Medical Scientist Training Program
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
(MSTP-SURF)
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
May 2016 - August 2016
In the summer between my second and third years as an undergraduate student at the University of Cincinnati, I was selected as a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow through the University of Cincinnati's Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). After a wonderful experience in the Edith J. Crawley Vision Research Center the previous summer and during the course of the academic year, I elected to stay on with Dr. Call and to continue my work in stem cell therapy in the cornea. My experience this summer was different, however, given that I was part of the MSTP-SURF Fellowship instead of the Neuro-SURF Program that I participated in last summer. This research program is geared toward students interested in pursuing MD/PhD combined degrees through the NIH-sponsored Medical Scientist Training Programs at the country's top universities, and differs from other SURF programs at the UC Academic Health Center in that it provides both research and clinical experience. Given that I am highly interested in a combined MD/PhD degree, this program was the perfect way to explore this career possibility, and to continue the research that I had been doing for the previous year.
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As showcased in the video to the left, the Medical Scientist Training Program is a wonderful avenue for students interested in translational research that bridges the gap between the bench and the bedside. Because of this, participation in an MSTP is something in which I have taken a strong interest since I began researching in high school. Participating in the MSTP-SURF Program has reaffirmed this interest, and has hopefully served to prepare me as a strong candidate for MD/PhD programs when I apply. By allowing me to build upon my previous research experience, the program has afforded me the chance to further cement my experience under Dr. Call's mentorship. This, in turn, has given me the chance to being authoring a publication and to engage in more independent research this summer. I was also able to gain clinical experience through shadowing opportunities, and had the chance to network with and learn from MD/PhD physician scientists who gave me great perspective on the benefits and challenges of this avenue of training.
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My research experience this summer again culminated in a Capstone Poster Symposium. At this event, I was able to share my own findings regarding repairing damage to the cornea of the eye acquired through injury and infection, and to learn from other students and friends about their projects. For the second year in a row, I was awarded an Honorable Mention for my poster at the Symposium, which this year placed me among the top 15% of more than 200 students. I am pictured with other award winners at right. |
A big thank you goes out once again to Dr. Mindy Call for another wonderful summer and for such a great experience in research. Many thanks also to Jared Ebert, a stellar medical student, great friend, and wonderful researcher, as well as to Dr. Winston Kao and the rest of the lab team!