmed, Class of 2026, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Evaluation of Biomarkers in Pediatric Patients with Sialorrhea

Mentor: Habib Zalzal, MD

Councilors: Alan Wasserman, MD (AΩA, MCP Hahnemann [Allegheny University], 1972) & Angelike Liappis, MD (AΩA, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 1999, Resident)

Emily Anthone, Class of 2027, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine          

Investigating Disease Heterogeneity, Severity, and Progression in Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease Related to Cigarette Smoking

Mentor: Bryant England, MD, PhD (AΩA, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, 2023, Faculty)

Councilor: Jason Shiffermiller, MD, MPH (AΩA, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, 1998)

Jad Assi, Class of 2026, American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine          

Predicting Atrial Fibrillation Within 5 Years from Sinus Rythm: Integrating Electrocardiogram- Based Deep Learning and Clinical Risk Factors for Advanced Early Detection

Mentor: Marwan Refaat, MD (AΩA, American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine, 2003)

Councilor: Ghazi Zaatari, MD (AΩA, American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine, 1975)

Peter Attia, Class of 2026, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School   

Discovering the Factors Relating to Optimal Methadone Dosing and Treatment Retention in Medication-Assisted Treatment Programs

Mentor: Stanley H. Weiss, MD (AΩA, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, 2003, Faculty)

Councilor: Robert A. Schwartz, MD, MPH (AΩA, New York Medical College, 1974)

Ryan Barney, Class of 2027, University of Kentucky College of Medicine 

Effect of Nirsevimab RSV Prophylaxis on the Development of a Natural Adaptive Immune Response in Infants

Mentor: Mark Wurth, MD, PhD

Councilor: Alan Hall, MD (AΩA, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 2010)

Ashley Battenberg, Class of 2026, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine   

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Breast Cancer:  Clinical Factors, Outcomes, and Future Considerations

Mentor: Marysia S. Tweet, MD, MS

Councilor: Katelyn Anderson, MD (AΩA, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 2011)

Nathan Beda, Class of 2026, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine

Targeting Adipose Derived Stem Cells to Damaged Cartilage Using a Type II Collagen Specific Monoclonal Antibody in a Mouse Model of Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis

Mentors: Karen A. Hasty, PhD & Frederick M. Azar, MD (AΩA, Tulane University School of Medicine, 2020, Alumni)

Councilor: Sandra Arnold, MD, MSc (AΩA, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, 1992)

Lauren Bernard, Class of 2027, University of Maryland School of Medicine         

Serum Metabolomics of Dietary Potassium and Chronic Kidney Disease Risk

Mentor: Casey M. Rebholz, PhD, MS

Councilors: Erin Giudice, MD (AΩA, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2006, Faculty) & Kristin Powell Reavis, MD (AΩA, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2009) & Zaineb Hassan Makhzoumi, MD, MPH

(AΩA, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2007)

Sai Pranathi Bingi, Class of 2026, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine

The Impact of Clostridiodes difficile Testing Method on the Incidence of Healthcare-Associated Infection

Mentor: Stephanie Stroever, PhD, MPH

Councilor: John C. DeToledo, MD (AΩA, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, 2023, Faculty)

Morgan Bretches, Class of 2027, University of Kansas School of Medicine          

Breast Cancer Remission Therapy via Injectable Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator Hydrogels

Mentor: Shang-You Yang, MD, PhD

Councilor: Brian MacNeille (Mac) Everist, MD, MBA (AΩA, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 2008)

Adrian Chen, Class of 2026, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Non-invasive, light-mediated vagus nerve stimulation for treating inflammatory bowel disease

Mentors: Eric H. Chang, PhD & Kevin J. Tracey, MD (AΩA, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, 2014, Alumni)

Councilor: Andrea Vambutas, MD (AΩA, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, 2018, Faculty)

Mehal Churiwal, Class of 2027, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Environmental Drivers of Pediatric Postinfectious Hydrocephalus in Western Uganda: Case-Control Study

Mentor: Steven J. Schiff, MD, PhD

Councilor: Timothy Cragin Wang, MD (AΩA, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1983)

Chloe Cottone, Class of 2026, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Establishing Preoperative Procedures for Microsurgical Patients with Previous COVID-19 Infections

Mentor: Jordan Frey, MD

Councilor: Faye E. Justicia-Linde, MD (AΩA, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 2005)

Michael Covell, Class of 2026, Georgetown University School of Medicine          

Identifying Primary Ciliary Gene Expression Clusters for Outcome Prognostication in Low-Grade Glioma

Mentor: Desmond A. Brown, MD, PhD (AΩA, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 2014)

Councilor: Sean A. Whelton, MD (AΩA, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 2014, Faculty)

Shuvangee Dhar, Class of 2026, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville        

Evaluation of Exoskeletons to Improve Surgical Ergonomics: A Pilot Study

Mentor: Jackie Cha, PhD

Councilor: Robert L. Gates, MD (AΩA, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, 2000, Resident)

Sohil Dharia, Class of 2027, Albany Medical College             

Ventral Pallidum Deep Brain Stimulation compared to Anterior Thalamus Deep Brain Stimulation increases Seizure Relief

Mentor: Damian Shin, PhD, MSc

Councilor: Alexandra R. Paul, MD (AΩA, Albany Medical College, 2017, Resident)

Aura Enache, Class of 2026, Drexel University College of Medicine

Identifying Candidate Autoreactive T-Cells through HLA Class I Allele Restriction Analysis

Mentor: Daria Babushok, MD, PhD (AΩA, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 2008)

Councilor: Jennifer Hamilton, MD, PhD (AΩA, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2020, Faculty)

Michael Folse, Class of 2026, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport        

Investigating the Effects of GLP-1 Agonist on Methamphetamine Seeking Behavior in a rat model

Mentor: Kevin Murnane, PhD

Councilor: James D. Morris, MD (AΩA, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, 2018, Faculty)

Karenna Groff, Class of 2026, NYU Grossman School of Medicine           

Optimization and validation of a novel CD97-targeting antibody-drug conjugate for the treatment of glioblastoma

Mentor: Dimitris Placantonakis, MD, PhD (AΩA, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 2003)

Councilor: Rafael Rivera, Jr., MD, MBA (AΩA, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 2023, Faculty)

Jason Guo, Class of 2026, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School       

Exploring GSTM3 as a Druggable Target in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Mentor: Hao Zhu, MD

Councilor: Kevin Klein, MD (AΩA, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, 1981)

Faris Halaseh, Class of 2026, University of California Irvine School of Medicine   

Examining the Cross Talk between the ADSC Secretome and IGF-1 for Targeted Therapy of Dupuytren’s Disease

Mentor: Alan D. Widgerow, MBBCh, MMed

Councilor: Ranjan Gupta, MD (AΩA, Albany Medical College, 1992)

Kyra Halbert-Elliott, Class of 2026, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine      

Application of deep learning for lung morphometric analysis in hypoplastic fetal mouse lungs

Mentor: Shaun M. Kunisaki, MD, MSc

Councilor: Joann N. Bodurtha, MD, MPH (AΩA, Yale University School of Medicine, 1979)

Kevin Hayes, Class of 2027, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School         

Role of CREG 1 in Protective Cardiomyocyte Mitophagy Against Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Mentors: Leonard Y. Lee, MD (AΩA, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 2014, Alumni) & Shaohua Li, MD

Councilor: Manish S. Patel, MD (AΩA, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 2006, Resident)

Lawrence Huang, Class of 2027, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University 

Air Quality and Equity in New York City: a novel spatiotemporal model of the effects of per-neighborhood PM2.5 on emergency department visits

Mentor: Allan C. Just, PhD

Councilor: Star Hampton, MD (AΩA, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 2017, Faculty)

Geena Jung, Class of 2026, Albert Einstein College of Medicine / Montefiore Medical Center      

Evaluating the efficacy of a 3-dimensional imaging application for the management of craniofacial abnormalities

Mentor: Andrew J. Kobets, MD, MHS

Councilor: Dawn M. Wahezi MD, MS (AΩA, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 2005)

Michael Kann, Class of 2027, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine           

Evaluating the Effect of Augmented Reality Platforms in Pre-operative Patient Counseling

Mentor: Edward Andrews, MD (AΩA, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, 2015)

Councilor:

Abiha Kazmi, Class of 2027, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

Profiling cell-cell interactions in cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas among solid-organ transplant recipients through single-cell and spatial transcriptomics

Mentor: Andrew Ji, MD (AΩA, Weill Cornell Medical College, 2014)

Councilor: Jason M. Lazar, MD, MPH (AΩA, SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine, 1987)

Brionna King, Class of 2026, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans School of Medicine

Designing novel antiviral medications for emerging viral diseases

Mentor: Giulia Monticone, PhD

Councilor: Peter DeBlieux, MD (AΩA, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans School of Medicine, 1992, Resident)

Ernesto Luna Melendez, Class of 2026, Rush Medical College of Rush University 

Single-Cell Spatiotemporal Characterization of Synaptic Diversity in Pediatric and Adult Brain Tumors

Mentor: Mariella G. Filbin, MD, PhD

Councilor: Richard I. Abrams, MD (AΩA, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 1985)

Dhanya Mahesh, Class of 2026, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College

Predicting Post-Surgical Outcomes based on Intracranial EEG and Hippocampal Sclerosis Type for Drug Resistant Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Patients

Mentor: Jennifer Hong, MD (AΩA, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, 2017, Resident)

Councilor: Nancy J. McNulty, MD (AΩA, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, 1994)

Johnny Malicoat, Class of 2026, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine

Unraveling Growth Variability in Renal Masses of Von Hippel-Lindau Patients: A Comprehensive Analysis of Kinetics and RNA Expression for Predictive Biomarker Discovery

Mentor: James A. Brown, MD, MHA

Councilor: Christopher S. Cooper, MD (AΩA, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 1990)

Joel Mantilla, Class of 2026, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University   

Trends in Urgent Care Center Utilization and Medical Provider Specialty among Medicare Beneficiaries

Mentor: Laura G. Burke, MD, MPH (AΩA, T.H. Chan School of Medicine at UMass Chan Medical School, 2007)

Councilor: Rebecca L. Toonkel, MD (AΩA, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2004)

Ashley Montgomery, Class of 2026, Baylor College of Medicine 

Intraoperative Testing and Validation of the MasSpec Pen to Detect Surgical Margins in Sarcoma Tumors

Mentor: Livia S. Eberlin, PhD

Councilor: Atul Maheshwari, MD (AΩA, Baylor College of Medicine, 2017, Faculty)

Nitin Nadella, Class of 2026, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine        

Therapeutic Potential of Modulating DARPP-32 Expression in PKA-mediated Cardiomyopathies

Mentor: Michael Wacker, PhD

Councilor: John Foxworth, PharmD (AΩA, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, 2005, Faculty)

Andrew Nguyen, Class of 2026, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

Left Atrial Low Voltage Area: A Comprehensive Marker for Atrial Fibrillation Progression and Stroke

Mentor: Junaid Zaman, MA, BMBCh, MRCP, PhD

Councilor: Glenn T. Ault, MD, MSEd (AΩA, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, 2002, Resident)

Mohammad Nisar, Class of 2026, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University        

Efficacy of A Farnesoid X Receptor Agonist in Treating Choroidal Neovascularization

Mentor: Menaka Thounaojam, PhD

Councilors: Alyce Oliver, MD, PhD (AΩA, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, 2020, Faculty) & Samuel D. Macomson, MD (AΩA, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, 1997)

Thomas On, Class of 2027, Creighton University School of Medicine       

Improving neurosurgical fluorescence techniques to facilitate intraoperative fluorescence guidance

Mentor: Mark C. Preul, MD

Councilor: Lee E. Morrow, MD, MSc (AΩA, Creighton University School of Medicine, 2009, Faculty)

Jay V. Pendyala, Class of 2027, Sidney Kimmel Medical College  

Prospective comparison of clinical versus automated pupillometry for detection of afferent pupillary defects in ophthalmologic disease

Mentor: Sarah Thornton, MD (AΩA, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, 2016)

Councilor: Gerald A. Isenberg, MD (AΩA, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, 2007, Faculty)

Sovannarath Pong, Class of 2026, The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Investigating the Role of SOX9 and Collagen Type II in Partial Decellularized Tracheal Graft

Mentor: Tendy Chiang, MD

Councilor: Sheryl Pfeil, MD, MA (AΩA, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 1984)

Irene Quan, Class of 2027, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

The Association of Social Needs Screening and Neighborhood Poverty with 90-Day Post-Discharge Hospital Use after Emergent Hospitalization Among Patients Age 18-64

Mentor: Joseph Feinglass, PhD

Councilor: Shilajit Kundu, MD (AΩA, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 2000)

Shakibur Rahman, Class of 2026, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University    

Integrated strategies activating autophagy to prevent sarcopenia

Mentor: Kleiton Silva, PhD

Councilor: Elias A. Iliadis, MD (AΩA, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 2013, Alumni)

Brian Riley, Class of 2026, University of Washington School of Medicine

Clinical outcomes from the transfusion of expired blood products in U.S. combat theaters, 2001-2022

Mentor: John R. Hess, MD, MPH

Councilor: Douglas S. Paauw, MD (AΩA, University of Michigan Medical School, 1983)

Sina Sadeghzadeh, Class of 2026, Stanford University School of Medicine          

Circuit-Specific Modulation of Preparatory Cognitive Control in Intellectual Disability: A Translational Mouse Model

Mentor: Vivek P. Buch, MD (AΩA, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 2013)

Councilor: Suzann Pershing, MD, MS (AΩA, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, 2005)

David Shin, Class of 2027, Loma Linda University School of Medicine     

Outcomes of different modalities of deep brain stimulation in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease

Mentor: Miguel A. Lopez-Gonzalez, MD

Councilor: M. Daniel Wongworawat, MD (AΩA, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 1996)

Avery Smith, Class of 2027, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

The Effectiveness of Late Preterm Betamethasone in a Tertiary Care Center

Mentor: Ann K. Lal, MD (AΩA, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 2007)

Councilor: Theresa Nguyen, MD (AΩA, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, 2020, Faculty)

Sai Aditya Sriram, Class of 2025, University of Florida College of Medicine         

Artificial Intelligence-Enhanced Prognostication in High-Grade Gliomas: Integrating Wearable and Smartphone Data for Personalized Disease Progression Prediction

Mentor: Maryam Rahman MD, MS (AΩA, University of Florida College of Medicine, 2005)

Councilor: Heather E. Harrell, MD (AΩA, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1994)

Yifei Sun, Class of 2027, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine          

Genetic Markers of Neurotoxicity in Murine IL-12 Producing Oncolytic Herpes Virus

Mentor: James M. Markert, MD, MPH (AΩA, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1988)

Councilor: Silvio H. Litovsky, MD (AΩA, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, 2014, Faculty)

Matthew Taing, Class of 2026, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin   

Investigating the Co-Occurrence of Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Atopic Diseases in U.S. Children: Implications for Healthcare Access & Quality

Mentor: Audrey C. Brumback, MD, PhD

Councilor: Steven A. Taylor, MD (AΩA, University of Florida College of Medicine, 2003)

Ryan Tang, Class of 2026, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine         

Pathological Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Leptomeningeal Metastasis Patients with Different Primary Malignancies

Mentor: Matthew N. Mills, MD (AΩA, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 2018)

Councilor: Catherine M. Lynch, MD (AΩA, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 1990)

Akshay Tangutur, Class of 2027, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine of Florida Atlantic University

Association Between Respiratory Effort During Sedated Endoscopy and Nocturnal Blood Pressure in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Mentor: Raj C. Dedhia, MD, MSCR

Councilor: Lisa C. Martinez, MD (AΩA, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 2007)

Thomas Turinske, Class of 2027, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science       

Modeling the Impact of Loading Amplitude, Microgroove Dimensions, Angular Mismatch, and Head Material on Contact Mechanics between Head-Neck Modular Junctions for Total Hip Arthroplasty with Finite Element Analysis

Mentor: Hannah J. Lundberg, PhD

Councilor: Michael J. Zdon, MD (AΩA, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science, 1991, Faculty)

Marianna Vakaki, Class of 2026, University of Illinois College of Medicine          

Stem Cell Derived Extracellular Vesicles and Retinal Dysfunction in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Mentor: Steven Roth, MD

Councilor: Jennifer I. Lim, MD (AΩA, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 1984)

Kevin Wang, Class of 2027, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania        

Properties of tumor-specific CD8 T cell responses and correlates to dynamics of tumor immunoediting in melanoma

Mentor: Alexander C. Huang, MD

Councilor: Sharon Lewis, MD (AΩA, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 2005)

Zachary Williams, Class of 2026, SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine  

Outcomes of Infralinguinal Bypass Grafting in Diabetic Patients with Critical Limb Threatening Ischemia

Mentor: Jonathan A. Cardella, MD, MSc

Councilor: Lynn Cleary, MD (AΩA, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 1978)

Tiffany Wong, Class of 2026, University of California Davis School of Medicine   

A New Scoring System to Better Assess Disparities in Long-Term Outcomes of Obesity-Associated Comorbidities After Bariatric Surgery Compared to Routine Measures

Mentor: Victoria Lyo, MD, MTM

Councilor: W. Suzanne Eidson-Ton, MD, MS (AΩA, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 2013, Faculty)

Yuying (Chloe) Zhang, Class of 2026, T.H. Chan School of Medicine at UMass Chan Medical School          

Assessing the Impact of Community Outreach to Patient’s Attitude toward Healthcare Access and Skin Cancer Awareness

Mentor: Dori Goldberg, MD

Councilor: Terence R. Flotte, MD (AΩA, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans School of Medicine, 1985)

Yan Zhou, Class of 2026, University of Colorado School of Medicine       

Investigating the regeneration mechanisms of motor neurons and oligodendrocytes after spinal cord injury in a zebrafish model

Mentor: Bruce Appel, PhD

Councilor: Jeffrey R. SooHoo, MD, MBA (AΩA, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, 2009)

Mengwen Zhu, Class of 2031, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis      

Probing the neuro-immune circuit of motivational deficit in a syngeneic transplantation mouse model of endometriosis

Mentor: Adam Kepecs, PhD

Councilor: Allyson Zazulia, MD (AΩA, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 1994) 

The recipients of the 2023 fellowships are:

Kofi Acheampong, Class of 2025, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine

Augmenting Meniscus Radial Tear Healing via Local Transforming Growth Factor-Beta 1 (TGF- β1) Gene Therapy in a Rat Model

Mentors: Aravind Athiviraham, MD & Tong-Chuan He, MD, PhD

Councilor: Poj Lysouvakon, MD (AΩA, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, 2009, Faculty)

Nora Alexander, Class of 2024, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Interobserver Variability in Histopathologic Diagnosis of Melanocytic Neoplasms

Mentor: David Chen, MD, PhD

Councilor: Allyson Zazulia, MD (AΩA, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 1994)

Natalie Bales, Class of 2024, Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont

Investigating changes in outcomes involving combined radiation and immunotherapy in patients with brain metastases

Mentor: Christopher Anker, MD (AΩA, SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine, 2004)

Councilor: Marie Sandoval, MD (AΩA, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1995)

Batol Barodi, Class of 2025, Central Michigan University College of Medicine

Improving Surgical Outcomes of Mitral Valve Replacement and Repair in Pediatric Patients

Mentor: Hani Najm, MD

Councilor: Wendy S. Biggs, MD (AΩA, Baylor College of Medicine, 1989)

Joe Bedran, Class of 2026, American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine

UBR4 a Potential Novel Gene for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Lebanese

Mentor: Rose-Mary Boustany, MD

Councilor: Ghazi Zaatari, MD (AΩA, American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine, 1975)

Lauren Bendesky, Class of 2025, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Radiotherapy Patient Outcomes in Recurrent and Medically Inoperable Endometrial Cancer

Mentor: Ann H. Klopp, MD, PhD

Councilor: Megan Healy, MD (AΩA, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2010)

Aarohi Bhargava-Shah, Class of 2026, Stanford University School of Medicine

Understanding the Spatial Organization and Regulation of Extrachromosomal DNA in Cancer

Mentors: Paul Mischel, MD (AΩA, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1991) & Howard Y. Chang, MD, PhD

Councilor: Suzann Pershing, MD, MS (AΩA, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, 2005)

Kathleen Botterbush, Class of 2026, Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Utility of mobile health technology in characterizing disease severity in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Mentors: Jacob K. Greenberg, MD, MSCI (AΩA, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 2015) & Wilson Z. Ray, MD

Councilors: Adam Merando, MD (AΩA, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 2014, Resident) & Ramona Behshad, MD (AΩA, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2007)

Cecilia Castellano (AΩA, Emory University School of Medicine, 2022) Class of 2024, Emory University School of Medicine

Incidence and Risk Factors for Comorbidities Following COVID-19 Disease in People Living with HIV

Mentor: Cecile Lahiri, MD, MSc

Thomas C. Pearson, MD, DPhil (AΩA, Emory University School of Medicine, 2004, Alumni)

Jisoo (Allison) Chae, Class of 2025, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Interrogating the Use of Radiologic AI Algorithms for the Diagnosis of Metabolic Disorders

Mentor: Hersh Sagreiya, MD

Councilor: Sharon Lewis, MD (AΩA, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 2005)

Shreyas Chandragiri, Class of 2024, Sidney Kimmel Medical College

Testing of a Novel Respiratory Monitoring System for Hospital Use

Mentor: Jeffrey I. Joseph, DO

Gerald A. Isenberg, MD (AΩA, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, 2007, Faculty)

Devina Chatterjee, Class of 2026, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Investigating Perivascular Fat Attenuation as a Marker of Inflammation in the Descending Aorta

Mentor: Armin A. Zadeh, MD, PhD, MPH

Councilor: Erin Giudice, MD (AΩA, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2006, Faculty)

Briana Clifton, Class of 2026, University of Minnesota Medical School

Investigating Storage and Metabolism of Glycogen Cells in Placental mTOR Deficiency Murine Models

Mentor: Emilyn Alejandro, PhD

Councilor: Charles Billington, MD (AΩA, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 1978)

Dominique Cope, Class of 2026, Baylor College of Medicine

Identifying a novel non-hormonal therapy for endometriosis by inhibiting CSF1 R and KIT kinase activity

Mentors: Martin M. Matzuk, MD, PhD & Diana Monsivais, PhD

Councilor: Atul Maheshwari, MD (AΩA, Baylor College of Medicine, 2017, Faculty)

Nitya Devireddy, Class of 2025, Penn State College of Medicine

Outcomes of Cataract Surgery Following Scleral Buckling for Retinal Detachment

Mentor: Seth Pantanelli, MD, MS

Councilor: Ian Schreibman, MD (AΩA, Penn State College of Medicine, 2008, Faculty)

Michael Diaz, Class of 2026, University of Florida College of Medicine

On the regulatory environment of melanoma: cell-to-cell signaling insights acquired at single-cell resolution and prognostic implications

Mentor: Marjorie Montañez-Wiscovich, MD, PhD

Councilor: Heather E. Harrell, MD (AΩA, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1994)

Nathaniel Disser, Class of 2024, University of Texas McGovern Medical School

Association of Preoperative Laboratory Biomarkers of Systemic Inflammation with Patient Outcomes Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Mentor: Scott Rodeo, MD (AΩA, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1988)

Councilors: Eugene V. Boisaubin, MD (AΩA, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, 1970) &

Manish N. Shah, MD (AΩA, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, 2006)

Kristen Fernandez, Class of 2025, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Value of NOTCH-1 immunohistochemical staining in evaluating perineural invasion in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Mentor: Jodi Speiser, MD (AΩA, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, 2018, Faculty)

Councilor: Jessica McIntyre, MD (AΩA, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, 2005)

Luigi Gonzales, Class of 2025, University of California Irvine School of Medicine

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neuron precursors rescue motor endplates from degeneration following traumatic nerve injury

Mentor: Oswald Steward, PhD

Councilor: Ranjan Gupta, MD (AΩA, Albany Medical College, 1992)

Harrison Chase Gottlich, Class of 2024, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine

Predicting Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression After Primary Resection from Pre-Operative Imaging using Radiomics and Deep Learning

Mentor: Bradley Leibovich, MD (AΩA, Albany Medical College, 1995)

Councilor: Carola Arndt, MD (AΩA, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, 1978)

Dennis Grencewicz, Class of 2026, The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Impact of Fungal Colonization on Radiation Therapy Response in Rectal Cancer

Mentor: Daniel Spakowicz, PhD & Nicolas Denko, MD, PhD

Councilor: Sheryl Pfeil, MD (AΩA, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 1984)

Karen Ha, Class of 2025, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Addressing the Intersection Between Language and Health Literacy at the Rhode Island Free Clinic

Mentor: Ross W. Hilliard, MD

Councilor: Brittany Star Hampton, MD (AΩA, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 2017, Faculty)

Samantha Hanley, Class of 2025, SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine

Identifying barriers to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in New York State (NYS) counties with low levels of immunization

Mentor: Jana Shaw, MD, MPH, MS

Councilor: Lynn Cleary, MD (AΩA, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 1978)

Ava Hansen, Class of 2026, Drexel University College of Medicine

Mechanism of Synergistic Lethality in Cancer Cells with APOBEC3A Cytidine Deaminase Activity and SMC5/6 Complex Loss

Mentor: Abby M. Green, MD

Councilor: Kathleen F. Ryan, MD (AΩA, Drexel University College of Medicine [formerly Hahnemann University], 1994)

Sofia Hidalgo Perea, Class of 2025, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University

Impact of Mental Health on recovery from Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in the Pediatric Population: A New Target to Improve Outcomes

Mentor: James Barsi, MD (AΩA, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 2005)

Councilor: Jack Fuhrer, MD (AΩA, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, 1997, Faculty)

Andrew Holmes, Class of 2024, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine

Psychosocial profiles provide effect modification of the relationship between gestational weight gain and maternal and child health outcomes

Mentor: Amy Elliott, PhD

Councilor: Kelly Evans-Hullinger, MD (AΩA, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, 2011)

Bonnie Huang, Class of 2025, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Studying Blood Vessel Changes in Diabetic Retinopathy using Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmology

Mentor: Amani A. Fawzi, MD

Councilor: Shilajit Kundu, MD (AΩA, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 2000)

Victoria Idowu, Class of 2025, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

Determining the impact of Igf2bp1 re-expression on hair cell regeneration in the mouse cochlea

Mentor: Brandon C. Cox, PhD

Councilor: Andrew J. Varney, MD (AΩA, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, 1988)

Ankitha Iyer, Class of 2024, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Evaluating Piezo1 Mechanoreceptor Mediated Release of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in a Hypertensive Model of Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Mentor: Stacey Quintero Wolfe, MD (AΩA, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, 2001)

Councilor: Michael S. Cartwright, MD, MS (AΩA, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 2002)

Shirley Jiang, Class of 2024, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine

Outcomes of Patients with Radioresistant Brain Metastases treated with Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy alone or Postoperatively

Mentor: H. Michael Yu, MD, ScM

Councilor: Catherine M. Lynch, MD (AΩA, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 1990)

Isabella Kelly, Class of 2025, University of Mississippi School of Medicine

Morphological changes at paranodes of prefrontal cortex axons in major depressive disorder and in an animal model of stress

Mentor: José Javier Miguel-Hidalgo, PhD, DMSc 

Councilor: Gina D. Jefferson, MD, MPH (AΩA, University of Mississippi School of Medicine, 2021, Faculty)

Joshua Kim, Class of 2026, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine

Modeling the human cardiovascular system to validate a novel CPR adjunct

Mentor: Rupak Mukherjee, PhD

Councilor: Christopher Pelic, MD (AΩA, College of Medicine and Life Sciences University of Toledo, 2000)

Minjae Kim, Class of 2026, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine

Studying the neuroprotective effects of NA3 glycan observed in experimental models of age-related macular degeneration

Mentors: Monica M. Jablonski, PhD & Matthew W. Wilson, MD

Councilor: Harris L. Cohen, MD (AΩA, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, 1997, Alumni)

Irina Kim Cavdar, Class of 2025, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine

Functional Role of Conserved Amino Acid Residues in the Intracellular Domain of α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Mentor: Michaela Jansen, PharmD, PhD

Councilor: Steven L. Berk, MD (AΩA, East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine, 1986)

Shaun Kohli, Class of 2026, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Uncovering Neural Mechanisms of Social Navigation in Patients with Cocaine Use Disorder

Mentor: Daniela Schiller, PhD

Carrie L. Ernst, MD (AΩA, Weill Cornell Medical College, 2001)

Caroline Kremer, Class of 2025, NYU Grossman School of Medicine

An investigation into the spatiotemporal dynamics of expressive aphasia using electrocorticography

Mentor: Adeen Flinker, PhD

Councilor: Rafael Rivera Jr, MD MBA (AΩA, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 2023, Faculty)

Katherine Lake, Class of 2025, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School

Characterizing the role of PTHRP in cell competition during breast cancer-to-liver metastasis to identify new therapeutic vulnerabilities

Mentor: Isaac S. Chan, MD, PhD

Councilor: Kevin W. Klein, MD (AΩA, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, 1981)

Emily Larson, Class of 2025, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Optimization and Validation of Tricuspid Translocation for Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation

Mentor: James S. Gammie, MD

Councilor: Joann N. Bodurtha MD, MPH (AΩA, Yale University School of Medicine, 1979)

Ryan Leone, Class of 2026, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Geographical Analysis of Trauma Center Access from Amtrak Stations Across the United States

Mentor: Christopher Tedeschi, MD, MA (AΩA, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 2003)

Councilor: Timothy C. Wang, MD (AΩA, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1983)

Miranda Li, Class of 2026, University of Washington School of Medicine

Dysregulation of fetal innate immunity by a Zika virus congenital infection

Mentor: Kristina M. Adams Waldorf, MD

Councilor: Douglas S. Paauw, MD (AΩA, University of Michigan Medical School, 1983)

Smruti Mahapatra, Class of 2026, Tulane University School of Medicine

Understanding the relationship between uterine artery vasodilation and placental oxygenation

Mentor: Carolyn Bayer, PhD

Councilor: Bernard M. Jaffe, MD (AΩA, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 1963)

Rana Mansour, Class of 2026, Medical College of Wisconsin

Mitochondrial Dynamics in Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases

Mentors: Allison Ebert, PhD & Blake Hill, PhD

Councilors: Kathlyn Fletcher, MD (AΩA, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, 1996) & Andrew Kastenmeier, MD (AΩA, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2018, Faculty)

