PNWU Student Doctor Ian Smith (OMS IV) was recently named PNWU’s Student Researcher of the Year (SROY). Student Doctor Smith’s research focuses on hemophilia management and developing gene therapies to make hemophilia care more accessible and curative. “Student Doctor Smith’s application denotes a high level of sophistication in his research and sustained effort to this topic,” said Dr. Thomas Scandalis, Dean of PNWU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, in a message announcing the honor.
As PNWU’s inaugural SROY, Student Doctor Smith will now go on to compete with student representatives from colleges and universities across the country for the chance to be named the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine’s (AACOM’s) National Student Researcher of the Year. The National SROY will be announced at the 2022 AACOM Annual Meeting and will be the recipient of a monetary award.
“It was a great honor for my research efforts to be recognized with this award,” Student Doctor Smith said, “especially because many worthy students at PNWU participate in exciting scholarly projects. Research is a team effort, and I am incredibly appreciative to have supportive research mentors and colleagues who continue to guide my training and help make these research opportunities possible.”
Student Doctor Smith is currently serving a one-year research fellowship through the American Society of Hematology’s Medical Student Physician-Scientist Award with the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University. He began his research during his graduate chemistry studies and capitalized on PNWU’s pre-clinical training to build a greater understanding of the comprehensive medical physiology and cellular biology that underpins the project.
PNWU Student Doctor Kathleen Lundeberg (OMS IV) was selected as the university’s SROY runner-up.
“Student Doctor Lundeberg’s application was competitive and demonstrated a breadth of experiences and dedication to osteopathic medicine exemplifying PNWU’s mission to serve rural and underserved populations,” Dr. Scandalis wrote. “Her research in oncology, obstetrics and gynecology, and internal medicine all serve as exemplars for integrating research into patient care.”
“Research provides the opportunity to help grapple with real, tangible problems,” Smith added. “Participating in research as a student can help transform esoteric classroom learning into living, breathing systems of knowledge that can be investigated for understanding, manipulated for change, or utilized for the betterment of others. I encourage any PNWU student interested in research to go for it!”