The 31st Annual Pritzker Summer Research Program proved to be another successful year of scholarship for a large number of second-year students. Funded in part by the NHLBI, NIA, NCI, NIDDK(DULCE) the Bucksbaum-Siegler Institute for Clinical Excellence, and The Center for Healthcare Delivery Science. The Summer Research Program allowed students to work closely with faculty mentors across the clinical, translational, and basic sciences. Thanks in large part to the continued guidance of Drs. Sola Olopade, Funmi Olopade, David Meltzer, Valerie Press, Rachel Wolfson, Erika Claud, and Arshiya Baig, the Summer Research Program has often given students a platform for ongoing research and a chance to present and publish their work on a national level.
After presenting their work to a panel of faculty judges, the following students were recognized for their excellence. The Pritzker School of Medicine would like to congratulate these second-year medical students:
The Joseph B. Kirsner Research Award for Excellence
Michael Wakeman
Mentors: Andrea King, PhD and Emma Brett, PhD
No Smoker Left Behind: Evaluating an Opt-Out Smoking Cessation Program for Cancer Patients Who Smoke
The Sigma Xi Award for Impact on Society
Grace Croley
Mentor: Benjamin Shogan, MD
Elucidating Mechanisms of Diet-Driven Colorectal Cancer Recurrence in a Pre-Clinical Mouse Model
The Brain Research Foundation Award for Neuroscience
Stephan Palm
Mentor: Joel Voss, PhD
Predicting Hippocampal Functional Connectivity from Structural MRI Scans
Healthcare Delivery Science Award
Ramya Balasubramanian
Mentor: Austin Wesevich, MD, MPH
Timeliness of Opioid Administration for Sickle Cell Pain by Presenting Location
Overall Excellence in Scientific Quality, Content and Ability to Respond to Questions in the Performance of Research in Clinical or Social Sciences
Myra Collins
Mentor: Valerie Press, MD, MPH
Virtual Reality (VR) as a Relief Exploration for Sickle Pain through Interventions using Technology Engagement (RESPITE)
Daniel Correa Bucio
Mentor: Neda Laiteerapong, MD, MS
Implementation of Universal Depression Screening in an Urban Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic: A Quality Improvement Study
Overall Excellence in Scientific Quality, Content and Ability to Respond to Questions in the Performance of Research in Basic Science
Andrew Adamek
Mentor: Asim Farooq, MD
Calcium Deposition in Adult Cataract Lenses: Evidence for a Novel Framework of Cataract Pathogenesis
Alexander Burdzy
Mentor: Michael Drazer, MD, PhD
Beyond DNA Repair: Novel Germline Detection in Mesothelioma Patients via Whole Exome Sequencing
Overall Excellence in Scientific Quality, Content and Ability to Respond to Questions in the Performance of Research in Applied Science
Alp Köksal
Mentor: Megan Huisingh-Scheetz, MD, MPH
Stronger Relationships, Stronger Individuals: The Impact of Older Adult-Care Partner Relationships on Physical Iprovement Through a Technology-Based at Home Exercise Program
Andrew Travis
Mentor: John Schneider, MD, MPH
Cannabis Use Disorder is Associated with Gentrification Among Black Sexual and Gender Minority People in Chicago
Honorable Mention for Excellence
Alexander Chen
Mentor: Mark Applebaum, MD
Histotripsy Increases Immune Infiltration in Local and Distal Tumors in Neuroblastoma
Keziah Diego
Mentor: Sara Gaines, MD
Modeling Gut-Derived Endothelial Dysfunction in CKD
Ramya Kumar
Mentor: Baddr Shakhsheer, MD
The Impact of the War in Gaza on Medical Education
Lillian Litvak
Mentor: Yalini Vigneswaran, MD, MS
Redefining Pathologic GERD: Missed Diagnoses in Women and Lower BMI Patients Despite Surgical Treatment Response
Kyra McGee
Mentors: Ann Borders, MD, MPH and Lauren Keenan-Devlin, PhD, MPH
Patterns of Preconception Alcohol Consumption, Placental Lesions, and Adverse Birth Outcomes by Race
Ria Sood
Mentor: Valerie Press, MD, MPH
A regional sub-analysis of US hospitals enrolled in the “Reduce REVISITS” Study
Lauren Sun
Mentor: Neda Laiteerapong, MD, MS
Perspectives of Primary Care Providers on Treating Suicidality at UCM: Barriers to Zero Suicide Framework Implementation
Megan Teramoto
Mentor: Sarah Ackroyd, MD, MPH
Neighborhood Deprivation & Oncologic Outcomes in Cervical Cancer
Patrick Wang
Mentor: Evgeny Izumchenko, PhD
Convergent Analysis of Oral Microbial Signatures Associated with Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma