Zachary B. White II, a fourth-year medical student at the USA College of Medicine, was among 22 students and young professionals who pressed members of Congress last Thursday to support funding for the National Institutes of Health and cancer research.
White participated virtually in the 6th Annual Early-Career Hill Day hosted by the American Association for Cancer Research on Feb. 25. White is an associate member of the AACR.
“Many research labs have closed or put their work on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cancer hasn’t paused at all,” said White, who is president of the Class of 2021. “We have to do what we can to continue to conduct research and provide better therapies.”
White met virtually with members of Congress from Alabama and Florida including U.S. Reps. Jerry Carl and staffers of U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Richard Shelby of Alabama, and U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott of Florida.
“My message was, ‘Thanks for the funding thus far. Let’s continue to fund cancer research because it’s important in order to save lives,’” he said.
White, a Birmingham native who plans to match in radiation oncology this spring, has developed a strong interest in cancer research, a focus he said was fueled by his mother’s successful battle with breast cancer.
In 2019, White won first place in the Radiology and Radiation Oncology Medical Student Oral Presentation section of the 117th National Medical Association Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly in Honolulu. His project focused on glioblastoma multiforme, the most common and malignant brain tumor, which is highly resistant to radiation and chemotherapy.