Archana Murali, Class of 2025, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Bimatoprost Induction of Lympangiogenesis as a Potential Mechanism of Sustained IOP Reduction

Mentor: Douglas J. Rhee, MD (AΩA, University of Michigan Medical School, 1995)

Councilor: David Kaelber, MD, PhD, MPH (AΩA, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2004, Resident)

Yak Nak, Class of 2025, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine

Understanding Orthopaedic Surgical Capacity and Technical Priorities in South Sudan

Mentor: James L. Cook, DVM, PhD

Councilor: Nathan Beucke, MD (AΩA, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, 2004)

Adom Netsanet, Class of 2024, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Antenatal Betamethasone Improves Lung Structure and Function, Prevents Pulmonary Hypertension, and Promotes Placental Pro-Angiogenic Signaling in an Animal Model of Chorioamnionitis-Induced Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Mentor: Steven H. Abman, MD

Councilor: Jeffrey R. SooHoo, MD, MBA (AΩA, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, 2009)

Darryll Oliver, Class of 2026, Meharry Medical College School of Medicine

Assessment of transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles mediated by the expression of genetic risk variants of the lipid transporter, ABCA7

Mentor: Jamaine Davis, PhD

Councilor: Billy R. Ballard, DDS, MD (AΩA, Meharry Medical College School of Medicine, 1995, Alumni)

Alyssa Pereslete, Class of 2025, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University

Incidence of HER2-positive or HER2-low Brain Metastases in Patients with HER2-positive, HER2 0, and HER2-low Primary Breast Tumors

Mentor: Nancy U. Lin, MD

Councilor: Rebecca L. Toonkel, MD (AΩA, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2004)

Peyman Razavi, Class of 2024, Weill Cornell Medical College

Use of AI with WF-SS Optical Coherence Tomography in diabetic retinopathy

Mentor: John B. Miller, MD

Councilor: O. Wayne Isom, MD (AΩA, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, 1965)

Jacob Razzouk, Class of 2026, Loma Linda University School of Medicine

Utilization of Deep Neural Networks and Ensemble Machine Learning for Outcome Prediction following Transplantation of Donor Hearts with Low Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction

Mentor: David G. Rabkin, MD

Councilor: Daniel Wongworawat, MD (AΩA, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 1996)

Harshal Shah, Class of 2025, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

The Connectomics of Brain Metastasis Resection: A Prospective Observational Study

Mentor: Randy S. D’Amico, MD (AΩA, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 2012)

Councilor: Andrea Vambutas, MD (AΩA, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, 2018, Faculty)

Sahaj Shah, Class of 2025, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

CXCR2 Blockade As A Novel Therapy For Systemic-Pulmonary Arterial Collaterals In Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease

Mentor: Carlo Bartoli, MD, PhD (AΩA, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 2013)

Councilor: Margrit Shoemaker, MD (AΩA, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 1983)

Jolene Singh, Class of 2025, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

Assessment of HER2 tumor evolution in breast cancer patients with operable brain metastases

Mentor: Nelson Moss, MD

Councilor: Jason M. Lazar, MD, MPH (AΩA, SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine, 1987)

Avi Sura, Class of 2026, Albany Medical College

The Role of Androgens in a Mouse Model of Multi-Etiology Dementia

Mentor: Kristen Zuloaga, PhD

Councilor: Jason Mouzakes, MD (AΩA, Albany Medical College, 1994)

Jade Tso, Class of 2025, University of California Davis School of Medicine

Gastric Cancer in Roatán, Honduras: Feasibility of a Symptomatic Screening Program and Endoscopy Capacity Assessment for Early Detection of Gastric Cancer in Roatán, Honduras

Mentor: Cameron E. Gaskill, MD, MPH (AΩA, University of Washington School of Medicine, 2012)

Councilor: W. Suzanne Eidson-Ton, MD, MS (AΩA, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 2013, Faculty)

Oraya Vesvoranan, Class of 2025, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College

Tissue-Engineered Electrospun Scaffolds to Induce Human Skin Attachment and Expansion

Mentor: Katherine Hixon, PhD

Councilor: Nancy J. McNulty, MD (AΩA, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, 1994)

Nafisa Wara, Class of 2025, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles

Development of patient-centered decision support to improve pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) decision-making among pregnant and postpartum women in Cape Town, South Africa

Mentor: Risa Hoffman MD, MPH (AΩA, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, 2000) & Dvora Joseph Davey, PhD, MPH

Councilor: Jessica Beth O’Connell, MD (AΩA, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, 2000)

Eric Wong, Class of 2025, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Investigating the Role of B7-H3 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Mentor: Trisha Wise-Draper, MD, PhD (AΩA, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 2010)

Councilor: Estrelita Dixon, MD (AΩA, Howard University College of Medicine, 1989)

David Wu, Class of 2026, University of Illinois College of Medicine

Profiling the loading and release efficacy of dexamethasone loaded drug encapsulated carbon (DECON)

Mentor: Deepak Shukla, PhD

Councilor: Jennifer I. Lim, MD (AΩA, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 1984)

The recipients of the 2022 fellowships are:

Siddharth Balaji, Class of 2024, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Influence of Strut Microporosity on Bone Conduction in Microsphere-Based Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds
Mentor: Stefan Lohfeld, PhD
Councilor: John Foxworth, PharmD (AΩA, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, 2005, Faculty)

Nolan Brown, (AΩA, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, 2022) Class of 2023, University of California Irvine School of Medicine
cfDNA Multi-Platform Analysis for Early Detection of GBM
Mentor: Ahmed Mohyeldin, MD, PhD
Councilor: Ranjan Gupta, MD (AΩA, Albany Medical College, 1992)

Shreya Budhiraja, Class of 2025, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Elucidating the Role of Retrograde Trafficking as a Driver of Chemoresistance in Glioblastoma
Mentor: Atique Ahmed, PhD
Councilor: Shilajit D. Kundu, MD (AΩA, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 2000)

Woo Yul Byun, Class of 2023, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Optimization of a Customizable 3D Printed Bioreactor for the Creation of Partially Decellularized Tracheal Allografts
Mentor: Tendy Chiang, MD
Councilor: Sheryl Pfeil, MD (AΩA, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 1984)

Kristin Chancellor, Class of 2024, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
Bone Marrow Aspirate with Allograft Cancellous Chips versus Cortical Autograft or RIA in the Treatment of Long Bone Nonunions
Mentor: Jonathan Quade, MD
Councilor: Silvio H. Litovsky, MD (AΩA, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, 2014, Faculty)

Shuyi Chen, Class of 2024, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Signal Intensity as a Novel Imaging Biomarker for Predicting Glioblastoma Progression in Surgically Resected Patients: An Opportunity for Early Intervention and Salvage Therapy
Mentor: Na Tosha Gatson, MD, PhD
Councilor: Margrit Shoemaker, MD (AΩA, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 1983)

Christopher Cheng, Class of 2025, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Head-to-Head Comparison of Vision Tests Integrated into a Virtual Reality Technology Against their Clinical Analogues
Mentor: James Chelnis, MD
Councilor: Carrie Ernst, MD (AΩA, Weill Cornell Medical College, 2001)

Alexander Cheung, Class of 2023, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Federated Machine Learning for Intracranial Hemorrhage Detection: A Paradigm for Seamless Multi-Institutional Collaboration
Mentor: Eric Oermann, MD
Councilor: Linda Tewksbury, MD (AΩA, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 1990)

Felix Chin, Class of 2024, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Investigating the Immune Composition of Cutaneous Lesions in Lupus and Dermatomyositis Using a Re-iterative Approach of Machine Learning and Manual Gating on Highly Multiplexed Mass Cytometry Data
Mentor: Victoria Werth, MD
Councilor: Sharon A. Lewis, MD (AΩA, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 2005)

Andrew Del Colle, Class of 2025, Drexel University College of Medicine
The Effect of Cell- Specific Serotonin Reuptake Transporter Knockouts on the Brain-Gut Axis: Novel Implications for the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression
Mentor: Kara G. Margolis, MD
Councilor: Kathleen F. Ryan, MD (AΩA, Drexel University College of Medicine [formerly Hahnemann University], 1994)

Peter Delaney, Class of 2023, (AΩA, University of Michigan Medical School, 2023) University of Michigan Medical School
Measuring the Effectiveness of Three Instructional Interventions for Prehospital Cervical Spinal Immobilization by Laypeople: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Jaimo Ahn, MD, PhD (AΩA, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 2020, Faculty)
Councilor: Dee E. Fenner, MD (AΩA, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, 1984)

Riley Driscoll, Class of 2024, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Enhancing Glioblastoma Chemosensitivity to Temozolomide Using a Repurposed Non-Canonical NF-κB Inhibitor
Mentor: Bakhtiar Yamini, MD
Councilor: Daniel W. Golden, MD (AΩA, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 2006)

Kulsoom Durrani, Class of 2025, Penn State College of Medicine
Therapeutic Effects of Pure Cannabinoids and Natural Hemp Oils in an In-Vitro Osteoarthritis Model
Mentor: Fadia Kamal, PharmD, PhD
Councilor: Ian R. Schreibman, MD (AΩA, Penn State College of Medicine, 2008, Faculty)

Peter Eckard, Class of 2024, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine Investigating the Role of MHC-II Mediated Antigen Presentation in the Immune Response Following Cochlear Implantation
Mentor: Marlan R. Hansen, MD (AΩA, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, 1994)
Councilor: Christopher S. Cooper, MD (AΩA, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 1990)

Meredith Hengy, Class of 2023 (AΩA, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 2022) Wayne State University School of Medicine
The Utility of Battlefield Acupuncture for Easing Postoperative Pain in Mohs Surgery
Mentor: Steven Daveluy, MD (AΩA, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 2008)
Councilor: Michael T White, MD (AΩA, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 1990)

Bryson Hewins, Class of 2023 (AΩA, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, 2022) Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine
Neuronal-Derived Extracellular Vesicles May Facilitate Adenosine Mediated Neuroprotective Effects in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study
Mentor: J. Kent Werner, MD, PhD
Councilor: Laura C. Tilley, MD (AΩA, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2010)

Jacob A. Jordan, Class of 2024, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Optimizing Adaptive Proton Therapy to Abdominal and Pelvic Tumors in Pediatric Patients
Mentor: Chia-ho Hua, PhD
Councilor: Harris L. Cohen, MD (AΩA, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, 1997, Alumni)

Paarth Kapadia, Class of 2023, Baylor College of Medicine
Characteristics and Disparities of Emergency Presentation of Colorectal and Lung Cancer in the US: An Epidemiological Investigation of Diagnostic Quality in EHR-Derived Data
Traber Davis Giardina, PhD, MSW
Councilor: Amy Schutt, MD (AΩA, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, 2009)

Alexander Karius, Class of 2024, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
An Epigenetic Switch Governing Skin Regeneration
Mentor: Sashank Reddy, MD, PhD
Councilor: Joann N. Bodurtha, MD, MPH (AΩA, Yale University School of Medicine, 1979)

Juliana Kim, Class of 2024, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
Characterizing Fatty Acid Metabolism Alterations in Human BRAF Mutant Melanomas to Identify Novel Therapeutic Vulnerabilities
Mentor: Jennifer G. Gill, MD, PhD
Councilor: Kevin W. Klein, MD (AΩA, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, 1981)

Joshua Kim, Class of 2024, College of Medicine and Life Sciences University of Toledo
Promoting Bone Formation by 14-3-3ζ in Rodent Rheumatoid Arthritis Model
Mentor: Ritu Chakravarti, PhD
Councilor: Paul L. Schaefer, MD, PhD (AΩA, College of Medicine and Life Sciences University of Toledo, 2004)

Jenna Koenig, Class of 2025, Indiana University School of Medicine
MDM2 and AKT Inhibition to Improve Temozolomide Sensitivity in Glioblastoma: Evaluation of P53-Mediated DNA Damage Mechanisms
Mentor: Karen Pollok, PhD
Councilor: Richard Gunderman, MD, PhD (AΩA, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, 1992)

Annet Kuruvilla, Class of 2023, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
Health Disparities in Accessing Melanoma Surgical and Medical Treatments
Mentors: A. Laurie Shroyer, PhD & Tara L. Huston, MD (AΩA, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, 2001)
Councilor: Jack Fuhrer, MD (AΩA, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, 1997)

Kathy Le, Class of 2024, University of Texas Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine
Stress and Obesity in the Face of COVID-19 among Latinxs Varying in Immigration Status
Mentor: Luz Garcini, PhD, MPH
Councilor: Lilian Nguyen, MD (AΩA, University of Texas Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine, 2014)

Alan K. Li, Class of 2024, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles
Bacteriophage-derived Endolysin as Antimicrobials in Orthopaedic Implant-related Infections
Mentor: Nicholas M. Bernthal, MD (AΩA, Weill Cornell Medical College, 2006)
Councilor: Jessica O’Connell, MD (AΩA, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, 2000)

Julia May, Class of 2024, University of Illinois College of Medicine
Utilizing Optical Coherence Tomography to Enhance the Diagnosis and Treatment of Malignant Melanoma
Mentor: Kamran Avanaki, PhD, Maria Tsoukas, MD, PhD
Councilor: Jennifer I. Lim, MD (AΩA, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 1984)

Darrian McAfee, Class of 2025, University of Maryland School of Medicine
LDHA and KATP Channels Forms the Link Between Metabolism and Epilepsy
Mentor: Alexander Ksendzovsky, MD, PhD
Councilors: Donna L. Parker, MD (AΩA, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 1999, Alumni)

Valerie Melson, Class of 2023, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Outcomes Associated with Combined Breast and Salpingo-Oophorectomy Procedures
Mentor: Nho (Bill) Tran, MD
Councilor: Carola A.S. Arndt, MD (AΩA, Boston University School of Medicine, 1978)

Manish Narasimman, Class of 2024, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Evaluation of Bacteria in a Novel In Vitro Biofilm Model of Penile Prosthesis
Mentor: Ranjith Ramasamy, MD (AΩA, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 2022, Alumni)
Councilor: Christine T. Dinh, MD (AΩA, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 2008)

Jacob S. Nasser, Class of 2023, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Role of System and Provider-Based Factors on Breast Reconstruction Outcomes: Identifying Racial Disparities, Adherence to Guidelines, and Effect of Interhospital Competition on Care
Mentor: Kevin C. Chung, MD
Councilor: Alan G. Wasserman, MD (AΩA, MCP Hahnemann [Allegheny University], 1972)

Albert Ng, Class of 2024, University of Washington School of Medicine
Development of a Low-Cost Virtual Reality System for At-Home Healthcare Applications
Mentor: Erin Miller, MD (AΩA, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2012)
Councilor: Douglas S. Paauw, MD (AΩA, University of Michigan Medical School, 1983)

Vera Ong, Class of 2024, John A. Burns School of Medicine University of Hawaii
Utilization of Small Molecule EMP2 Inhibitors for Meningioma Therapy
Mentor: Isaac Yang, MD (AΩA, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, 2004)
Councilor: Jill Omori, MD (AΩA, John A. Burns School of Medicine University of Hawaii, 1995)

