Two third–year medical students, Adrian Wong and Clifton 'Dave' Fuller, have recently had clinical research projects selected for oral presentation at prestigious international meetings.
“While it gives me great pleasure to see this work cited for presentation at these important conferences, it is not unexpected based on the positive experience that we have enjoyed mentoring highly motivated students such as Adrian and David,” said Martin Fuss, M.D., associate professor and research mentor on both projects.
Wong will present research on novel image-guided targeting for pancreatic cancer at the Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting, while Mr. Fuller has been chosen to present work on cutting edge radiotherapy techniques for brain cancers at the annual meeting for the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.
“Seeing these presentations selected for international recognition only serves to affirm the value of medical student mentorship in training future physician-scientists,” said Charles R. Thomas Jr., M.D., department vice-chairman and co-author. “Dr. Fuss and his research group are to be commended for involving medical students in cutting edge research at an early stage in their careers.”
Wong is currently funded for his project by 2004 Alpha Omega Alpha Research Scholarship. Wong’s presentation, “Preliminary Clinical Analysis of Daily Ultrasound-based Image-guided Radiotherapy (US-IGRT) for the Treatment of Pancreatic Carcinoma,” details early results of a novel method that uses ultrasound to precisely align patients and increase accuracy of radiation delivery.
Fuller is currently funded by the Frederic C. Bartter General Clinical Research Center/ National Institutes of Health Mentored Medical Student Grant for 2004. Fuller’s project, “Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) in the Treatment of Primary Glioblastoma Multiforme” explores outcomes from using state-of the art radiation delivery methods techniques to treat high-grade brain tumors.
“The efforts of these two students exemplify the department’s attitude toward training tomorrow’s researchers,” said Dr. Thomas.
The department of radiation oncology, under the leadership of Terence S. Herman, MD, has amassed impressive record in mentored student research.
In 2004, medical student research and scholarship in the department has resulted in eight co-authorships on conference presentation and six published manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals. Nine Health Science Center students have received external funding for medical student research for some portion of the year.
