Annual Symposium Highlights Medical Student Research

The annual Medical Student Research Symposium, sponsored by the Enrichment Office and held on Monday, Feb. 6, showcased the work of 43 medical students who participated in the Medical Student Summer Research Program (MSSRP) during summer 2022.

A total of 59 posters were on display in Hiebert Lounge, including work  done by 14 medical students who conducted research outside the MSSRP.

Six students were selected to present their research at the symposium: Raisa Rauf, Cassandra Lee, Michelle Safransky, Edwin Qiu, Alan Shain, and William Lau.

“I want to congratulate the winners, but I want to congratulate all of you because, yes, you are all winners,” said Karen Antman, MD, BUMC Provost and Dean of Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. “This gives you an opportunity to try out your research skills, see if you like it. Some of you will decide you don’t, but having had this in your background you can still collaborate with people later. Others will find they have a career in research.”

The MSSRP is for first-year medical students and occurs the summer between their initial and second year. The competitive program offers a stipend supporting seven weeks of in-depth research with the School and Boston Medical Center research groups. In summer 2023, the program will run from May 13-July 9 and applications are due by March 10. Students can continue with multi-year mentored research on projects begun in MSSRP through a longitudinal research program or seek other research opportunities.

“We are really proud of all of you. It is really fantastic what you have done…You are participating in research, you are changing medicine,” MSSRP Assistant Director M. Isabel Dominguez, PhD, told students.

Antman also thanked faculty and staff for their roles in sustaining the program, including Assistant Dean for Research Matthew Layne, PhD, and Suzanne Sarfaty, MD, assistant dean of medical education and MSSRP director, who has been with the program since its inception 24 years ago.

In addition, six students received Serchuck Awards for outstanding research posters. The award honors Jerome and Joan Serchuck, whose donations helped fund MSSRP from the beginning. The first Serchuck Award was given in 2007.

2023 Serchuck Poster Winners