Kayla Prezelski, Class of 2024, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Enhanced Radiation Therapy Outcome Prediction Using Artificial Intelligence in Patients with Cranial Metastatic Breast Cancer
Mentor: Åse Ballangrud-Popovic, PhD
Councilor: Chad S. Miller, MD (AΩA, Tulane University School of Medicine, 2007, Resident)

Rohan Rao, Class of 2024, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Identifying Unique Glioblastoma Endothelial Factors for High-Fidelity Focused Ultrasound Delivery of RNA Nanoparticles
Mentors: Soma Sengupta, PhD & Daniel Pomeranz Krummel, PhD
Councilor: Estrelita Dixon, MD (AΩA, Howard University College of Medicine, 1989)

Hashim Shaikh, Class of 2024, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Novel Use of a mHealth Integrated Knee Brace Device for Remote Rehabilitation Following Total Knee Arthroplasty
Mentor: Thomas G. Myers, MD (AΩA, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 2005)
Councilor: Jane Liesveld, MD (AΩA, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 1979)

Rami Shaker, Class of 2024, University of Minnesota Medical School
Predictive Model Development of Glioblastoma for Patient-Specific Prognosis and Therapeutic Intervention
Mentor: Christopher Wilke, MD, PhD
Councilor: Charles Billington, MD (AΩA, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 1978)

Faariah Shakil, Class of 2024, New York Medical College
Dissecting the NSIP Pattern on Chest CT
Mentor: Mary M. Salvatore, MD, MBA
Councilor: William Frishman, MD (AΩA, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1978, Faculty)

Brandon Shin, Class of 2025, Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Association between Social Vulnerability Indexes and Surgically Underserved Areas in the Inland Empire
Mentor: Marti Baum, MD (AΩA, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 2012, Alumni)
Councilor: Danny Wongworawat, MD (AΩA, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 1996)

Manish Singh, Class of 2025, Albany Medical College
Puberty Onset and the Development of Medial Amygdala Kiss1 Expression
Mentor: Shannon Stephens, PhD
Councilor: Alan S. Boulos, MD (AΩA, Albany Medical College, 1993)

Dharshan Sivaraj, Class of 2025, Stanford University School of Medicine
Inhibiting Rac2 Signaling to Reduce Pathologic Foreign Body Response Around Biomedical Implants
Mentor: Geoffrey C. Gurtner, MD (AΩA, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, 1989)
Councilor: Suzann Pershing, MD, MS (AΩA, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, 2005)

Armin Tavakkoli, Class of 2024, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University
Evaluating the Therapeutic Potential of FLASH Irradiation in Brain Tumor Treatment
Mentor: P. Jack Hoopes, DVM, PhD
Councilor: Nancy J. McNulty, MD (AΩA, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University, 1994)

Carolyn Wilson, Class of 2023, Boston University School of Medicine
Assessing Immigrant Health Paradox by Determining Severity and Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Different Generations of Immigrants
Mentor: Michael Bernard Cohen, MD (AΩA, Boston University School of Medicine, 2014, Resident)
Councilor: James Holsapple, MD (AΩA, SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine, 2004, Faculty)

Amy Wu, Class of 2025, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Mechanism of TMEM16A Antagonism Mediated Prevention of -adrenoreceptor Desensitization in Airway Smooth Muscle
Mentor: Charles W. Emala, MD, MS
Councilor: Dawn M. Wahezi, MD, MS (AΩA, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 2005)

The 49 recipients of the 2021 fellowships are:

William Abi Antoun, Class of 2022, American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine

Novel Approach to Cardiac Ablation Post Myocardial Infarction

Mentor: Marwan M. Refaat, MD (AΩA, American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine, 2003)   

Councilor: Ghazi Zaatari, MD (AΩA, American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine, 1975)

Pooja Agrawal, Class of 2023, University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine

Factors That Influence Breast Cancer Screening Compliance Among African American Women

Mentor: Lorraine  Reitzel, PhD    

Councilor: Lisa R. Farmer, MD (AΩA, University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine, 2001)

Faris Ali, Class of 2024, Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Regulation of Bone Morphogenic Protein 6 Signaling to Hepcidin by Forms of Transferrin

Mentor: Robert E. Fleming, MD (AΩA, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1984)

Councilor: Chad S. Miller, MD (AΩA, Tulane University School of Medicine, 2007)

Marie Altendahl, Class of 2023, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles

Investigation of Cytokine Profiles and Cell-mediated Immune Responses in COVID-19 Positive Mother-Infant Dyads

Mentor: Yalda Afshar, MD, PhD 

Councilor: Jessica O’Connell, MD (AΩA, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, 2000)

Barrett Anderies, Class of 2022, Mayo Medical School 

Machine learning and radiomics for hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence prediction

Mentor: Bradley Erickson, MD, PhD

Councilor: Carola Arndt, MD (AΩA, Boston University School of Medicine, 1978)

Vivienne Au, Class of 2022, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

Prediction of speech, swallowing, and quality of life in oral cavity cancer patients

Mentor: Mark A.Varvares, MD (AΩA, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1986)

Councilor: Jason M. Lazar, MD, MPH (AΩA, SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine, 1987)

Taylor Badger, Class of 2023, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

Identification of unique GI and GU microbial signatures in ovarian cancer patients

Mentor: Andrea Braundmeier-Fleming, PhD

Councilor: Andrew Varney, MD (AΩA, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, 1988)

Shiva Balasubramanian, Class of 2024, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Copy Number Alterations as Biomarkers for Localized Prostate Cancer Progression to Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer

Mentor: Benyi Li, MD, PhD  

Councilor: John Foxworth, Pharm D (AΩA, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, 2005)

Jonathan Bao, Class of 2024, Albany Medical College

Effect of low intensity pulsed focused ultrasound on neuronal activity in pain processing regions of the brain

Mentor: Julie G. Pilitsis, MD, PhD (AΩA, Albany Medical College, 2017)

Councilor: Alan S. Boulos, MD (AΩA, Albany Medical College, 1993)

Drew Bergman, Class of 2024, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College

Investigating determinants of human gene regulation through systematic studies of enhancer-promoter compatibility

Mentor: Jesse Engreitz, PhD

Councilor: Nancy J. McNulty, MD (AΩA, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, 1994)

Geoffrey Bocobo, Class of 2023, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Exploring the relationship between circulating cytokine levels, genetic background, and lifestyle/health factors in the context of predisposition to breast cancer

Mentor: Christine B. Ambrosone, PhD

Councilor: Frank Schimpfhauser, PhD (AΩA, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 1993)

James Brogan, Class of 2022, Albert Einstein College of Medicine 

Applying Long Short-Term Memory to Predict onset of worsening Organ Failure in Hospitalized Patients Using Time Series Data from Electronic Health Records

Mentor: Michelle Ng Gong, MD, MS    

Councilor: Ellie Schoenbaum, MD (AΩA, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1979)

Daniel Bujnowski, Class of 2024, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Outcomes of Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) in Patients with Perioperative Thrombocytopenia

Mentor: Nicholas Brown, MD   

Councilor: Jessica McIntyre, MD (AΩA, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, 2005)

Eric Chalif, Class of 2022, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

A Comparative Analysis of The Immunological Microenvironment Between Murine Glioma Models And Human Glioblastoma

Mentor: Manish Aghi, MD, PhD    

Councilor: Alan Wasserman, MD (AΩA, Drexel University College of Medicine [formerly Hahnemann University], 1972)

Nina Cheng, Class of 2024, Drexel University College of Medicine

Profiling the amino acid transporter landscape at the blood-brain tumor barrier using multiplexed immunofluorescence

Mentor: John Y.K. Lee, MD, MSCE (AΩA, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 1998)

Councilor: Kathleen F. Ryan, MD (AΩA, Drexel University College of Medicine [formerly Hahnemann University], 1994)

Arya Dadhania, Class of 2023, University of Illinois College of Medicine

Novel Deep Learning Model for Identification of Lung and Colon Cancer Using Histopathological Images

Mentor: Tushar N. Patel, MD, Anuj Tiwari, PhD 

Councilor: Jennifer I. Lim, MD (AΩA, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 1984)

Aditya Devarakonda, Class of 2023, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

A Quantitative Approach to the Indication of Modified Barium Swallow Studies in Infants with Dysphagia

Mentor: J. Drew Prosser, MD (AΩA, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, 2007)    

Councilors: Samuel C. Macomson, MD (AΩA, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, 1997),

Natasha M. Savage, MD (AΩA, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, 2015)

Ashley Diaz, Class of 2024, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine

Characterization of the immunogenicity of donor lungs maintained on ex vivo organ perfusion in comparison to conventional cold storage

Mentor: Maria Lucia Madariaga, MD

Councilor: Daniel W. Golden, MD, MHPE (AΩA, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 2006)

Rohit Gupta, (AΩA, Baylor College of Medicine, 2021), Class of 2022, Baylor College of Medicine

Overcoming Chemoresistance by pursuing targetable vulnerabilities in IKZF1-deleted B lymphoblastic leukemia

Mentor: Rachel Rau, MD (The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 2003), Margaret A. Goodell, PhD

Councilor: Daniel C. Chelius, Jr., MD (AΩA, Baylor College of Medicine, 2004)

Gideon Harianja, Class of 2023, Loma Linda University School of Medicine

Telemedicine for Pediatric Urological Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mentor: Joshua D. Chamberlin, MD (AΩA, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 2012)

Councilor: Daniel Wongworawat, MD (AΩA, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 1996)

Jessica Herrmann, Class of 2024, Stanford University School of Medicine

3D Printing of a Human-Scale Cardiac Biopump

Mentor: Mark A. Skylar-Scott, PhD

Councilor: Suzann Pershing, MD, MS (AΩA, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, 2005)

Alexander Hornung, Class of 2023, Rush Medical College of Rush University

Detection of Cutibacterium acnes infection within periprosthetic tissue associated with total shoulder arthroplasty

Mentor: Robin Pourzal, PhD, Grant E. Garrigues, MD

Councilor: Edward F. Hollinger, MD, PhD (AΩA, Rush Medical College of Rush University, 2000)

Joseph Kim, Class of 2022, Tulane University School of Medicine

Unraveling the potential role of novel microRNAs in the pathogenesis of Peyronie’s disease

Mentor: Wayne Hellstrom, MD (AΩA, Tulane University School of Medicine, 2013), Omer Raheem, MD

Councilor: Bernard M. Jaffe, MD (AΩA, New York University School of Medicine, 1963)

David Kolin, Class of 2022, Weill Cornell Medical College

Demographic and Occupational Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis: Analysis of a Prospective Cohort of over 500,000 Participants

Mentor: Olivier Elemento, PhD   

Councilor: O. Wayne Isom, MD (AΩA, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, 1965

Abigayle Kraus, Class of 2023, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine

Defining the role of endothelin-1 in hyperoxia-induced kidney damage

Mentor: Carmen De Miguel, PhD

Councilor: Silvio H. Litovsky, MD (AΩA, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, 2014)

Gene Lamanilao, Class of 2023, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine

Role of Mitochondrial Transplantation in Enhancing Liver Regeneration Following Partial Hepatectomy

Mentor: Amandeep Bajwa, PhD, James D. Eason, MD   

Councilor: Harris L. Cohen, MD (AΩA, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, 1997)

Krista Lamorie-Foote, Class of 2022, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

Toll-like Receptor-4 Mediates the Inflammatory Response to Diesel Exhaust Particulate Matter and Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion

Mentor: William J. Mack, MD (AΩA, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 2001)

Councilor: Eric P. Hsieh, MD (AΩA, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, 2009)

Jacob Lang, Class of 2023, College of Medicine and Life Sciences University of Toledo

Addressing Transplant Disparities in Underserved Populations: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Living Donor Kidney Transplantation Compared to Hemodialysis in the Eastern Caribbean

Mentor: Obi Ekwenna, MD    

Councilor: Donna Ailport Woodson, MD (AΩA, College of Medicine and Life Sciences University of Toledo, 2010)

Jennifer Lee, Class of 2023, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

A machine learning approach to optimizing dynamic individualized treatment regimes for patients with vertebral osteomyelitis and discitis (VOD)

Mentor: Brenton Pennicooke, MD, MS    

Councilor: Allyson R. Zazulia, MD (AΩA, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 1994)

Daniel Lee, Class of 2022, Morehouse School of Medicine

Impact of functional handheld ocular ERG on predicting systemic diabetic complications

Mentor: April Y. Maa, MD (AΩA, Baylor College of Medicine, 2004)

Councilor: Adesoji Oderinde, MD (AΩA, Morehouse School of Medicine, 2000)

Thomas Li, Class of 2024, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Human Langerhans cell function in systemic lupus erythematosus photosensitivity

Mentor: Theresa Lu, MD, PhD   

Councilor: Carrie L. Ernst, MD (AΩA, Weill Cornell Medical College, 2001)

Julia Ma, Class of 2023, SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine

The impact of nanoformulated chemically-modified tetracycline on the development of ARDS and subsequent AKI in a murine model of LPS-induced ALI

Mentor: Qinghe Meng, MD

Councilor: Lynn M. Cleary, MD (AΩA, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 1978)

Sarah Makhani, Class of 2022, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University

Racial Disparities in Clinical Management and Outcomes of Gunshot Wound Related Injuries in the United States

Mentor: Ruchika Goel, MD, MPH    

Councilor: Rebecca L. Toonkel, MD (AΩA, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2004)

Danielle McAuliffe, Class of 2023, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Predicting seizure trajectories using Interictal Epileptiform Discharge Patterns and Functional Connectivity to Different Propagation Zones

Mentor: Kareem Zaghloul, MD, PhD, Julio Chapeton, PhD

Councilor: Amy J. Goldberg, MD (AΩA, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1987)

Julia Metzger, Class of 2023, New York University School of Medicine

Association of fetal left ventricular size on echocardiography with outcomes in congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Mentor: Jason C. Fisher, MD (AΩA, Boston University School of Medicine, 2003), Sandra S. Tomita, MD

Councilor: Linda Tewksbury, MD (AΩA, New York University School of Medicine, 199

Abigail Meyers, Class of 2023, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Transcriptional Analysis for Predictive Biomarkers of Tissue Injury in Ex Vivo Normothermic Limb Perfusion

Mentor: Bahar Bassiri Gharb, MD, PhD

Councilor: Jonathan Fanaroff, MD, JD (AΩA, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 1998)

Matthew Miyamoto, Class of 2024, University of Maryland School of Medicine 

Uncovering the role of RTTN in impaired cardiomyocyte maturation-related cDCM

Mentor: Charles C. Hong, MD, PhD    

Councilor: Erin L. Giudice, MD (AΩA, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2006), Zaineb Hassan Makhzoumi, MD, MPH (AΩA, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2007), Donna L. Parker, MD (AΩA, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 1999)

Amelie Nkodo, Class of 2024, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Technology Enabled Primary Care During COVID-19

Mentor: Rebecca S. Etz, PhD

Councilor: Susan R. DiGiovanni, MD (AΩA, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, 1984)

Meghana Noonavath, Class of 2024, University of Washington School of Medicine

Assessment of Muscle Quality using Skeletal Muscle Gauge as a Novel Prognostic Factor in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Mentor: Sarah P. Psutka, MD, MS   

Councilor: Douglas S. Paauw, MD (AΩA, University of Michigan Medical School, 1983)

Janice Ong, Class of 2023, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Prediction of Vision-Threatening Complications in Moderate and Severe Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Mentor: Amani A. Fawzi , MD

