March 13, 2025
By Talmadge Gaither, Basira Iginla, Jessica Lewis-Owona, Emmanuella Owusu-Ampaw and Stephanie Augustin

In 2024, Drexel University College of Medicine launched an exciting new event designed to celebrate diversity, innovation and groundbreaking research in medicine. This event was orchestrated by medical students Michelle Davis and Talmadge Gaither through their roles as student presidents in the College of Medicine’s Black Doctor’s Network and Aspiring Physician Executives (APEx), respectively. They created the event with the hopes of creating a space that can showcase the work of health care professional students and inspire collaboration between different professions. This, in part, was inspired by the College of Medicine’s move from Queen Lane to University City and sharing a building with other health professional students. The hallmark event featured nine posters from the College of Medicine that had an array of topics from virtual Spanish interpretation efficacy to medical devices for children.

This year’s event was spearheaded by Drexel University College of Medicine's Aspiring Physician Executives (APEx) with support from several other student organizations to help the event flourish. Student presenters came from Drexel University's College of Medicine, the College of Nursing and Health Professions, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies and Howard University College of Medicine.

Over the course of one year, this event has experienced a lot of growth. There were seventeen student presenters with topics that ranged from period poverty to the association between insurance coverage and diabetes control. Following judging by Drexel University College of Medicine faculty, the three highest-scoring posters were provided a certificate of achievement with a secondary prize.

For the 2025 event, the committee started an exciting new collaboration with the non-profit organization “I Choose to Win.” This organization has a mission for women and girls to walk in their purpose, pursue their passion, and own their personal power as they navigate life, including programming that is designed to develop leaders by building confidence, exercising personal courage, boosting esteem, awakening a sense of purpose, activating faith and belief in oneself and promoting intentional decision-making and prompting positive action steps. The APEx team invited high school students to attend the Diversity in Medicine Research Symposium through this collaboration and was able to provide them with an array of intentional opportunities to help them feel engaged during the event. Prior to the students engaging with the presenters, the APEx team performed a miniature white coat ceremony for the six young women that attended the event and used white coats donated by current College of Medicine medical students. As the students moved through the crowd, they could be easily identified by the stark contrast of their coats, providing them with a sense of belonging at the event.

Additionally, the APEx team created a judging rubric for the students to actively engage with the presentations, provided them dinner for the evening, and small takeaway items that were provided by Drexel’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies.

As the event concluded with the award ceremony, a surprise award category was announced called the “Rising Star” award. This award was created to take into account the voices of our visiting students and highlight their favorite poster from the event by using the rubric that they filled out during the event.

The Diversity in Medicine Research Symposium is an event that is leading with a growth mindset for the upcoming years and takes into account the different considerations that are necessary for it to continue on an upward trajectory. Both events thus far have been designed around presenters using their virtual posters to reduce the cost burden for presenters. In the coming years, we hope to continue leading with ideas and methods to help the event shine within the Drexel community and beyond. Below, you will find the previous awardees from the event as well as experiential quotes from the 2025 APEx E-board about the impact that this event has had on them.

Lastly, we give special thanks to those who have supported this event and have helped make it flourish. This includes Dr. Annette Gadegbeku and Dr. Roshell Muir as well as our faculty judges, the faculty and staff from the College of Medicine’s Office of Community Health and Inclusive Excellence, the Office of Student Affairs and Drexel University College of Medicine.

2025 High Scoring Posters

1^st place
Presenter(s): Gabrielle Sisselberger and Sydney Wessner
Poster title: CNHP Combating Period Poverty

2^nd place
Presenter(s): Jason Kim
Poster title: High support need groups among autistic children and youth in the United States - Prevalence, overlap, and specific support needs

3^rd place
Presenter(s): Tyler Reinoso
Poster title: Changing Trends in Peripheral Nerve Repair: A Two-Decade TriNetX Analysis of Grafting Techniques and the Ascendancy of Allografts

Rising Star's Award
Presenter(s): Gabrielle Sisselberger and Sydney Wessner
Poster title: CNHP Combating Period Poverty

2024 High Scoring Posters

Best Overall Research Presentation
Presenter(s): Julianna Kinsolving
Poster Title: “Do you speak English?” The efficacy of clinical virtual interpretation services

Excellence in Academic Research
Presenter(s): Simran Shamith
Poster Title: ChatGPT Validation of an Anti-Racism in Medical Education Questionnaire

