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NIH Clinical Center News Release

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Contact:
Maria Maslennikov Masm@mail.nih.gov

NIH Medical Research Scholars Program Welcomes the 2021-2022 Class

James Dickey wearing protective gear in front of a work station.
James Dickey, a MRSP 2020-2021
Scholar.

The National Institutes of Health Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP) class of 2021-2022 will begin their MRSP fellowship virtually in July and will come physically to the NIH Clinical Center research hospital or elsewhere on the NIH campus in August to fully embark upon a yearlong research experience.

“The future of medicine hinges upon developing clinician-scientists who will make and translate discoveries at the bench, achieve success against rare and refractory diseases, and address disparities in health and medicine. MRSP offers a transformational training experience that will promote students to become leaders in American medicine.” said Thomas R. Burklow, M.D., director of the MRSP.

The MRSP received 128 eligible applications for the 2021-2022 class. Upon review by NIH investigators, 85 applicants were interviewed. Given the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic, the MRSP conducted its first virtual interview event for the class selection. The interview event was held over the course of two days and included various presentations from several NIH investigators, former program participants, and Dr. Francis Collins, NIH Director. Each interviewee interviewed with three NIH investigators.

Sheridan Reed standing in front of monitors.
Sheridan Reed, a MRSP 2020-2021
Scholar.

After final review and evaluation, the 2021-2022 class was finalized and consists of:

  • The 50 participants consist of 48 medical, one dental, and one veterinary students.
  • The participants represent 35 U.S.-accredited universities.
  • The class consists of six second-year and 44 third-year students.
  • Sixty-six percent of participants are female.

Incoming scholars are enthusiastic and ready to engage in a vigorous and research fulling year.

During an unprecedented time for science and medicine, I couldn’t think of a more exciting opportunity than being a MRSP Scholar at the NIH. I hope to take full advantage of this training and gain the skills to reach my goal of providing equitable clinical care that integrates translational science and public health.
– Evan Garrad, University of Missouri - Columbia School of Medicine

I am thrilled for the opportunity to learn and participate in dermatology research at an institute known as a global leader in research. At the NIH, I will be surrounded by critical thinkers, top-tier resources, and the spirit of innovation. The skills I will learn this year will no doubt better prepare me for a lifetime career as a clinician scientist.
– Christy Nwankwo, University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine

The selected participants receive robust, mentored training and will conduct research in areas that match their personal interests and research goals. The training experience forms the core of the program and allows these future clinician-scientists to carry out research across the full spectrum of science in the interest of improving public health. The scholars work with an advisor who provides guidance on creating a career development plan and on selecting an NIH research mentor. Mentors are fulltime NIH investigators with basic, clinical, or translational research programs. Over the course of the academic year, MRSP scholars participate in courses, journal club seminars, a structured lecture series, and clinical teaching rounds. They also present their research to the NIH community and at national professional conferences.

The MRSP is supported by the NIH and other partners via contributions to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. More than 460 students have completed the MRSP program since its initiation in 2012.

MRSP 2021-2022 scholars:

  1. Antara Afrin, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
  2. Nidhi Aggarwal, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
  3. Serene Ahmad, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
  4. Maleeha Ahmad, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western University
  5. Amir Ali, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston School of Medicine
  6. Maria Antony, University of Connecticut School of Medicine
  7. Andrew Baez Rivera, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
  8. Mason Belue, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine
  9. Ariel Bohner, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
  10. Allison Carroll, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
  11. Annika Deitermann, University of Minnesota Medical School
  12. Jacob Enders, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western University
  13. Aiman Faruqi, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western University
  14. Galen Gao, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
  15. Evan Garrad, University of Missouri - Columbia School of Medicine
  16. Megan Hansen, University of Massachusetts Medical School
  17. Mikako Harata, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
  18. Christin Hong, Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  19. Victoria Huynh, LSU Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in New Orleans
  20. Carrie Johnson, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western University
  21. Christian Kaculini, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine
  22. Jamie Ko, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
  23. Joshua Kowalczyk, University of Virginia School of Medicine
  24. HoLim Lee, Wake Forest University School of Medicine
  25. Hoowon Lee, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
  26. Diana Lopez, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western University
  27. Yen Luu, University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine
  28. Drashty Mody, Indiana University School of Dentistry
  29. Noreen Mohsin, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
  30. Madhavi Murali, University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine
  31. Priyanka Nadar, Drexel University College of Medicine
  32. Matthew Nagy, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western University
  33. Christy Nwankwo, University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine
  34. Christina Nyquist, University of Minnesota Medical School
  35. Ross O'Hagan, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  36. Mario Pita, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
  37. Kishan Pithadia, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
  38. Emily Rao, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
  39. Mitchell Rock, Georgetown University School of Medicine
  40. Halle Ronk, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  41. Paras Shah, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western University
  42. Noha Sherif, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
  43. Jennifer Shmukler, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  44. Sherice Simpson, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo
  45. Tiffany Toni, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
  46. Sarah Turecamo, New York University School of Medicine
  47. Dalia Walzer, New York University School of Medicine
  48. Natalia Wojnowski, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
  49. Jordan Zeldin, University of Florida College of Medicine
  50. Grant Zurcher, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Lubbock

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About the NIH Clinical Center: The NIH Clinical Center is the world’s largest hospital entirely devoted to clinical research. It is a national resource that makes it possible to rapidly translate scientific observations and laboratory discoveries into new approaches for diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease. Over 1,600 clinical research studies are conducted at the NIH Clinical Center, including those focused on cancer, infectious diseases, blood disorders, heart disease, lung disease, alcoholism and drug abuse. For more information about the Clinical Center, visit: https://www.cc.nih.gov/.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.