Councilor: Shilajit D. Kundu, MD (AΩA, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 2000)

Vikram Puram, Class of 2022, University of Minnesota Medical School

A Novel Mechanism of White Blood Cell Death in Microtubule-Stabilizing Chemotherapy

Mentor: Erdem Tabdanov, PhD

Councilor: Charles Billington, MD (AΩA, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 1978)

Haya Raef, Class of 2022, Tufts University School of Medicine

Understanding the role of IFN signaling in the pathogenesis of depression and anxiety in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus using murine models

Mentor: Jillian Richmond, PhD

Councilor: Amy L. Lee, MD, (AΩA, Tufts University School of Medicine, 2002)

Samuel Short, Class of 2023, The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont

Endothelial Markers and Incident Chronic Kidney Disease

Mentor: Mary Cushman, MD, MSc, Katharine Cheung, MD, PhD 

Councilor: Marie B. Sandoval, MD (AΩA, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1995)

Benjamin Shou, Class of 2024, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Characterization of coronary atherosclerotic plaques from ultra-high-resolution computed tomography angiography and its utility in assessing coronary artery disease

Mentor: Armin A. Zadeh, MD, PhD, MPH

Councilor: Joann N. Bodurtha, MD, MPH (AΩA, Yale University School of Medicine, 1979)

Max Skibber, Class of 2024, University of Texas McGovern Medical School

Mechanotransduction of Therapeutic Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Improved Immunomodulation

Mentor: Charles S. Cox, MD (AΩA, University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine, 1992)  

Councilor: Eugene Boisaubin, MD (AΩA, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, 1970)

Phoebe Um, Class of 2022, The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Esophageal Dysfunction Post-Lung Transplantation

Mentor: Gokulakrishnan Balasubramanian, MD,  

Councilor: Sheryl Pfeil, MD (AΩA, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 1984)

YuChia (Timmy) Wang, Class of 2024, Eastern Virginia Medical School

Shoulder Arthroplasty in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Complications Stratified by Arthroplasty Type

Mentor: Brian Werner, MD

Councilor: Rebecca Britt, MD (AΩA, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 1998)

Grace Wei, Class of 2023, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine

Best Practices for Melanoma Detection in a Multi-Modal Next-Generation Access-Centered Integrated Teledermatology Community Care Network

Mentor: James M. Grichnik, MD, PhD

Councilor: Catherine M. Lynch, MD (AΩA, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 1990)

Brandon White, Class of 2022, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Prenatal CRISPR-Base editing to correct genetic lung disease

Mentor: William H. Peranteau , MD    

Councilor: Sharon A. Lewis, MD (AΩA, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 2005)

The 55 recipients of the 2020 fellowships are:

Faisal Ahmad, Class of 2023, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis 

Targeting microbial nanomachines to prevent indwelling medical device infections 

Mentor: William H. McCoy IV, MD, PhD    

Councilor: Morton E. Smith, MD (AΩA, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 1959)

Lorry E. Aitkens, Class of 2023, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University 

Effect of keratinocyte differentiation on AQP3 acetylation in human and mice keratinocytes 

Mentor: Wendy Bollag, PhD    

Councilor: Laura D. Carbone, MD, MS (AΩA, Medical College of Wisconsin, 1989)

Sarah Bhattacharjee, Class of 2022, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine 

The impact of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on musculoskeletal healing 

Mentor: Lewis Shi, MD, Jason Strelzow, MD    

Councilor: Adam Cifu, MD (AΩA, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1993)

Elias Bou Farhat, Class of 2022, American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine 

Human Monocyte Derived Microglia Like Cells (MDMi): Differential Marker Expression and Cytokine Profile in Multiple Sclerosis 

Mentor: Samia Joseph Khoury, MD (AΩA, American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine, 1984) 

Councilor: Ghazi Zaatari, MD (AΩA, American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine, 1975)

Arpan Chakraborty, Class of 2021, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine 

Investigating the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation on glioblastoma multiforme in vitro 

Mentor: Chad A. Glenn, MD (AΩA, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, 2017) 

Councilor: Annie Moreau, MD (AΩA, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, 2006)

Victor Chen, Class of 2023, The Ohio State University College of Medicine 

The Role of PRMT5 in Pathogenesis of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma 

Mentor: Robert Baiocchi, MD, PhD 

Councilor: Sheryl Pfeil, MD (AΩA, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 1984)

William Chen, Class of 2023, Saint Louis University School of Medicine 

Role of dietary iron accumulation on ketone metabolism in diabetic retinopathy 

Mentor: Jaya Gnana-Prakasam, PhD

Councilor: Chad Miller, MD (AΩA, Tulane University School of Medicine, 2007)

Emily Coker, Class of 2021, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles Dance for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a therapeutic intervention to improve motor ability, perceived physical competence, and self-efficacy 

Mentor: Rujuta Wilson, MD    

Councilor: Jessica O’Connell, MD (AΩA, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, 2000)

Katherine Cook, Class of 2021, University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine 

Clinical Outcomes and Cost of Care after Massive Blood Transfusion during hospitalization for delivery at a tertiary care hospital 

Mentor: Rovnat Babazade, MD    

Councilor: Lisa R. Farmer, MD (AΩA, University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine, 2001)

Brendan Crabb, Class of 2022, University of Utah School of Medicine 

Development of a Deep Learning Model for Motion Correction in Digital Subtraction Angiography Mentor: Frederic Noo, PhD,  Gabriel Fine, MD (AΩA, University of Washington School of Medicine, 2014) Councilor: Robert O. Hoffman, MD (AΩA, University of Utah School of Medicine, 1981)

Hannah Cutshall, Class of 2022, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine 

Transcriptomic characterization of multiple myeloma  

Mentor: Elizabeth E. Brown, PhD, MPH    

Councilor: Silvio H. Litovsky, MD (AΩA, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, 2014)

Coleman Dennis, Class of 2022, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine Socioeconomic Factors and Brachytherapy in Gynecological Cancers  

Mentor: Gary Lewis, MD    

Councilor: Molly M. Gathright, MD (AΩA, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, 2003)

Siddhant Dogra, Class of 2021, New York University School of Medicine 

Highly-Temporally-Resolved 4D MR Angiography Using Flexible Compressed Sensing and Golden-Angle Radial Sparse Parallel (GRASP) MRI Characterization of parametric and non-parametric neuroimaging features flow, perfusion, metabolism, and viability 

Mentor: Seena Dehkharghani, MD   

Councilor: Linda Tewksbury, MD (AΩA, New York University School of Medicine, 1990)

Grace Ferri, Class of 2022, Boston University School of Medicine 

Novel Cocrystallization of Apolipoprotein A-I with Butyric Acid 

Mentor: David Atkinson, PhD    

Councilor: James Holsapple, MD (AΩA, SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine, 2004)

Kayla Holston, Class of 2023, Sidney Kimmel Medical College 

Strategic Design Development for Malawian Public Health Center Labor and Delivery Suites 

Mentor: Meghan Gannon, PhD, MPH

Councilor: Clara Callahan, MD (AΩA, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, 1993)

James Hu, Class of 2023, University of California Irvine School of Medicine 

Harnessing Machine Learning to Personalize Cleft Lip Markings  

Mentor: Raj Vyas, MD (AΩA, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, 2006) 

Councilor: Ranjan Gupta, MD (AΩA, Albany Medical College, 1992)

Brian Huang, Class of 2023, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania 

Correlating Antigen Expression in Glioblastoma Organoids with response to CAR T Immunotherapy 

Mentor: Hongjun Song, PhD    

Councilor: Jon B. Morris, MD (AΩA, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 1998)

Katherine Jensen, Class of 2022, University of Texas Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine 

Association of Social Risk Factors and Frailty on Surgical Outcomes after Vascular Procedures 

Mentor: Paula Shireman, MD, MS, MBA

Councilor: Elizabeth Reed Hanson, MD (AΩA, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 2007)

Samir Kamat, Class of 2023, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 

Perspectives on Managing Hepatitis C among those Recently Released from Incarceration in New Jersey: A Qualitative Study 

Mentor: Joel Cantor, ScD   

Councilor: Carrie Ernst, MD (AΩA, Weill Cornell Medical College, 2001)

Elina Kapoor, Class of 2022, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences 

The Prevalence of Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL) in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: Is there a benefit in routine audiometric screening?  

Mentor: Ashkan Monfared, MD   

Councilor: Alan Wasserman, MD (AΩA, MCP Hahnemann (Allegheny University), 1972)

Christine Kohn, Class of 2021, University of Connecticut School of Medicine 

Characterizing Safety and Efficacy in Patients with Cancer-Associated Thromboembolism 

Mentor: Molly A. Brewer, DVM, MD, MS (AΩA, SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine, 1990) 

Councilor: Kevin D. Dieckhaus, MD (AΩA, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, 1991)

Manish Kuchakulla, Class of 2021, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine 

Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment with Nitric Oxide and CSF1R Inhibitor Combination Therapy in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Mentor: Ranjith Ramasamy, MD    

Councilor: Alex J. Mechaber, MD (AΩA, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 1998)

Maxwell Lee, Class of 2022, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine 

A Phase III, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial to Investigate the Effect of a Perioperative Analgesia Protocol on Postoperative Opioid Usage and Pain Control in Patients Undergoing Major Head and Neck Cancer Surgery Requiring Microvascular Free Flap Reconstruction 

Mentor: Jamie Ku, MD   

Councilor: Jonathan Fanaroff, MD, JD (AΩA, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 1998)

KieuYen Luu, Class of 2021, University of California Davis School of Medicine 

Anatomic Predictors of Vision Decline in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema with Good Visual Acuity  

Mentor: Glenn Yiu, MD, PhD   

Councilor: W. Suzanne Eidson-Ton, MD, MS (AΩA, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 2013)

Racheed Mani, Class of 2022, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University 

A post-surgical, second-stage laser ablation of tumor margins to treat glioblastoma multiforme (GB)  

Mentor: Charles B. Mikell, MD (AΩA, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 2009) 

Councilor: Jack Fuhrer, MD (AΩA, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, 1997)

Justin McCallen, Class of 2021, East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine 

A Novel Target to Alleviate Immunotherapy-Related Colitis 

Mentor: Li V. Yang, PhD    

Councilor: Danielle Walsh, MD (AΩA, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 1994)

Ahneesh Mohanty, Class of 2022, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School 

The DNND II Study: A 10-Year Follow-up on a Randomized Controlled Double-Blinded Prospective Study on the Effect of Lower Extremity Nerve Decompression on Pain and Neurophysiology in Patients with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Mentor: Shai Rozen, MD    

Councilor: Kevin Klein, MD (AΩA, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, 1981)

Samantha Moore, Class of 2023, Medical College of Wisconsin

Selective Modulation of Attentional Subprocesses using High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Future Applications to Chemobrain  

Mentor: Priyanka  Shah-Basak, PhD    

Councilor: Michael Lund, MD (AΩA, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 1996)

Christine Park, Class of 2022, Duke University School of Medicine 

Development of a Novel Epilepsy Therapy: Interneuron Transplantation into Human Epileptic Tissue Specimens Mentor: Derek Southwell, MD, PhD    

Councilor: Edward G. Buckley, MD (AΩA, Duke University School of Medicine, 1994)

You Jeong (Julie) Park, Class of 2023,  University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine 

T-regulatory cells confer anti-inflammation against stroke-induced white matter injury 

Mentor: Cesario Borlongan, PhD, MA    

Councilor: Catherine M. Lynch, MD (AΩA, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 1990)

Anand Patel, Class of 2022, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine 

Cervical Spine Injuries: A Prospective Study of Mandatory Swallow Testing at a Single Center 

Mentor: Dr. Suguna Pappu, MD, PhD   

Councilor: Vikram C. Prabhu, MD, MS (AΩA, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, 2009)

Manish Patel, Class of 2022, University of Illinois College of Medicine 

Wireless, Battery-Free, Fully-Implantable Thermal Sensors for Monitoring Organ Transplant Health and Immune Assessment of a Rodent Model 

Mentor: John A. Rogers, PhD, MS    

Councilor: Jessica Hanks, MD (AΩA, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 2002)

Rajan Patel, Class of 2021, Baylor College of Medicine 

Modelling glioblastoma in a novel rapidly all-inducible 3-D neural network

Mentor: Robert Krencik, PhD    

Councilor: Daniel C. Chelius, Jr., MD (AΩA, Baylor College of Medicine, 2004)

Keyan Peterson, Class of 2022, Wake Forest School of Medicine 

Creation of a translational animal model of sporadic cerebral arteriovenous malformations: A murine neurovascular-specific endothelial KRASG12D mutation model 

Mentor: Stacey Quintero Wolfe, MD (AΩA, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, 2001) 

Councilor: Michael S. Cartwright, MD, MS (AΩA, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 2002)

Elina E. Pliakos , Class of 2022, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science 

The Cost-Effectiveness of Cephazolin compared to nafcillin for the treatment of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia 

Mentor: Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD, PhD    

Councilor: Michael Zdon, MD (AΩA, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science, 1991)

Adrian Rodrigues, Class of 2023, Stanford University School of Medicine 

Studying the Anti-Tumor Effects of Microglial Depletion and Repopulation in a Murine Glioma Model  

Mentor: Melanie Hayden-Gephart, MD, MAS

Councilor: Suzann Pershing, MD, MS (AΩA, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, 2005)

Diana Rubio, Class of 2021, University of Minnesota Medical School 

Stroke in Minorities: A Retrospective Observational Study 

Mentor: Haitham Hussein, MD, MSc    

Councilor: Charles Billington, MD (AΩA, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 1978)

Michelle Santoso, Class of 2023, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine Mitochondria-Containing Extracellular Vesicles Restore Myocardial Bioenergetics 

Mentor: Phillip C.Yang, MD    

Councilor: Harris L. Cohen, MD (AΩA, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, 1997)

Kurt Schultz, Class of 2021, University of Massachusetts Medical School 

Discharge Opioid Prescribing Patterns After Colorectal Surgery at a Large Urban Safety-Net Hospital 

Mentor: Uma Phatak, MD, MS   

Councilor: Terence Flotte , MD (AΩA, Louisiana State University Health New Orleans School of Medicine, 1985)

Rohan Sehgal, Class of 2023, Drexel University College of Medicine 

Developing a Model to Devise Microbiota-Mediated Interventions for ‘Inflammaging’  

Mentor: Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD    

Councilor: Kathleen F. Ryan, MD (AΩA, MCP Hahnemann (Allegheny University), 1994

Natalie Smith, Class of 2023, University of Washington School of Medicine 

Investigating the Efficacy of Hemopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma 

Mentor: Monica Thakar, MD, Corinne Summers, MD (AΩA, Florida State University College of Medicine, 2009) Councilor: Douglas S. Paauw, MD (AΩA, University of Michigan Medical School, 1983)

Siddhartha Srivastava, Class of 2021, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine 

Use of Systemic IDO1 Inhibition in Conjunction with SRS and Local Chemotherapy for Glioblastoma 

Mentor: Michael Lim, MD (AΩA, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2019) 

Councilor: Joann N. Bodurtha, MD, MPH (AΩA, Yale University School of Medicine, 1979)

Madeleine St. Peter, Class of 2022,  University of Kansas School of Medicine 

Evaluation of MiRNA in Perilymph as a Potential Biomarker for Meniere’s Disease  

Mentor: Hinrich Staecker, MD, PhD (AΩA,  Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1991) 

Councilor: Bradley E. Barth, MD (AΩA, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 1994)

Nathan Suek, Class of 2023, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons 

Single cell analysis to dissect T cell heterogeneity in colorectal cancer 

Mentor: Arnold Han, MD, PhD    

Councilor: Timothy C. Wang, MD (AΩA, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1983)

Harun Sugito, Class of 2022, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College 

Creating an Anatomically Accurate 3D Model of the Middle Ear Using Micro-CT Imaging and Soft Tissue Staining of the Temporal Bone 

Mentor: James E. Saunders, MD, MS     

Councilor: Nancy J. McNulty, MD (AΩA, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, 1994)

Aron Sulovari, Class of 2023, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry 

Clinical Utilization of Species-Specific Immunoassay for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae in Orthopaedic Infection 

Mentor: Irvin Oh, MD    

Councilor: Jane Liesveld, MD (AΩA, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 1979)

 Bryan Szeglin, Class of 2021, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center 

The utility of circulating tumor DNA and 3D tumoroid models of rectal cancer to prospectively investigate in vivo and ex vivo responses to chemotherapy and radiation. 

