School of Medicine

The Pulse

Medical Student Research Virtual Poster Symposium and Awards Ceremony

The Medical Student Research Virtual Poster Symposium and Awards Ceremony was held recently via Zoom. 

Students' abstracts, posters, and Zoom presentations (some of these have passwords listed) can be viewed here: 
https://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/genetics/2021_medical_student_research_virtual_poster_symposium.aspx

This program has provided opportunities for medical students to conduct research at LSUHSC, Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, and other clinics throughout the state since 2003. Students conduct their own small research project or work on a part of a larger, ongoing project. 

Many students are enrolled in the Honors Program and are therefore able to continue with their project or work on multiple projects during their 3rd and 4th years. For this reason, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards were given in the Freshman/Sophomore Category, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards were also given for the Junior/Senior Category. Top winners received a travel award to present their research at a national conference.

New program co-director Dr. Jovanny Zabaleta joined Dr. Fern Tsien, Assistant Dean of Medical Student Research, to announce the winners on Friday, October 29, 2021. 

“We had 110 presentations by 93 students this year. I extend my sincere thanks to all the students, mentors, judges, and laboratory, clinical, and office personnel who made this possible,” Dr. Tsien said. “Each student did an excellent job. We are very proud of their achievements.”

The winners are:

FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE CATEGORY

1st Place Winner, $1500 Mitzie Hano Wittliff Research Award 
Eden Gallegos
Mentors: Patricia Molina and Liz Simon
Department of Physiology, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center of Excellence

2nd Place Winners, $1000 Dean's Research Award (tie)
Lana Thaljeh
Mentor: Dr. Sunyoung Kim
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Mark Maier II
Mentor: Dr. Frank Lau
Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

3rd Place Winners, $400 Dean's Research Award (tie)
Caitlyn Kelly
Mentor: Dr. Deidre Devier
LSUHSC Department of Neurology

Peter Issa
Mentor: Dr. Luis Marrero
LSUHSC Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Kashyap Koul
Mentor: Dr. David Lefer
LSUHSC Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics

Kierany Shelvin
Mentors: Dr. Ludmila Belayev and Dr. Nicolas Bazan
LSUHSC Neuroscience Center of Excellence


JUNIOR/SENIOR CATEGORY

1st Place Winner, $1500 Margaret Raiford Hano Research Award
Ryan Hoffman
Mentor: Dr. Robert Allen  
Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

2nd Place Winner, $1000 Dean's Research Award 
John Waldron
Mentor: Dr. Diptasri Mandal
Department of Genetics

3rd Place Winners, $400 Dean's Research Award (tie)
Robert Quiring
Mentor: Dr. Deborah Hilton
LSUHSC Department of Dermatology

Ada Tusa
Mentor: Dr. Lisa Moreno-Walton
Department of Medicine, Section of Emergency Medicine