Student Doctor Smith plans to use the $42,000 award to support his ongoing hematology research.
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) recently selected Student Doctor Ian Smith, OMS IV, to receive the 2021 ASH Medical Student Physician-Scientist Award. According to the ASH, the award provides an opportunity for first-, second-, and third-year medical students to gain experience in hematology research under the mentorship of an ASH member and to learn more about the specialty. Awardees must agree to spend more than 80 percent of their time during the immersive, year-long project conducting laboratory, translational, or clinical hematology research.
“This award will support a year-long opportunity to broaden my scientific skill set,” said Smith, who was ecstatic to learn of his selection in between seeing patients during his third-year clinical rotations. “I believe this will complement my preclinical and clinical education at PNWU to make me a better overall physician and provide a great experience to support a potential future career in medical research.”
In addition to funding his research position and supplies, Smith explained, the ASH Medical Student Physician-Scientist Award serves as a career development program which facilitates supplemental graduate coursework and attendance at ASH’s annual national conference.
Student Doctor Smith completed his master’s degree in chemistry with Dr. Clint Spiegel, a protein X-ray crystallographer and biochemist interested in the structure of blood coagulation proteins. As a summer research intern, Smith had the opportunity to help care for pediatric patients with bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia. “I found working with those patients significant and compelling,” he explained. “Historically, children with hemophilia were subject to a life of blood transfusions and considerable morbidity. Given modern protein therapeutics, the burden of disease is much different than in the past; but there is still room for improvement. I hope to use my biochemistry training and medical education from PNWU to help find meaningful treatments for patients through research.”
“Successfully getting an award like this is, in part, a culmination of years of support and encouragement from my spouse, family, friends, and mentors,” said St. Dr. Smith, still buzzing from the news of being selected. “I am very honored and appreciative to have been selected for this award, but I am grateful for the support team that has helped me work toward my goals and dreams.”