Mentor: J. Joshua Smith, MD, PhD (AΩA, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2013)  

Councilor: Ellie  Schoenbaum, MD (AΩA, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1979)

Nicholas Tan, Class of 2023, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University 

Association between Corneal Hysteresis and Vision Loss in a Glaucomatous Hispanic Population following Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Surgery 

Mentor: Nathan M. Radcliffe, MD (AΩA, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 2003) 

Councilor: Michael H. Augenbraun, MD (AΩA, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, 2009)

Ryan Thibodeau, Class of 2021, SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine 

Retrospective Review of Cerebrovascular Changes in Individuals Treated with Cranial Irradiation 

Mentor: Seung Hahn, MD    

Councilor: Lynn Cleary, MD (AΩA, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 1978)

Melissa Thomas, Class of 2023, Albany Medical College 

Sex Differences in Liver Pathology in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease 

Mentor: Kristen Zuloaga, PhD    

Councilor: Alan Boulos, MD (AΩA, Albany Medical College, 1993)

Thomas Vazquez, Class of 2021, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University Delays in the Approval of Biologic Medications by Insurance Companies for Patients of Low Socioeconomic Status with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis 

Mentor: Andrea D. Maderal, MD (AΩA, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 2011) 

Councilor: Rebecca L. Toonkel, MD (AΩA, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2004)

Yamini Vyas, Class of 2023, University of Maryland School of Medicine 

MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS)-enabled detection and measurement of circulating tumor DNA in brain tumor patients 

Mentor: Graeme Woodworth, MD,  Jeffery Winkles, PhD    

Councilor: Donna L. Parker, MD (AΩA, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 1999)

Connor J. Wakefield, Class of 2021, Rush Medical College of Rush University 

Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of Acute Kidney Injury in Newly Admitted Septic Patients 

Mentor: Robert A. Balk, MD (AΩA, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, 1993) 

Councilor: Laurie A. Proia, MD (AΩA, Rush Medical College of Rush University, 1994

Yue Zhang, Class of 2023, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine 

Mechanisms of primary and acquired resistance in Merkel cell carcinoma  

Mentor: Jaehyuk  Choi, MD, PhD (AΩA, Yale University School of Medicine, 2006) 

Councilor: Shilajit Kundu, MP (AΩA, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 2000)

In 1982, the board of directors of Alpha Omega Alpha established five student research fellowship awards to encourage and support student research. Since then, the awards have grown in number to more than fifty each year. The fellowship emphasizes a student-designed and ¬-intiated project with an academic mentor. Recipients of the fellowship tell us that the awards have helped them to learn about the joys of scientific and scholarly discovery, and increase their critical understanding of scholarship and research in health care and science. Many recipients of the fellowship have followed up their work as student- researchers to become physician- scientists. The student receives a $5000 award, with $1000 available for travel to a national meeting to present the research results. In 2004, the name of the fellowship program was changed to the Alpha Omega Alpha Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship awards in honor of Carolyn L. Kuckein, AΩA’s longtime administrator, who died in January 2004.

Evaluations of the fellowship proposals were made by the following reviewers: Ralph Amato, MD; Arun Antony, MD; Carola Arndt, MD; Robert Atnip, MD; Deanna Attai, MD; Jeremiah Barondess, MD; David Bennahum, MD; John Benson, MD; Nathan Beucke, MD; Syamal Bhattacharya, PhD, CLD; Jeremy Bolin, MD; Richard Bronson, MD; John Brust, MD; Paul Bunn, MD; Richard Byyny, MD; Dick Byyny, MD, FACP; Stephen Chan, MD; James Chandler, MD, MS; Scott Christensen, MD; Sean Christensen, MD; Keith Churchwell, MD; Mark Clapper, MD; Harry Clarke, MD; Lynn Cleary, MD; Alison Conlin, MD; Paul Contorer, MD; Jack Coulehan, MD; Gregory Davis, MD; Ivor Douglas, MD; Joseph Espat, MD, MS, FACS; Lawrence Faltz, MD; Jonathan Fish, MD; Brooke French, MD; Jack Friedland, MD, FACS; Paul Gaglio, MD; James Gamble, MD; Michael Gerber, MD; Mohammad Gol, MD; Francisco Gonzalez-Scarano, MD; Richard Gunderman, MD, PhD; Ranjan Gupta, MD; Suzanne Harrison, MD; David Hellmann, MD; Eve Higginbotham, SM, MD; Van Hubbard, MD, PhD; Bruce Hudkins, MD; Melissa Hudson, MD; Trent Hummel, MD; Holly Humphrey, MD, MACP; Pascal Imperato, MD, MPH&TM, MACP; Shahram Izadyar, MD; Donald Kamerer, MD; Stephen Kates, MD; Mark Kinzie, MD, PhD; Heidi Kirsch, MD; Susan Lane, MD; Sharon Langendoerfer, MD; Renato LaRocca, MD; Michael Levy, MD; Carlin Long, MD; Kenneth Ludmerer, MD; Michele Manahan, MD; Daniel Matlock, MD; Terre McGlothin, MD; Mark Mendelsohn, MD; Fassil Mesfin, MD; Carl Nechtman, MD; Mark Nehler, MD; Gary Nishioka, MD; Doug Paauw, MD, MACP; Suzann Pershing, MD; Sheryl Pfeil, MD; James Plumb, MD; Susan Rakfal, MD; Steven Ringel, MD; William Robinson, MD; Alan Robinson, MD; Bill Robinson, MD; Giovanni Romeo, MD; Paul Rozance, MD; Kathleen Ryan, MD; Shashikumar Salgar, MD; Michael Samuels, MD; Oliver Sartor, MD; Mya Schiess, MD; Harvey Schipper, MD; Anil Seetharam, MD; Lawrence Shuer, MD; Gary Simonds, MD; Mark Smith, MD; Eric Snyder, MD; Wiley Souba, MD, DSc, MBA; Joe Stubbs, MD, FACP; Jolyn Taylor, MD; Alan Thong, MD; John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP; Andrew Tsung, MD; Evan Unger, MD; John Ward, MD; Alan Wasserman, MD; Edwin Watkins, MD; Gene Wolfel, MD; and Mary Zupanc, MD.

The fifty recipients of the 2019 fellowships are:

Nyle Almeida
Class of 2022, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Synaptogenic Glioma Cell Enrichment in High Connectivity Regions of Adult Glioma
Mentor: Shawn L. Hervey-Jumper, MD (AΩA, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 2006)
Councilor: Lisa M. Landrum, MD, PhD (AΩA, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, 2002)

Scott Anjewierden
Class of 2021, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Ultrasound Spectral Parameter Analysis for the Assessment of Myocardial Tissue Viability
Mentor: Russell J. Fedewa, PhD
Councilor: Jonathan Fanaroff, MD, JD (AΩA, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 1998)

Rahul Annabathula
Class of 2020, University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Evaluating the Value of a Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) and Catheter-Directed Thrombolytic (CDT) Therapy for Acute Submassive and Massive PE: Clinical Outcomes and Cost
Mentors: Susan Smyth, MD, PhD; Vedant Gupta, MD
Councilor: Christopher G. Pelic, MD (AΩA, University of Toledo, 2000)

Brian Ayers
Class of 2020, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Novel Machine Learning Algorithm to Predict Survival After Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
Mentor: Daniel Chow, MD
Councilor: Jane L. Liesveld, MD (AΩA, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 1979)

Michelle Bardis
Class of 2021, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
Prostate Cancer Detection, Quantification, and Characterization with Artificial Intelligence
Mentor: Michele Marcolongo, PhD, PE
Councilor: Ranjan Gupta, MD (AΩA, Albany Medical College, 1992)

Shiv Bhandari
Class of 2020, University of Washington School of Medicine
ECG features that Predict Return of Spontaneous Circulation during Cardiac Resuscitation in Patients Undergoing Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
Mentor: Thomas D. Rea, MD, MPH (AΩA, University of Michigan Medical School, 1992)
Councilor: Douglas S. Paauw, MD (AΩA, University of Michigan Medical School, 1983)

Theodora Bruun
Class of 2022, Stanford University School of Medicine
Engineering the HIV-1 gp41 Pocket to Increase Rigidity and Enable Small-Molecule Drug Discovery
Mentor: Peter S. Kim, PhD
Councilor: Suzann Pershing, MD, MS (AΩA, Medical University of South Carolina, 2005)

Lindsey Burleson
Class of 2021, East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine
The Impact of High Fat Diet in Female Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Mentor: Johanna Hannan, PhD
Councilor: Danielle S. Walsh, MD (AΩA, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 1994)

Dylan Dean
Class of 2021, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles
Aberrant DDR1 Expression Within Liposarcoma and the Therapeutic Potential of its Selective Inhibition With 7RH
Mentor: Zhenfeng Duan, MD, PhD
Councilor: Jessica O’Connell, MD (AΩA, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, 2000)

Alexis del Vecchio
Class of 2020, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Facilitate: A Novel Theater-Based Approach to Improve the Communication Skills of Healthcare Professionals
Mentor: Phillip Moschella, MD, PhD
Councilor: Robert L. Gates, MD (AΩA, Marshall University School of Medicine, 2000)

Christopher Flud
Class of 2020, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine
Real-time Volume Status in the Volume-Volatile Patient: New Technology to Bridge the Gap Between Paracentesis and Fluid Resuscitation
Mentor: Kevin W. Sexton, MD (AΩA, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 2006)
Councilor: Molly M. Gathright, MD (AΩA, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine, 2003)

Kathryn Fowler
Class of 2021, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
The Intestinal Extracellular Microenvironment and Hirschsprung’s Disease: A Novel Rose for Laminin-B1 Supplementation in the Rescue of Aganglionosis
Mentor: Ankush Gosain, MD, PhD
Councilor: Susan C. Brewer, MD (AΩA, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 1990)

Jennifer Good
Class of 2022, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
Viral Infection of the Skin as a Mechanism of Ebola Transmission
Mentor: Kelly Messingham, PhD
Councilor: Christopher S. Cooper, MD (AΩA, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 1990)

Sricharan Gopakumar
Class of 2021, Baylor College of Medicine
Biocompatible Scaffold-based Delivery of Therapeutic Stem Cells Following Surgical Resection for the Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme in a Murine Model
Mentor: Frederick F. Lang, MD (AΩA, Yale University School of Medicine, 1988)
Councilor: Daniel C. Chelius, MD (AΩA, Baylor College of Medicine, 2004)

Caleb Gulledge
Class of 2021, Wayne State University School of Medicine
Longitudinal Analysis of the Healing Human Patellar Tendon Following ACL Reconstruction: A Shear Wave Elastography Study
Mentor: Michael J. Bey, PhD
Councilor: Michael T. White, MD (AΩA, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 1990)

Alexandra Hernandez
Class of 2020, Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
The Effect of Race, Ethnicity and Occupation on Multimorbidity and Chronic Disease Patterns Among Middle-aged and Older Americans
Mentor: Ana R. Quinones, PhD
Councilor: J. Mark Kinzie, MD, PhD (AΩA, Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, 1999)

Kellen Hirsch
Class of 2020, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Postnatal Stabilization of Hypoxia Inducible Factor with Daprodustat Improves Lung Structure and Function and Prevents Pulmonary Hypertension in an Antenatal Model of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Mentor: Steven Abman, MD
Councilor: James M. Beck, MD (AΩA, Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 1983)

Andrew Homere
Class of 2021, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
Role of Endocannabinoid System in Fructose-induced Fatty Liver Disease
Mentor: Joyce Richey, PhD
Councilor: Eric P. Hsieh, MD (AΩA, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, 2009)

Itisha Jefferson
Class of 2021, Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine
Preferentially Expressed Antigen in Melanoma (PRAME) Antibody as Cost-effective Screening Tool in Ambiguous Melanocytic Lesions
Mentor: Jodi J. Speiser, MD (AΩA, Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, 2018)
Councilor: Vikram C. Prabhu, MD, MS (AΩA, Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, 2009)

Jacquelyn Kemmer
Class of 2020, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
The Immune Impact of Targeted Inhibition of STAT3 in HNSCC-bearing Immunocompetent Murine Models (Head & Neck Cancer)
Mentor: Jennifer R. Grandis, MD (AΩA, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 1987)
Councilor: Elizabeth Harleman, MD (AΩA, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, 2013)

Kevin Kim
Class of 2022, University of Maryland School of Medicine
A Direct Comparison of Physical and Drug-Induced Hypothermia as Therapeutic Treatments in a Rat Model of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
Mentor: J. Marc Simard, MD, PhD
Councilor: Donna L. Parker, MD (AΩA, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 1999)

Dongyeon (Joanna) Kim
Class of 2022, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
Investigation of Potential Therapeutic Effects of Abat Inhibition in Osteoarthritis in Dnmt3b Knockout Mice
Mentor: Regis J. O’Keefe, MD, PhD (AΩA, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, 2019)
Councilor: Morton E. Smith, MD (AΩA, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 1959)

Kevin Lau
Class of 2022, Albany Medical College
Role of Endothelial Transcription Factors in Uveitis
Mentor: Alejandro Adam, PhD
Councilor: Neil Lempert, MD (AΩA, Albany Medical College, 1978)

Randy Lesh
Class of 2022, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Developing Biomarkers of Therapeutic Response in Rectal Carcinoma
Mentors: Sanjeevani Arora, PhD; Joshua E Meyer, MD
Councilor: Margrit M. Shoemaker, MD (AΩA, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 1983)

Jennifer Li
Class of 2021, University of Kansas School of Medicine
Affordable Rapid Olfaction Measurement Array for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Neurocognitive Disease
Mentor: Jennifer Villwock, MD (AΩA, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, 2011)
Councilor: Bradley E. Barth, MD (AΩA, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 1994)

Tristan Lim
Class of 2022, Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
The Role of Germline Mutations in POT1 Gene in Myeloid Neoplasms
Mentor: Daria Babushok, MD, PhD (AΩA, Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 2008)
Councilor: Jon B. Morris, MD (AΩA, Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 1998)

