Medical students present summer research at 52nd annual event

Medical student Chris Novellino gives an oral presentation on research day.

During the past eight weeks, 53 medical students at the Whiddon College of Medicine have collaborated with clinical and basic sciences faculty to conduct research as part of the 2025 Medical Student Summer Research Program. 

Their research encompassed a wide range of topics including studying how Lyme disease invades the nervous system, evaluating bone density in spinal surgery patients, assessing disaster preparedness of an academic health system, and identifying barriers to care in underserved areas. Through the program, incoming first- and second-year students developed a greater appreciation of how research contributes to the knowledge and practice of medicine.

The program culminated with student presentations and a keynote lecture at the 52nd Annual Medical Student Summer Research Day, held Friday, July 25, in the Medical Sciences Building. 

Medical student Juanita Monteiro-Pai presents her poster.

Oliver McDonald, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, presented the keynote lecture. Students had the opportunity to attend a mixer with the keynote speaker the Thursday evening prior to summer research day.

Jonathan Rayner, Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology and immunology, served as chair of this year's summer research program. Skye Andrade, coordinator of research and communications in the Office of the Associate Dean for Research, and Marcina Lang, MPA, senior manager of COM support services in the Dean's Office, were program coordinators.

The Clyde G. Huggins Awards for Summer Research will be presented to the winners in the oral and poster presentation categories in the coming weeks. 

View more photos from Medical Student Summer Research Day on Flickr. 

Keynote speaker Oliver McDonald, M.D., Ph.D., receives a plaque from Jonathan Rayner, Ph.D.