Campbell Medicine Spotlight: Medical Student Summer Research Scholars The Medical Student Summer Research Scholars (MSSRS) Program is a summer research opportunity open to rising MS-II students only. The project period is 7 weeks during the summer, and students are expected to devote at least 6 full weeks to the project. Students attend weekly work-in-progress sessions and provide the opportunity for MSSRS participants to present their work to student peers. A final report is presented in the form of a poster or oral presentation at a local, regional, or national meeting. The Interprofessional Education Symposium held each spring at Campbell University is an opportunity to present, and all MSSRS participants are encouraged to present a poster at the event. Natasha Dziarnowski
Stephanie Everest
Hometown: Haymarket, VA
Hometown: Melbourne Beach, Florida.
Undergraduate Degree(s): B.S. in Biological Sciences with a Minor in Spanish, Virginia Tech Research Project: “Evaluation of Frailty Scale Usage and Compliance in the Hospital Setting: A Performance Improvement Approach” PI/Mentor: Sarah McIntyre, RN; Trauma Program Manager – WakeMed Health and Hospitals, Raleigh, NC What were the benefits of participating in the MSSRS program? I wanted to participate in a research project that had application to a wide variety of medical practice, and frailty impacts a huge subset of the patient population. Hopefully, by evaluating the implementation of a clinical frailty scale the project will provide a helpful clinical tool in assessing the best course of care for these patients. I learned valuable skills in data collection and literature review, as well as learning more about how frailty can impact multiple facets of a patient’s life. What advice would you share with future medical students? My advice to incoming medical students, or students who wish to pursue medicine, is to have your reason ‘why’. Medicine is a life-long dedication to learning, so at the end of the day, among all of the hustle and bustle, be sure to remember your ‘why’ and enjoy the learning itself–it’s what will help you serve your patients in the future! 6 FALL 2020 | AUGUST - OC TOBER
Undergraduate Degree(s): B.S. in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology with a Specialization in Exercise Physiology, University of Florida (Go Gators!) Research Project: This summer, I was fortunate to work with my research mentor, Dr. Nicholas Pennings, on a project titled, “Evaluating the Usefulness of Fasting Insulin and Fasting Glucose When Screening for the Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes in Five Years” which investigated current diabetes screening methods and the use of fasting serum insulin levels for early disease detection and prevention. The research team also included Dr. Matthew Peterson and, my classmate, Lauren Huff. What were the benefits of participating in the MSSRS Program? Participation in the Summer Scholars Program gave me the opportunity to be involved in every stage of the research process – from reviewing previous diabetes research and formulating a research design to composing a research paper and poster. What advice would you share with first year medical students? My biggest advice to current MS-1 students is to do your best and trust the process. Focus on what you can accomplish in a day and have faith that you will get to where you are meant to be. In the meantime, surround yourself with genuine people who support you and encourage you. Medical school is full of amazing moments and personal growth, but on the difficult days, I’ve found it’s the support system that you’ve built that keeps you grounded.