Jeremy Lynn
Class of 2022, University of Michigan
The Role of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Irradiated Bone Healing: A Translatable Processing Technique Defined
Mentors: Steven R. Buchman, MD; Kavitha Ranganathan, MD (AΩA, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 2011)
Councilor: Sanjay Saint, MD, MPH (AΩA, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, 1992)

Gabriel Makar
Class of 2020, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Clinical Characteristics and Genetic Profiles of Patients with Mullerian Anomalies
Mentor: Saifuddin T. Mama, MD, MPH (AΩA, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 2013)
Councilor: Michael E. Chansky, MD (AΩA, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 1980)

Caya McFalls
Class of 2022, Drexel University College of Medicine
The Role of IL-11 in the Induction of Collagen Deposition in Scleroderma and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Mentor: Carol Artlett, PhD
Councilor: Kathleen F. Ryan, MD (AΩA, MCP Drexel University College of Medicine, 1994)

Matthew McIntyre
Class of 2020, New York Medical College
The Impact of Multi-system Abnormalities on Injury Outcomes in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Alcohol Intoxication
Mentor: Rifat Latifi, MD
Councilor: William Frishman, MD (AΩA, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, 1978)

Sina Mehraban Far
Class of 2021, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Efficacy of Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) in The Treatment of Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD)
Mentor: Jason M. Kim, MD (AΩA, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, 2009)
Councilor: Jack Fuhrer, MD (AΩA, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, 1997)

Matthew Miller
Class of 2022, Boston University School of Medicine
Development of a Deep Learning Model for the Identification of Complicated Acute Appendicitis: An Artificial Intelligence Approach to Surgical Management
Mentor: Vijaya B. Kolachalama, PhD
Councilor: David McAneny, MD (AΩA, Boston University School of Medicine, 2008)

Sarah Miller
Class of 2021, University of Mississippi School of Medicine
Prospective Comparison of Color-enhanced Detection Bone Density Screening Method and Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry
Mentor: Candace Howard-Claudio, MD, PhD
Councilor: Scott Rodgers, MD (AΩA, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 1994)

Emily Myers
Class of 2021, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Identifying Genetic Drivers of Uterine Serous Carcinoma Patient Prognosis
Mentor: Jin-Xiong She, PhD
Councilor: Laura D. Carbone, MD, MS (AΩA, Medical College of Wisconsin, 1989)

Linh Ngo Khanh
Class of 2020, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Modulation of Tissue Fibrosis by Gut Microbe-Derived Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) From Dietary Choline in Systemic Sclerosis
Mentor: Karen J. Ho, MD (AΩA, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 2019)
Councilor: Shilajit D. Kundu, MD (AΩA, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, 2000)

James Nguyen
Class of 2021, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
Characterizing the Visual Pathway in Epilepsy
Mentor: Vinita Acharya, MD
Councilor: Ian R. Schreibman, MD (AΩA, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 2008)

Kristen Pan
Class of 2020, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Genetic Analyses of Malignant Transformation of Fibrous Dysplasia
Mentors: Alison M. Boyce, MD (AΩA, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 2006), Michael T. Collins, MD
Councilor: David L. Steward, MD (AΩA, University of Cincinnati, 2017)

Tina Seidu
Class of 2021, Howard University College of Medicine
Mechanisms By Which Androgens and Androgen Receptor Regulate De Novo Lipogenesis in Female Mice
Mentor: Stanley Andrisse, MBA, PhD
Councilor: Debra H. Ford, MD, (AΩA, Howard University College of Medicine, 1985)

Anne Sescleifer
Class of 2020, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Innovative Cleft Speech Assessment with Online Crowdsourcing
Mentor: Alexander Y. Lin, MD (AΩA, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2002)
Councilor: Matthew A. Broom, MD (AΩA, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 2015)

Christian Shigley
Class of 2022, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Investigating SHP2 Regulation of the Multipotency of Cathepsin K+ Osteochondral Progenitors
Mentor: Wentian Yang, MD, PhD
Councilor: Rachel L. Fowler, MD, MPH (AΩA, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, 2004)

Andrew Sobczak
Class of 2022, Medical College of Wisconsin
Consequence of VDAC Modulation on Cardiac Mitochondrial Respiration
Mentor: Wai-Meng Kwok, PhD
Councilor: Michael Lund, MD (AΩA, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 1996)

Ellen Spartz
Class of 2021, University of Minnesota Medical School
Mechanisms of Engineered T Cell Migration and Accumulation in Pancreatic Cancer
Mentor: Ingunn Stromnes, PhD
Councilor: Charles Billington, MD (AΩA, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 1978)

James Sun
Class of 2022, New York University School of Medicine
Targeting a Novel Cell Surface Receptor Critical for Glioblastoma Progression
Mentor: Dimitris G. Placantonakis, MD, PhD (AΩA, New York University School of Medicine, 2003)
Councilor: Linda Tewksbury, MD (AΩA, New York University School of Medicine, 1990)

Meyha Swaroop
Class of 2021, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Radial Versus Femoral Secondary Access in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (R-TAVI): A Randomized Pilot Study
Mentor: Rahul Sharma, MD
Councilor: Gary Simonds, MD (AΩA, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 1983)

Samuel Taylor
Class of 2020, Weill Cornell Medical College
Characterizing the Effects of Fructose on Colorectal Cancer Growth and Metabolism
Mentor: Lewis C. Cantley, PhD
Councilor: O. Wayne Isom, MD (AΩA, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 1965)

Jessica Terrell
Class of 2020, University of California Davis School of Medicine
Melanoma in Pregnancy – A Population-Based Evaluation and a Pilot Study Profiling the Immune Microenvironment
Mentor: Maija Kiuru, MD, PhD
Councilor: W. Suzanne Eidson-Ton, MD, MS (AΩA, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 2013)

Elise Timtim
Class of 2020, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Long-term Ocular and Systemic Complications Following Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity Using Medicaid Claims Database
Mentor: Sarah Hilkert Rodriguez, MD, MPH (AΩA, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 2011)
Councilor: Adam Cifu, MD (AΩA, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1993)

Ogul Ersin Uner
Class of 2021, Emory University School of Medicine
Comparative Proteomic and Genomic Characterization of Exosomes from Human Metastatic Uveal Melanoma Against Normal Human Choroidal Melanocytes
Mentor: Hans Grossniklaus, MD, MBA; Mohammad K. Khan, MD, PhD
Councilor: Thomas C. Pearson, MD, DPhil (AΩA, Emory University School of Medicine, 2004)

Catherina Yang
Class of 2020, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/ Montefiore Medical Center
Nitric Oxide-releasing Nanoparticle in Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Mentor: Waleed M. Abuzeid, MD
Councilor: Ellie Schoenbaum, MD (AΩA, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1979)

Saif Zaman
Class of 2021, University of South Florida College of Medicine
Mutant Extracellular Matrix Peptides at Protease Cleavage Sites and the Potential Implications for Responses to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Cancer Therapy
Mentor: George Blanck, PhD
Councilor: Catherine M. Lynch, MD (AΩA, University of South Florida, 1990)

In 1982, the board of directors of Alpha Omega Alpha established five student research fellowship awards to encourage and support student research. Since then, the awards have grown in number to more than fifty each year. The fellowship emphasizes a student-designed and ¬-intiated project with an academic mentor. Recipients of the fellowship tell us that the awards have helped them to learn about the joys of scientific and scholarly discovery, and increase their critical understanding of scholarship and research in health care and science. Many recipients of the fellowship have followed up their work as student- researchers to become physician- scientists. The student receives a $5000 award, with $1000 available for travel to a national meeting to present the research results. In 2004, the name of the fellowship program was changed to the Alpha Omega Alpha Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship awards in honor of Carolyn L. Kuckein, AΩA’s longtime administrator, who died in January 2004.

Evaluations of the fellowship proposals were made by the following reviewers: Ralph Amato, MD; Arun Antony, MD; Carola Arndt, MD; Robert Atnip, MD; Deanna Attai, MD; Jeremiah Barondess, MD; David Bennahum, MD; John Benson, MD; Nathan Beucke, MD; Syamal Bhattacharya, PhD, CLD; Jeremy Bolin, MD; Richard Bronson, MD; John Brust, MD; Paul Bunn, MD; Richard Byyny, MD; Dick Byyny, MD, FACP; Stephen Chan, MD; James Chandler, MD, MS; Scott Christensen, MD; Sean Christensen, MD; Keith Churchwell, MD; Mark Clapper, MD; Harry Clarke, MD; Lynn Cleary, MD; Alison Conlin, MD; Paul Contorer, MD; Jack Coulehan, MD; Gregory Davis, MD; Ivor Douglas, MD; Joseph Espat, MD, MS, FACS; Lawrence Faltz, MD; Jonathan Fish, MD; Brooke French, MD; Jack Friedland, MD, FACS; Paul Gaglio, MD; James Gamble, MD; Michael Gerber, MD; Mohammad Gol, MD; Francisco Gonzalez-Scarano, MD; Richard Gunderman, MD, PhD; Ranjan Gupta, MD; Suzanne Harrison, MD; David Hellmann, MD; Eve Higginbotham, SM, MD; Van Hubbard, MD, PhD; Bruce Hudkins, MD; Melissa Hudson, MD; Trent Hummel, MD; Holly Humphrey, MD, MACP; Pascal Imperato, MD, MPH&TM, MACP; Shahram Izadyar, MD; Donald Kamerer, MD; Stephen Kates, MD; Mark Kinzie, MD, PhD; Heidi Kirsch, MD; Susan Lane, MD; Sharon Langendoerfer, MD; Renato LaRocca, MD; Michael Levy, MD; Carlin Long, MD; Kenneth Ludmerer, MD; Michele Manahan, MD; Daniel Matlock, MD; Terre McGlothin, MD; Mark Mendelsohn, MD; Fassil Mesfin, MD; Carl Nechtman, MD; Mark Nehler, MD; Gary Nishioka, MD; Doug Paauw, MD, MACP; Suzann Pershing, MD; Sheryl Pfeil, MD; James Plumb, MD; Susan Rakfal, MD; Steven Ringel, MD; William Robinson, MD; Alan Robinson, MD; Bill Robinson, MD; Giovanni Romeo, MD; Paul Rozance, MD; Kathleen Ryan, MD; Shashikumar Salgar, MD; Michael Samuels, MD; Oliver Sartor, MD; Mya Schiess, MD; Harvey Schipper, MD; Anil Seetharam, MD; Lawrence Shuer, MD; Gary Simonds, MD; Mark Smith, MD; Eric Snyder, MD; Wiley Souba, MD, DSc, MBA; Joe Stubbs, MD, FACP; Jolyn Taylor, MD; Alan Thong, MD; John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP; Andrew Tsung, MD; Evan Unger, MD; John Ward, MD; Alan Wasserman, MD; Edwin Watkins, MD; Gene Wolfel, MD; and Mary Zupanc, MD.

The sixty-nine recipients of the 2018 fellowships are:

Zachary Abecassis
Class of 2020, Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine
Dissecting GPe neurons from the Dbx1 lineage: their effect on behavior and the pallidothalamic pathway
Mentor: C. Savio Chan, PhD
Councilor: Shilajit Kundu, MD (AΩA, University of Illinois, 2000)

Jacob Adney
Class of 2020, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Smoking-induced changes in myocardial pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF): Implications for cardiovascular disease
Mentor: Jane McHowat, PhD
Councilor Matthew Broom, MD (AΩA, Saint Louis University, 2015)

D. Patterson Allen
Class of 2021, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
The Impact of aCT1 nebulization on ischemia reperfusion injury in brain death donor lung transplantation
Mentor: Satish Nadig, MD, PhD (AΩA, Medical University of South Carolina, 2014)
Councilor: Christopher G. Pelic, MD (AΩA, University of Toledo, 2000)

Neil Almeida
Class of 2021, George Washington University School of Medicine
Development of mass cytometry probes to evaluate function & phenotype of T-cells reacting to a multi-epitope vaccine in glioma patients
Mentor: Hideho Okada, MD, PhD
Councilor: Alan G. Wasserman, MD (AΩA, MCP Hahnemann, 1972)

Aria Attia
Class of 2020, Drexel University College of Medicine
Osteogenic potential of MC3T3 E1 cells on mineralized nanofiber shish
Mentor: Michele Marcolongo, PhD, PE
Councilor: Kathleen Ryan, MD (AΩA, MCP Hahnemann, 1994)

Joseph Azar
Class of 2021, American University of Beirut School of Medicine
Identification of Salt Inducible Kinase 1 (SIK1)’s role in modulating human trophoblast differentiation using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockdown
Mentor: Georges Daoud, PhD
Councilor: Ibrahim S. Salti, MD, PhD (AΩA, American University of Beirut, 1962)

Pegah Bakhshi
Class of 2021, Georgetown University School of Medicine
Impact of HBO2 treatments on esutachian tube function
Mentor: H. Jeffrey Kim, MD (AΩA, University of Cincinnati, 1990)
Councilor: Sean A. Whelton, MD (AΩA, Georgetown University, 2014)

Tabitha Banks
Class of 2022, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
The Effects of the Notch Ligand Jag1 on Vascular Reactivity and Homeostasis
Mentor: Brenda Lilly, PhD
Councilor: Sheryl Pfeil, MD (AΩA, The Ohio State University, 1984)

Ryan Bender
Class of 2021, State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine
Toward a Vascular Flap: Cellular Multi-Culture for Generation of Perfusion-Viable Tissue-Engineered Networks within a Hydrogel Scaffold
Mentor: Jason Spector, MD (AΩA, New York University, 1996)
Councilor: Michael H. Augenbraun, MD (AΩA, State University of New York Downstate, 2009)

Adip Bhargav
Class of 2020, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine
Tandem use of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological monitoring in glioma resection
Mentor: Ian F. Parney, MD, PhD (AΩA, University of Alberta, 1997)
Councilor: Carola Arndt, MD (AΩA, Boston University School of Medicine, 1978)

Justin Chan
Class of 2020, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
A Temporal Profile of Human Motor Endplate Degradation after Brachial Plexus Injury
Mentor: Oswald Steward, PhD
Councilor: Ranjan Gupta, MD (AΩA, Albany Medical College, 1992)

Thinh Chau
Class of 2019, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine
Clinicopathologic spectrum and immunophenotype of dermal hypersensitivity reaction
Mentor: Maxwell Fung, MD (AΩA, University of California, Davis, 2005)
Councilor: Wetona Eidson-Ton, MD (AΩA, University of California, Davis, 2013)

Melissa Chua
Class of 2019,cBoston University School of Medicine
Combining oncolytic virotherapy and immunotherapy for the treatment of glioblastoma
Mentor: Khalid Shah, MS, PhD
Councilor: David McAneny, MD (AΩA, Boston University School of Medicine, 2008)

Leah Cohen
Class of 2019, Florida International University
Detection of somatic cancer associated mutations in tampons of women with germline BRCA1 mutations
Mentor: Jeff Boyd, MS, PhD
Councilor: Rebecca L. Toonkel, MD (AΩA, Johns Hopkins University, 2004)

Samuel Daly
Class of 2020, University of Minnesota Medical School
Detection of epileptogenic foci with combined transfer entropy and granger causality calculations of interictal electrocorticography recordings
Mentor: Michael C. Park, MD, PhD
Councilor: Charles Billington, MD (AΩA, University of Kansas, 1978)

