Symposium Highlights Medical Students’ Research Projects, Serchuck Award Recipients

Medical Students who participated in the Medical Student Summer Research Program (MSSRP) during summer 2020 presented the results of their work during the annual Medical Student Research Symposium held virtually on Feb. 1 sponsored by the Enrichment Office.

The two 30-minute blocks each featured approximately 20 students, who were stationed in zoom breakout rooms to present their posters and answer questions from faculty, mentors and fellow students.

“I am proud of what our students were able to accomplish with their mentors, despite the sudden transition to virtual research in late spring,” said Suzanne Sarfaty, MD, assistant dean for medical education and associate professor of medicine. “It was a bonus to be able to spend time alone with the scholars in a zoom room to hear about their work. While a different dynamic than years past, it still was a very inspiring event.”

At the event’s conclusion, the winners and runners-up of the Serchuck Awards were announced. They are:

Best Clinical Science Poster

Winner: Preetha Velu
Impact of MassHealth on Breast Cancer Survivorship Care Disparities between Black and White Survivors at an Urban Safety Net Hospital

Runner up: Chelsea Sykora
Attitudes Toward Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Surveying Parents of Pediatric Otolaryngology Patients

Best QI/Biomedical Science Poster

Winner: Natalie LaBossier
A Tool to Identify PrEP Eligible Youth in Primary Care

Runner up: William Moore
Impact of Skeletal Muscle Trauma on Stem Cell Recruitment in Heterotopic Ossification

Best Public Health Poster

Winner: Frederick Lu
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Emergency Department Wait Time

Runner up: Nakul Vyas
Biomarkers of Stigma in People Living with HIV and HIV Key Populations – A Systematic Review