This year’s School of Medicine Physician-Scientist Symposium featuring Dr. Nancy C. Andrews keynote lecturer Elizabeth M. McNally, MD, PhD, and guest speaker, Director of the NIH Division of Biomedical Workforce, P. Kay Lund, PhD, was a great success with a turn-out of more than 125 students, trainees and faculty from across Duke’s campus. The symposium succeeded in offering a space for MD investigators to network, learn about relevant resources and opportunities, and hear about new and exciting research at Duke and beyond.
Attendees sampled cutting-edge research happening at Duke through an array of 5-minute flash talks given by up-and-coming trainees including Muath Bishawi, MD, cardiothoracic surgery resident and biomedical engineering PhD candidate, who shared his collaborations with NASA in a talk titled, “Trip to Mars: The effects of space radiation on cardiovascular function”.
MD investigators were also able to discover and share new research through a poster session. Translational poster award winner and medical student Brook Evans commented, “How do we create physician-scientists that go on to be both great clinicians and researchers? Fostering this “rare” breed begins in medical school. The Duke Office of Physician-Scientist Development is doing everything right to support students”.
Other poster award winners included clinical awardee and dermatology resident Melodi Whitley, MD, PhD, basic awardee and MSTP student Dylan Eiger, and people’s choice awardee and medical student Elizabeth Howell.
The School of Medicine Office of Physician-Scientist Development is already planning for another equally fantastic symposium next year that will further engage medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty alike.