Joshua Diamond
Class of 2019, University of Virginia School of Medicine
Phase shift over subdural leads for localization of the epileptic source
Mentor: Kareem Zaghloul, MD, PhD
Councilor: Amber Inofuentes, MD (AΩA, University of Virginia, 2009)

Natasha Edman
Class of 2021, University of Washington School of Medicine
Building a nanoparticle to generate broadly neutralizing antibodies against multiple influenza strains
Mentor: David Baker, PhD
Councilor: Douglas S. Paauw, MD (AΩA, University of Michigan, 1983)

Andrew Gabrielson
Class of 2019, Tulane University School of Medicine
Characterizing the inflammatory microenvironment of the prostate in hypogonadal men
Mentor: Wayne J.G. Hellstrom, MD (AΩA, Tulane University, 2013)
Councilor: Bernard M. Jaffe, MD (AΩA, New York University, 1963)

Cassandra Gross
Class of 2021, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine at Hofstra University
Clinical-pathological correlations between poor mobility and neuropathological burden in the brainstem
Mentor: Veronique VanderHorst, MD, PhD
Councilor: Jose Prince, MD (AΩA, Yale University, 2000)

Leo Hall
Class of 2020, Wayne State University School of Medicine
Alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine recrptor-expressing bipolar cells play a role in motion detection
Mentor: Tomomi Ichinose, MD, PhD
Councilor: Michael T. White, MD (AΩA, Wayne State University, 1990)

Benjamin Hamel
Class of 2021, Medical College of Wisconsin
Verbal memory as outcome predictor in adults with cochlear implants
Mentor: Michael S. Harris, MD
Councilor: Michael R. Lund, MD (AΩA, University of Iowa, 1996)

Sakibul Huq
Class of 2020, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Use of the FDA-approved anti-viral drug ribavirin as targeted therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Mentor: Henry Brem, MD (AΩA, Johns Hopkins, 2010)
Councilor: Charles W. Flexner, MD (AΩA, Johns Hopkins, 1982)

Diana Jeang
Class of 2020, Emory University School of Medicine
The impact of traditional health practitioners on HIV viral load monitoring in KwaZulu-Natal
Mentor: Vincent C. Marconi, MD
Councilor: Thomas C. Pearson, MD, DPhil (AΩA, Emory University, 2004)

Amit Jethanandani
Class of 2019, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Predicting radiation-attributable changes in the temporomandibular joints of nasopharyngeal cancer patients
Mentor: Clifton D. Fuller, MD, PhD
Councilor: Susan C. Brewer, MD (AΩA, University of Tennessee, 1990)

J. Dixon Johns
Class of 2020, University of Alabama School of Medicine
Novel mucolytc disruption of an alginate biofilm infection model of CF respiratory disease
Mentor: Steven M. Rowe, MD, MSPH (AΩA, University of Alabama, 2017)
Councilor, Silvio H. Litovsky, MD (AΩA, University of Alabama, 2014)

Jaret Karnuta
Class of 2021, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
The role of MEIS1 and intragenic enhancer elements in the development of osteosarcoma metastasis
Mentor: Peter Scacheri, PhD
Councilor: Jonathan M. Fanaroff, MD, JD (AΩA, Case Western Reserve, 1998)

Gurleen Kaur
Class of 2021, Albany Medical College
Genetic modification of GREM1 to improve the efficacy of cardiac stem/progenitor cell therapy
Mentor: Chuanxi Cai, PhD
Councilor: Neil Lempert, MD (AΩA, Albany Medical College, 1978)

Rohan Khazanchi
Class of 2021, University of Nebraska College of Medicine
Diagnostic utility and timing of routine head ultrasound screening in preterm infants
Mentor: Eric Peeples, MD
Councilor: Jason Shiffermiller, MD (AΩA, University of Nebraska, 1998)

Connor Kinslow
Class of 2019, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Targeting IDH1-Mutant Gliomas with Radiation Therapy and Glutamine Blockade
Mentors: Simon Cheng, MD, PhD and Peter Canoll, MD, PhD
Councilor: Timothy C. Wang, MD (AΩA, Columbia University, 1983)

Nikolai Klebanov
Class of 2019, Tufts University School of Medicine
Early B-cell factor (EBF3) is a novel tumor suppressor gene in cutaneous melanoma
Mentor: Hensin Tsao, MD, PhD (AΩA, Columbia University, 1993)
Councilor: Amy L. Lee, MD (AΩA, Tufts University, 2002)

Joshua Kogan
Class of 2021, Stony Brook University School of Medicine
Effect of sucrose exposure on sucrose perception and neural processing in mouse gustatory cortex
Mentor: Alfredo Fontanini, MD, PhD
Councilor: Jack Fuhrer, MD (AΩA, Stony Brook University, 1997)

Jin (Vivian) Lee
Class of 2021, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
Role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans in cerebral amyloid angiopathy pathogenesis
Mentor: Gregory Zipfel, MD (AΩA, Northwestern University, 1994)
Councilor, Morton E. Smith, MDc(AΩA, University of Maryland, 1959)

Lawrence Lin
Class of 2019, University of Texas McGovern Medical School
Validation and characterization of spectral domain optical coherence tomography as a non-invasive indicator of intracranial pressure in craniosynostosis
Mentor: Jordan Swanson, MD, MSc
Councilor: Eugene Boisaubin, MD (AΩA, University of Missouri, 1970)

Weijie Violet Lin
Class of 2019, Baylor College of Medicine
Longitudinal analysis of teleretinal imaging: applying machine learning to identify predictive factors for retinopathy and treatment response
Mentor: Christina Weng, MD, MBA (AΩA, University of Michigan, 2008)
Councilor: Daniel Chelius, MD (AΩA, Baylor College of Medicine, 2004)

Pashayar Lookian
Class of 2021, Creighton University School of Medicine
Gender bias in DDX3X modulation of non-melanoma squamous cell carcinoma
Mentor: Holly Stessman, PhD and Laura Hansen, PhD
Councilor: Lee Morrow, MD (AΩA, Creighton University, 2009)

Daniel Mai
Class of 2021, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Characterization of ETS in shear stress-mediated gene expression and recruitment of chromatin remodeling factors
Mentor: Marlene Rabinovitch, MD
Councilor: Leonard Weireter, MD (AΩA, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 2002)

Matthew McMilian
Class of 2020, University of Michigan Medical School
Targeting DNA repair pathways in homologous recombination-deficient pancreatic cancers
Mentor: Meredith Morgan, PhD
Councilor: Sanjay Saint, MD, MPH (AΩA, University of California, Los Angeles, 1992)

Michael Murphy
Class of 2019, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Patient compliance of weight bearing status-prospective observational study
Mentor: William D. Lack, MD
Councilor: Vikram C. Prabhu, MD (AΩA, Loyola University, 2009)

Arati Patel
Class of 2019, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
Experimental chronic cerebral hypoperfusion results in increased blood-brain barrier permeability
Mentor: William J. Mack, MD, MS (AΩA, Columbia University, 2001)
Councilor: Eric P. Hsieh, MD (AΩA, Keck School of Medicine of USC, 2009)

Joseph Perosky
Class of 2020, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Electronic recording and centralization of verbal autopsies for maternal and newborn deaths in Liberia via speech-to-text and geo-spacial mapping
Mentor: Jody R. Lori, PhD, MS
Councilor: Gary Ferenchick, MD (AΩA, Michigan State University, 1997)

Jessica Perry
Class of 2021, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Effect of perfusion temperature on FAS-siRNA uptake by rat liver grafts
Mentor: Paulo Martins, MD, PhD
Councilor: Terence R. Flotte, MD (AΩA, Louisiana State University, 1985)

William Plautz
Class of 2012, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Manifestation of ADAMTS13 deficiency following major trauma as a risk factor for acute thrombotic microangiopathy
Mentor: Matthew D. Neal, MD (AΩA, University of Pittsburgh, 2006)
Councilor: Carl Fuhrman, MD (AΩA, University of Pittsburgh, 1978)

Karolina Plonoswska
Class of 2019, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine
Free flap reconstructive surgery: the patient and caregiver experience
Mentor: Patrick K. Ha, MD (AΩA, Johns Hopkins University, 1999)
Councilor: Elizabeth Harleman, MDc(AΩA, University of California, San Francisco, 2013)

Shelby Powers
Class of 2020, The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
Role of oxidative stress and fibrosis in female genitourinary dysfunction following pelvic radiation
Mentor: Johanna L. Hannan, PhD
Councilor: Danielle S. Walsh, MD (AΩA, University of South Florida, 1994)

Frank Qian
Class of 2019, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Height, body mass index and ovarian cancer risk in carriers of BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations: a Mendelian randomization study
Mentor: Dezheng Huo, MD, PhD
Councilor: Adam Cifu, MD (AΩA, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1993)

Gabriel Redel-Traub
Class of 2020, New York University School of Medicine
Pathologic cardiac remodeling in FHF2 deficient mice
Mentor: Glenn I. Fishman, MD
Councilor: Linda Tewksbury, MD (AΩA, New York University, 1990)

Hannah Riskin-Jones
Class of 2020,cUniversity of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine
Diffusion tractography-guided deep brain stimulation for essential tremor
Mentor: Nader Pouratian, MD, PhD
Councilor, Jessica Beth O’Connell, MD (AΩA, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, 2000)

Christopher Rodman
Class of 2021, Wake Forest School of Medicine
Integrated single-cell and functional analyses of malignant cell subpopulations in glioblastoma
Mentor: Mario L. Suva, MD, PhD
Councilor: Michael S. Cartwright, MD, MS (AΩA, Wake Forest, 2002)

Prasanth Romiyo
Class of 2020, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
NY-ESO-1 vault nanoparticles for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme
Mentor: Isaac Yang, MD (AΩA, University of California, Los Angeles, 2004)
Councilor: Michael E. Chansky, MD (AΩA, University of Rochester, 1980)

Arash Samadi
Class of 2020, Weill Cornell Medical College
Tissue engineering of human auricular scaffold using autologous auricular chondrocytes and 3D-printing
Mentor: Jason A. Spector, MD (AΩA, New York University, 1996)
Councilor: O. Wayne Isom, MD (AΩA, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 1965)

Alexa Semonche
Class of 2020, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
In Vivo investigation of photodynamic therapy augmentation of laser interstitial thermal therapy’s effect on the blood brain barrier
Mentor: Michael E. Ivan, MD, MBS
Councilor: Geza Kiss, MD (AΩA, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson, 1994)

Farrah Shah
Class of 2020, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Using PIK3CB and connexin-43 inhibition to sensitize primary glioblastoma cells to temozolomide
Mentor: Zhi Sheng, PhD
Councilor: Gary Simonds, MD (AΩA, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson, 1983)

William Shi
Class of 2021, Stanford University School of Medicine
Developing a novel next-generation sequencing method to detect cell-free tumor DNA in prostate cancer
Mentors: Maximilian Diehn, MD, PhD and Jonathan Dudley, MD (AΩA, Stanford University, 2017)
Councilor: Suzann Pershing, MD, MS (AΩA, Medical University of South Carolina, 2005)

Adit Singhal
Class of 2020, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Mapping glucocorticoid receptor variants with clinical outcomes of breast cancer patients in the Geisinger mycode electronic health record-linked biobank
Mentor: Jun Ling, PhD
Councilor: Margrit Shoemaker, MD (AΩA, University of Pittsburgh, 1983)

Alexandra Sperry
Class of 2021, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
In utero base editing of cardiovascular disease gene ANGPTL3
Mentor: William H. Peranteau, MD
Councilor: Jon B. Morris, MD (AΩA, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 1998)

Eva Stein
Class of 2019, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
An evaluation of the prevalence and impact of body dysmorphic disorder in adult orofacial cleft patients
Mentor: J. Madison Clark, MD (AΩA, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 1995)
Councilor: Amelia Drake, MD (AΩA, University of North Carolina, 1996)

Marissa Suchyta
Class of 2021, University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine
Determination of the effectiveness of polyethylene glycol fusion in improving cross-face nerve grafting for facial reanimation
Mentor: Samir Mardini, MD
Councilor: Lisa R. Farmer, MD (AΩA, University of Texas Medical Branch, 2001)

Ross Tanis
Class of 2019, University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Skin remodeling in asymptomatic atopic dermatitis
Mentor: Carole Oskeritzian, PhD
Councilor: Joshua T. Thornhill, MD (AΩA, University of South Carolina, 2001)

Khiem Tran
Class of 2020, University of Arizona College of Medicine
The role of man1a1 in immune evasion during progression of melanoma
Mentor: Emanuel Maverakis, MD (AΩA, University of California, Davis, 2012)
Councilor: Joseph S. Alpert, MD (AΩA, Harvard Medical School, 1969)

Eileen Wang
Class of 2021, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Racial/ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity and very low birth weight babies: a qualitative study on women’s experiences of peripartum care
Mentor: Elizabeth Howell, MD, MPP (AΩA, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1997)
Councilor: Carrie Ernst, MD (AΩA, Weill Cornell Medical College, 2001)

Ayobami Ward
Class of 2019, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Repurposing rhDNase to improve neurological outcomes after traumatic brain injury
Mentor: Krishnan M. Dhandapani, PhD
Councilor: Laura Carbone, MD, MS (AΩA, Medical College of Wisconsin, 1989)

WayAnne Watson
Class of 2020, Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Mechanism of biologic therapy to treat high-risk pediatric leukemia
Mentor: Kimberly J. Payne, PhD
Councilor: Daniel Wongworawat, MD (AΩA, Loma Linda University, 1996)

Elizabeth Wicks
Class of 2021, University of Mississippi School of Medicine
Immunomodulatory biological scaffolds to create a pro-regenerative environment in the eye
Mentor: Jennifer Elisseeff, PhD
Councilor: Scott M. Rodgers, MD (AΩA, Vanderbilt University, 1994)

Netsanet Woldegerima
Class of 2021, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Enhancing efficacy of cancer immunotherapy by inducing tumor antigen expression in melanoma
Mentor: Eduardo Davila, PhD
Councilors: Donna Parker, MD (AΩA, University of Maryland, 1999) and Zaineb Makhzoumi, MD, MPH, (AΩA, University of Maryland, 2007)

Lulu Wong
Class of 2019, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Urine miRNA biomarkers for precision care of venous leg ulcers
Mentor: Marjana Tomic-Canic, PhD
Councilor: Alex J. Mechaber, MD (AΩA, George Washington University, 1998)

Therese Woodring
Class of 2019, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine
Effects of sulfur dioxide flares on acute healthcare visits in an EPA-designated sulfur dioxide nonattainment area
Mentor: James F. Graumlich, MD
Councilor, Jessica Ryan Hanks, MD (AΩA, University of Illinois, 2002)

JaeWon Yang
Class of 2020, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Curriculum for change: medical student editing to improve readability of health-related Wikipedia articles
Mentor: Paul George, MD, MHPE (AΩA, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 2015)
Councilor: Allan Tunkel, MD, PhD (AΩA, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, 1983)

Ruiyang Yi
Class of 2021, University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine
Bootstrap resampling in genetic association analysis of low-frequency variants
Mentor: Shelley B. Bull, PhD
Councilor: Jill Omori, MD (AΩA, University of Hawaii, 1995)

Frank Zhang
Class of 2021, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Backpropagation applied to discriminative visual codebooks for lung nodule detection
Mentor: Saeed Hassanpour, PhD
Councilor: Nancy McNulty, MD (AΩA, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 1994)