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2015 Symposium

Rohini Mehta, a member of the Class of 2015
Rohini Mehta, a member of the Class of 2015, listens as one of her classmates discusses his research project.

The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine is producing strong scientist physicians, as evidenced by the second annual VTCSOM Medical Student Research Symposium, which took place on March 27, 2015.

Four medical students discuss a poster presentation.
Four medical students discuss a poster presentation. In addition to the oral presentations, all members of the Class of 2015 presented their research during two afternoon poster presentations, where students, faculty, staff, and members of the public could learn more about the different projects.
James Dittmar explains his research project to fellow Class of 2015 member Sam Bircher, and Rohit Dasgupta, a member of the Class of 2018.
James Dittmar explains his research project to fellow Class of 2015 member Sam Bircher, and Rohit Dasgupta, a member of the Class of 2018. Dittmar received both a Letter of Distinction for Best Research Project and a Letter of Distinction for Research Productivity for his work with Dr. Greg Valdez, an assistant professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute.
Sanghee Suh displays her poster for her fellow medical students.
Sanghee Suh displays her poster for her fellow medical students.
Robert Varipapa explains his research project to his fellow medical students.
Robert Varipapa explains his research project to his fellow medical students.
Shani Weerakoon, a member of the Class of 2015, stands in the front of his poster presentation.
Shani Weerakoon, a member of the Class of 2015, stands in the front of his poster presentation.
Carlie Blake, a member of the Class of 2015, and Dr. Harry Dorn, an assistant professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, study her poster presentation.
Carlie Blake, a member of the Class of 2015, and Dr. Harry Dorn, an assistant professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, study her poster presentation.
Dr. Michael Friedlander, executive director of the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute
Dr. Michael Friedlander, executive director of the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, addresses the audience at the VTCSOM Medical Student Research Symposium. Dr. Friedlander also serves as the senior dean for research at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.
Josh Eikenberg, a member of the Class of the 2015, presents his research project.
Josh Eikenberg, a member of the Class of the 2015, presents his research project. Eikenberg received both a Letter of Distinction for Best Research Project and a Letter of Distinction for Research Productivity for his project, "Prediabetes phenotype influences improvements in glycemia with resistance training." His mentor was Dr. Brenda Davy, the Graduate Program Director of the Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech.
Jacquelyn Wentworth, a member of the Class of 2015, presents her research project.
Jacquelyn Wentworth, a member of the Class of 2015, presents her research project. She received a Letter of Distinction for her project, "Defining the requirement of the PSAP late domain in hepatitis E viral egress and infectivity." Her mentor was Dr. XJ Meng, a University Distinguished Professor of Molecular Virology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.
Shravan Kumar, a member of the Class of 2015, presents his research project
Shravan Kumar, a member of the Class of 2015, presents his research project to an audience of faculty, fellow medical students, and the public. Kumar received a Letter of Distinction for his project, "Management of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome at Carilion Clinic Children's Hospital."
Sam Bircher, a member of the Class of 2015
Sam Bircher, a member of the Class of 2015, listens intently as one of his classmates discusses their research project.
Sarah McDonald, PhD, an assistant professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute,
Sarah McDonald, PhD, an assistant professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, was the keynote speaker at this year's research symposium. Dr. McDonald has mentored seven medical students in her lab, where she studies rotavirus, a common childhood virus that is easily treatable in the United States but has a high morality rate in the developing world.
Erin Straight, a member of the Class of 2015, listens during the oral presentations.
Erin Straight, a member of the Class of 2015, listens during the oral presentations. Eight students received Letters of Distinction for Best Research Project, and those students presented their projects to an audience consisting of their fellow students and medical school and research institute faculty and staff.