From left to right: Dr. Hanes Swingle, William Gannon, Sara Long and Dr. Brian Fouty
The University of South Alabama College of Medicine hosted its 37th annual Medical Student Research Day on Aug. 6, 2010. Dr. Jane Reusch, professor of medicine and biochemistry at the University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center, was the keynote speaker. Dr. Reusch’s lecture was titled “Cyclic AMP Response Element Binding Protein: An Unexpected Journey in Translational Medicine.”
The Clyde G. “Sid” Huggins Medical Student Research Awards, honoring the memory of Dr. Huggins -- who served as the first dean of students, were presented to William Gannon and Sara Long. Dr. Samuel J. Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine and director of the Medical Student Summer Research Program, presented the awards.
Gannon, a sophomore medical student, was recognized for the best oral presentation, titled "Clinical significance of chromosomal microdeletions and duplications among children with development disabilities." Gannon was sponsored by Drs. Hanes Swingle and Jose` Martinez, both in the department of pediatrics.
Long, also a sophomore medical student, was honored for the best poster presentation. Her project, titled “The effect of oxygen tension and hyperglycemia on Glut-1 expression and glucose uptake in pulmonary artery endothelial cells," was funded by an NIH Training Grant: Cell Signaling and Lung Pathobiology. Long was sponsored by Dr. Brian Fouty, associate professor of internal medicine and pharmacology.
Each winner was presented with a plaque of recognition and cash award. Both students are eligible to make their presentations at the 50th annual National Research Forum held in Galveston, Texas, in April, 2011.
Medical Student Research Day is the culmination of the summer’s work with the presentation of oral and poster presentations. During the 10-week program, 16 first- and second-year medical students participated in research projects with basic science and clinical faculty in the College of Medicine. A weekly seminar series introduced the students to important research related areas. The program highlights the relation between scientific discoveries and their application in clinical medicine.
For more information about the 2010 Summer Medical Student Research Day, visit http://medschoolwatercooler.blogspot.com/2010/08/dr-jane-reusch-speaks-at-37th-annual.html and http://www.southalabama.edu/com/summerresearch.shtml.
