College of Medicine Student Accomplishments & Accolades
Congratulations to our outstanding students!
Share your accomplishments (or those of students you teach or mentor) with us! Email COM_CMS@drexel.edu.
2025 LMSA National Conference
Tasha Garayo, MS, MD ’26, served as a national conference chair for the 2025 Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) National Conference, "Camino Al Cambio: Celebrating Identity and Shaping the Future," held Sept. 5-7 in Chicago.
Surgical Neurology International
Zarrar Nashman, MD ’27, and colleagues at Allegheny Health Network published “Neuropsychiatric outcomes in responsive neurostimulation: A single-center experience,” which was published in Surgical Neurology International. Read more.
Journal for Healthcare Quality
Vignesh Prasad, MD ’27, and colleagues at Meritus Health co-authored “What Matters to You, Matters to Us: A Case Study on Leveraging the Electronic Health Record for Patient-Centered Care,” which was published in the Journal for Healthcare Quality. Read more.
Healio Ocular Surgery News
Cooper Bahr, MD ’27, was featured in a Healio Ocular Surgery News story about ways to potentially lower costs of prescriptions after cataract surgery. Read more.
Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online
Sara Khan, MD ’27, Asif M. Ilyas, MD, MBA, associate dean of clinical research and academic vice chair of orthopedic surgery, and colleagues published “Opioid Use Patterns After Nonsurgical Management of Distal Radius Fractures: A Call for Opioid Stewardship” in the Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online. Read more.
Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online
Ryan C. Cha, MD ’26, and Asif M. Ilyas, MD, MBA, associate dean of clinical research and academic vice chair of orthopedic surgery, and colleagues published “Determining Risk Factors and Rate of Surgery After Collagenase Injections for Dupuytren Contracture,” which was published in the Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online. Read more.
Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Gregory Connors, MD ’25, Spencer Rasmussen, MD ’27, and Asif M. Ilyas, MD, MBA, associate dean of clinical research and academic vice chair of orthopedic surgery, were among the authors of “Changing Demographic and Treatment Trends of Proximal Humerus Fractures: A TriNetX Analysis of 74,781 Patients,” which was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Read more.
BMC Ophthalmology
Matthew D. Spangler, MD ’26, Nila Kirupaharan, MD ’26, Camellia Edalat, MD ’26, & Meghan K. Berkenstock, MD ’11, president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, College of Medicine, published “Epidemiology of globe injury repair mechanisms in the TriNetX US collaborative network database: retrospective cohort study,” in the August 2025 issue of BMC Ophthalmology.
American Psychiatric Association Foundation Helping Hands Grant
Yansy Salmerón, MD ’26, and Joe Christianson, MD ’27, were awarded a 2025-2026 Helping Hands Grants Program award from the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF). The grants program was established to encourage medical students to participate in community service activities, particularly those focused on under-served populations; raise awareness of mental illness and the importance of early recognition of illness; and build an interest among medical students in the psychiatric field and working in under-served communities. Learn more.
Julie Schaub Earns NIH Funding
Julie Schaub, a Neuroscience PhD student, received an F31 award from the Nationial Institutes of Health for the project "Splice Variants of Microtubule-Associated Protein 4 Regulate the Efficiency of Organelle Transport in Dendrites."
Dylan Wambold Collaborates on Medication Adherence Study
Dylan Wambold, a second-year MD program student, served as a collaborator on a study exploring patient satisfaction regarding the dosing frequency for their psoriasis treatment. Wambold was among those interviewed in an August 1 Physician’s Weekly story about how dosing frequency may affect adherence to medication to treat psoriatic disease.
D3MP Presentations on Disability in Medical Education
Fourth-year medical students Kathryn Mozzochi and Kendall Smith gave invited presentations at a national Disability in Medicine Mutual Mentorship Program (D3MP) monthly virtual event, along with Stacy Ellen, DO, assistant dean of student affairs and associate professor of clinical pediatrics, on July 16, 2025. Mozzochi's talk was "Understanding Medical Student Perspectives on Disability in Medical Education: A Survey Analysis," and Smith's was "Advancing Disability Equity and Support in Medicine Through Student Leadership."
“Navigating New Onset Hearing Loss in Medical School”
Sriprachodaya Gaddam, MD '27, presented research she conducted with College of Medicine faculty members Drs. Alyssa Terk, Seema Baranwal and Stacy Ellen on the topic of "Navigating New Onset Hearing Loss in Medical School: A Case Report," at the 2025 Tower Health Research Day.
“Marathon Running Linked to Short-Term Brain Structure Changes”
Alison Bashford, a third-year PhD candidate in the España Lab, authored an essay, “Marathon Running Linked to Short-Term Brain Structure Changes,” which received first place in a contest hosted by The Scientist, which focused on communicating scientific findings to the public in an accessible and engaging way. Read her essay here and learn more about the The Scientist’s Peer Profile Program here.
Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology
Alexander Barna, MPH, MD ’26, Erum N. Ilyas, MD, MBE, associate professor and interim academic chair of dermatology, Alexis Arza, MD ’25, and Carolyn Giordano, PhD, associate dean of assessment and evaluation and professor of family, community and preventive medicine, published “Experiences of Social Media Users with Over the Counter Red Light Therapy Devices,” in the July 2025 issue of the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.
“Enhancing Graft Assessment in Robotic CABG: ICGA Meets TTFM”
Third-year medical students Akshat Modi and Nishil Mehta, and Uday Dasika, MD, assistant professor of surgery, presented their project “Enhancing Graft Assessment in Robotic CABG: ICGA Meets TTFM” at the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Coronary Conference in Chicago on June 13, 2025.
2025 Philadelphia Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience Award
Congratulations to Wesley Corey, a Pharmacology & Physiology program PhD student in the Sanz-Clemente Lab, who earned second place in the graduate student poster competition at the at the 2025 Philadelphia Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting.
2025 AΩA Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship
Margot Bellon, MD ‘27, has been awarded a 2025 AΩA Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship for the research project, “Clinician Perspectives on Reproductive Health Counseling for Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Multi-Center Survey Study.”
Seven Drexel Students and Alumni Receive 2025-26 Fulbright Grants
Congratulations to the seven Drexel students who were recently awarded Fulbright grants, including College of Medicine students Anjalee Bhuyan, MD ’26, who will explore the health impacts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure among brick kiln workers in Nepal, and Mathew Mitchell, MD ’27, who will study human microbiome remodeling for the treatment of non-infectious disease in Hungary. Read more.
ASH HONORS Award
Aura Enache, MD ’26, has been selected by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) to participate in the 2025 ASH HONORS (Hematology Opportunities for the Next Generation of Research Scientists) Award, part of ASH’s investment in hematology research and the next generation of hematology physicians and scientists.
“Melanoma in People Living With HIV: Immune Landscape Dynamics and the Role of Immuno- and Antiviral Therapies”
Lindsay N. Barger, PhD candidate in microbiology and immunology, Olivia S. El Naggar, PhD candidate in molecular and cell biology and genetics, Binh Ha, PhD candidate in pharmacology and physiology, and Gabriele Romano, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacology and physiology, published “Melanoma in People Living With HIV: Immune Landscape Dynamics and the Role of Immuno- and Antiviral Therapies” in Cancer Metastasis Reviews.
“Inflammatory Pain Resolution by Mouse Serum-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles”
College of Medicine students Deepa Reddy, PhD candidate in pharmacology and physiology, and Jason T. DaCunza, PhD candidate in molecular and cell biology and genetics, partnered with faculty and alumni from the college, as well as professors from the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, to author “Inflammatory Pain Resolution by Mouse Serum-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles,” which appeared in Brain Behavior and Immunity.
"Cultural Competency: State Medical Board Mandatory CME"
Gabi Ramos, MD ’27, Valentina S. de Queiroz, MD ’27, and Mark Woodland, MS, MD, associate dean of advocacy and policy, and professor of obstetrics and gynecology, presented a poster, "Cultural Competency: State Medical Board Mandatory CME," at the annual meeting of the Federation of State Medical Boards.
American College of Radiology Medical Student Subcommittee
Dave Chen, MD class of 2027, was recently appointed to serve on the American College of Radiology’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Medical Student Subcommittee.
2025 ASPET Meeting Awards
The Pharmacology and Physiology program was well represented at the recent American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) 2025 meeting in Portland, Oregon. Breanna Channer, Marzieh Daniali, Simran Gill and Katelyn Reeb received ASPET travel awards. Tofunmi Oteju and Clara Xu received Daniel T. O’Connor Young Investigator Travel Awards from the Catecholamine Society. Katelyn Reeb won best graduate student poster presentation award in the neuropharmacology division.
Orthopaedic Surgery Interest Group Travel Scholarship
Simran Shamith, MD class of 2026, recently received the Orthopaedic Surgery Interest Group's travel scholarship funded by the Norman Johanson, MD Orthopedic Fund to attend the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Conference in March 2025. Their work, "Enhanced Recovery After Surgery for Arthroplasty versus Arthroscopy - a Cross Procedure Comparison of Postoperative Opioid Prescriptions In Iowa’s Billion Pill Pledge Program" and "Reducing Post-Operative Opioids Across Different Surgical Specialties – Enhanced Recovery Pathways" was presented during podium presentations. The conference was an opportunity for students and residents, who will be future colleagues, to meet and network.
Daniel T. O’Connor Young Investigator Travel Award
Yibin (Clara) Xu, a PhD student in the Pharmacology and Physiology program and a member of the Ole Mortensen lab, was awarded the Daniel T. O’Connor Young Investigator Travel Award from the Catecholamine Society to attend ASPET 2025 (American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics).
International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering Scholarship
Kimberly Leyzerzon, a master’s student in the Biomedicine and Cell and Gene Therapy program, received a $5,000 scholarship from the Delaware Valley chapter of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering.