Excellence in Clinical Research
Presenter(s): Ameera Syed
Poster Title: Effect of Comorbidities on Short-term Postoperative Complications Following Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A TriNetX Study

Officer Quotes

"It was an absolute honor to serve on the e-board for a Diversity in Medicine Research Symposium that uplifted and inspired young Black girls to pursue a career in medicine. The future of medicine needs more women of color, and as I looked into their eager faces—full of excitement and curiosity—I saw myself in them. I was once that 18-year-old Black girl with dreams of becoming a doctor, searching for representation and proof that I belonged in this space. Many of these students may not have role models in their communities who look like them and are in the healthcare field, but that evening, they saw an all-Black executive board of medical students standing before them—living proof of why representation matters. The future of medicine is bright. The future of medicine needs them."
Jessica Lewis-Owona, Philadelphia Co-President, Class of 2027

“Beyond celebrating research excellence, the symposium served as a model for both faculty and students, emphasizing the necessity of diverse representation across race, gender, and professional backgrounds. The event fostered an enriching exchange of perspectives, making research presentations both personal and widely relevant. A particularly inspiring highlight was the participation of high school students from the “I CHOOSE TO WIN” organization. Witnessing these young women navigate the symposium with curiosity and confidence was incredibly rewarding, reinforcing my belief that this experience will ignite their aspirations in STEM careers. I am excited to see next year’s Research Symposium reach greater heights. I can’t wait to witness what’s next!”
Emmanuella Owusu-Ampaw, Vice President, Class of 2027

“I have had the incredible privilege of witnessing the remarkable growth and transformative trajectory of our 2nd annual APEx Diversity in Medicine Research Symposium event. APEx's mission is rooted in empowering medical students through education, networking, and leadership opportunities that go beyond the traditional boundaries of physician roles. At its core, APEx emphasizes the importance of creative and critical thinking, encouraging diverse research opportunities that spark innovation and challenge conventional thinking. Our mission came to life as we invited a wide range of individuals from other medical disciplines, including graduate students in health and nursing, creating a vibrant community of thinkers. It was truly an honor to see the number of students presenting their groundbreaking research and impactful community projects expand, reaching far beyond the realm of medicine. Even more inspiring was our continued partnership with the “I Choose to Win” organization, where high school students interested in science can witness the symposium’s continued growth and expand its reach within various healthcare fields. Looking ahead, I am filled with hope and excitement for the future of this event. I believe it will continue to thrive, inspire, and challenge others to innovate, share ideas, and push boundaries in their respective careers. This symposium is a powerful reminder of the limitless potential we all have when we unite in the pursuit of knowledge, growth, and a shared commitment to improving the world around us.”
Basira Iginla, Philadelphia Co-President, Class of 2027

“The Diversity in Medicine Research Symposium is fostering an environment of health equity, where diverse voices and perspectives can come together to enhance the quality of care, we provide to the communities we serve. Watching this event evolve and flourish over the past couple of years as more students showcase their passion to enhance the field of medicine has been deeply fulfilling. This commitment to advancing healthcare solutions and ensuring that all individuals, regardless of background, can contribute and thrive in the healthcare field is paving the road for students like those from I Choose to Win that will be the next generation of leaders. I am elated for what is to come for the event in the coming years.”
Talmadge Gaither, Event Coordinator, Class of 2027

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with an incredible team in organizing Drexel University College of Medicine’s Diversity in Medicine Research Symposium. Witnessing groundbreaking research and inspiring presentations from individuals of diverse backgrounds reinforced the importance of fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered. As Co-President of the Aspiring Physician Executives (APEx) and Vice President of the Black Doctors Network, I am committed to advocating for diversity, equity, and mentorship in medicine. These leadership roles allow me to uplift underrepresented voices, mentor aspiring physicians, and promote leadership development within the medical community. A particularly meaningful aspect of the symposium was the participation of high school students through the “I Choose to Win” organization, which provides mentorship and exposure to the medical field for students interested in science. Seeing them engage with research and medical professionals was a powerful reminder of the importance of early pipeline programs in shaping the next generation of healthcare leaders. This symposium underscored the richness of diversity in medicine and the ongoing need for representation, mentorship, and equity in healthcare. I look forward to continuing this work and supporting initiatives that inspire and empower future physicians.”
Stephanie Augustin, West Reading Co-President, Class of 2027

 
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