Medical Society of Eastern Pennsylvania's McGruder-Knox Scholarship
Jade K. Dodge, MD class of 2027, received the Medical Society of Eastern Pennsylvania's McGruder-Knox Scholarship on February 19, 2025. The McGruder-Knox Scholarship awards one 2nd or 3rd year medical student from each Philadelphia medical school a scholarship for determination to uphold the ideals of the medical profession, the mission of the National Medical Association and demonstration of service to the African American community and diaspora. Learn more at blackdoctorsphiladelphia.com/Scholarship.
Drexel Fulbright Semi-Finalist for Study/Research Grant to Hungary
Mathew Mitchell, class of 2026, is a multifaceted medical student and entrepreneur, bridging the gap between medical innovation, technology, and translational research. His journey, fueled by a personal encounter with the dire consequences of antibiotic resistance, led to the inception of the biopharma startup Organicin Scientific. As a co-founder of Organicin, Mathew has pioneered the development of bacteriocin-based solutions with an emphasis on microbiome modulation for improved health outcomes. He was awarded the Startup Innovation Better Environment Award for his presentation at the UN's FAO World Food Forum, and for his contributions in combating antibiotic resistance and promoting food availability. His academic journey is marked by leadership as the Vice President of his class at Georgetown University while pursuing his MS in Physiology and Biophysics, which he sought after earning his BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UMass Amherst. Mathew is currently earning his MD at Drexel University College of Medicine.
Drexel Fulbright Semi-Finalist for Study/Research Grant to Denmark
Matthew Spangler, class of 2026, is a third-year medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine. He is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Dayton, graduating summa cum laude with a major in biochemistry and a minor in psychology. Throughout his medical school years, Matthew has developed a deep passion for ophthalmology, dedicating much of his time to research in collaboration with leading ophthalmologists at multiple institutions. As a current Fulbright semi-finalist, he hopes to build on his experience by conducting cutting-edge research at the Danish Cornea Bank during the 2025-2026 academic year. With a strong commitment to academic medicine, Matthew aims to pursue an ophthalmology residency and make meaningful contributions to the field through both patient care and research.
Stephen Abrahamson Award: Best of Innovations
Lillian Phung, MD class of 2027, received a “Stephen Abrahamson Award: Best of Innovations” for their presentation “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Usage of Artificial Intelligence Among Medical Education Faculty.” They presented with Carolyn Giordano, PhD, associate professor, family, community and preventative medicine, at the 2025 Innovations in Medical Education Conference (link to https://sites.usc.edu/ime-conference/). The award was given to 6 of the 75 oral presentations focused on how medical education faculty are responding and adapting to AI.
“Exploring the Boundaries of AI: ChatGPT’s Accuracy in Anatomical Image Generation”
Drexel MD program students Simran Shamith and Serena Kothari, Drexel physics program student Neshal Kothari and Dr. Carolyn Giordano, associate professor of family, community and preventative medicine, authored “Exploring the Boundaries of AI: ChatGPT’s Accuracy in Anatomical Image Generation,” accepted for publication in the Journal of Orthopaedic Experience and Innovation.
“High support need groups among autistic children and youth in the United States - Prevalence, overlap, and specific support need”
Jason Kim, MD class of 2027, was awarded 2nd place for their poster, “High support need groups among autistic children and youth in the United States - Prevalence, overlap, and specific support need,” at the Diversity in Medicine Research Symposium in January.
“Changing Trends in Peripheral Nerve Repair: A Two-Decade TriNetX Analysis of Grafting Techniques and the Ascendancy of Allografts”
Tyler Reinoso, MD class of 2026, was awarded 3rd place for their poster, “Changing Trends in Peripheral Nerve Repair: A Two-Decade TriNetX Analysis of Grafting Techniques and the Ascendancy of Allografts,” at the Diversity in Medicine Research Symposium in January.
Incidence of Rosacea Associated With Hormonal Intrauterine Devices
Fourth-year MD students Alexis Arza and Erin Stitzlein, second-year medical student Medha Gupta and Erum Ilyas, MD ’01, associate professor and interim academic chair of dermatology, from the College of Medicine, authored “Incidence of Rosacea Associated With Hormonal Intrauterine Devices: A Comparative Study With Nonhormonal Intrauterine Devices,” which appeared in the Oct. 22 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Congratulations Sanya Ailani!
The third-year MD student won the award for best paper, which explored the correlation between diabetic A1c levels and endophthalmitis, in the highly competitive original cataract papers session at the American Academy of Ophthalmology's annual meeting.
Congratulations Coral Caceres!
Buckfire Law, Southfield, Mich., awarded the third-year MD student the 2024 Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Medical School Diversity Scholarship, which began in 2014 to show the firm’s commitment to helping medical students pursue their educational and career goals.
Congratulations Betty Jackson!
First-year MD student Betty Jackson’s November 16 Scleroderma Walk-a-Thon, raised over $1,300. Funds will support the development of the first online course for children diagnosed with scleroderma.
Congratulations Gokul Karthikeyan and Angie Kuang!
These second-year MD students participated in the 2024 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases' 2024 Medical Student Research Program in Diabetes. They presented their research projects during the program's Medical Student Research Symposium in Nashville.
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