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UTGSM Completes Third 'Advancing Access to Careers in Medicine Scholars Program'
From left to right: Rilee King, Jamisen Mobley, Hanna Boshnag, Rhea Joshi, Yaswanth Singamaneni, and Fern Shirley
This summer, the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine completed its third Advancing Access to Careers in Medicine Scholars Program (AACMSP). Led by Dr. Deidra Mountain, PhD, Director of the Undergraduate Research Experience, the initiative aimed to broaden opportunities for first-generation college students and those from diverse backgrounds, fostering greater access to careers in medicine and/or translational sciences. Through the program, participants gained valuable insights into the ongoing research endeavors at The University of Tennessee Medical Center.
As part of the program, students spent eight weeks conducting research that has the potential to positively impact detection and treatment of a variety of disease pathologies. Students also engage in a series of Professional Development Workshops where they are mentored on topics such as the medical school admissions, matriculation to medical and graduate education, progression through post-graduate medical training, MD and PhD pathway career opportunities, and more.
This years’ participants included six students who come from diverse backgrounds but share a common goal of pursuing careers in medicine.
Fern Shirley is a first-generation college student from rural Texas, whose family recently immigrated from the Caribbean. She is a rising Junior at UTK, majoring in Animal Science. Following completion of her undergraduate degree, she plans to pursue a career as a physician specializing in women's health within a rural agricultural community of the United States. "Female residents of rural communities are more vulnerable to chronic disease, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. This can be attributed to undiagnosed underlying health conditions, their lesser proximity to intensive health care, and minimal health insurance coverage compared to women living in urban settings," stated Ms. Shirley. "I feel that immersing myself within the research being done surrounding the causative factors of these diseases that are most commonly associated with women (such as what is provided at UTGSM AACMSP), is vital to my objective of serving the people in these communities in years to come." Through the AACSMP, Ms. Shirley was mentored by Dr. Jill Maples in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her project involved investigating blood lactate values as an indicator of metabolic dysfunction during pregnancy.
Jamisen Mobley, a native of Chattanooga, TN, is an upcoming Senior at UTK majoring in Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology with a minor in Public Health. She is involved with Remote Area Medical and Global Medical Brigade. Following completion of her undergraduate degree, Ms. Mobley plans to pursue medical school and a career as a physician, driven by a desire to provide care for underserved communities. "Not only do I feel strongly about providing care for underserved communities, but I am also passionate about bridging the gap of healthcare disparities, especially in my community. I am an African American woman, and people who look like me face many disadvantages in this country. I want to be a part of the change and advocate for people of my community," said Ms. Mobley. Through AACSMP, Ms. Mobley was mentored by Dr. Joseph Jackson, in the Oncolytic Cancer Therapeutics Laboratory. Her project implemented the use of an oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus and how it can be engineered to combat glioblastoma.
Rilee King is a first-generation college student from East Tennessee. She is an upcoming Senior at UTK, majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology. Ms. King has been active in the non-profit Child Help organization, which manages cases and provides treatment for children who are victims of abuse, and she volunteers as a part of ClinicVols at a Knox County elementary school in the nurse's office. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, she plans to pursue a career as a pediatrician. "I have a passion for the care and safety of children and want to be able to keep them healthy," said Ms. King. Through AACMSP, Ms. King was mentored by Dr. Nikki Zite and Ms. Alicia Mastronardi on a project to evaluate the impact of the SCOTUS Dobbs decision on the percentage of post-partum women electing long-term or permanent contraceptive options.
Rhea Joshi, an East Tennessee native, is a Junior at UTK majoring in Public Health with a minor in Sociology. Prior to the program, she served with Global Medical Brigades on mission in Honduras and is currently leading recruitment for the 2024 brigade to Guatemala. Her experience through Global Brigades has sparked at passion to pursue a career to work towards a world with less health and economic disparity and she has a dream of delivering medical care to globally underserved populations. Following completion of her undergraduate degree, Ms. Joshi plans to pursue medical school and a career with Doctors without Borders to give medical care to the most vulnerable of populations globally. Through the AACMSP, she was mentored by Dr. Manasi Balachandran in the Amyloidosis and Cancer Theranostics Program. Her project involved developing novel CAR-Macrophages as a potential treatment for Amyloid clearance.
Hanna Boshnag is from Knoxville and graduated from L&N Stem Academy after her parents immigrated to the United States from Egypt. She is an upcoming Junior at UTK, majoring in Microbiology with a minor in Social Justice. She currently works as a medical scribe to support her education and volunteers at a non-profit Shifa medical clinic, which provides primary care to underserved communities. After completion of her undergraduate degree, she intends to pursue an MD or MD/PhD degree and aims to leverage her unique background and cultural duality to as an advantage in helping others in the immigrant community. Through the AACSMP, Ms. Boshnag was mentored by Dr. Tom Masi in the Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine. Her project involved a survey of endothelial cell culture conditions to determine the influence of adipose derived stem cells on cellular proliferation as a way to promote angiogenesis.
Yaswanth Singamaneni, originally from India, is an upcoming Senior at UTK, majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Public Health. Prior to the program, he worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant, which he says solidified his passion for working in the field of healthcare. "I am privileged to have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of patients and their families. Being able to see the improved health outcomes is really motivating and provides inspiration for me to work harder," stated Mr. Singamaneni. Following completion of his undergraduate degree, Mr. Singamaneni plans to pursue a career as a Neurosurgeon with an MD/PhD dual degree. Through the AACMSP, he was mentored by Dr. Michael Karlstad in the Trauma, Inflammation, and Diabetes Research Laboratory. His project involved evaluating the effect of monoclonal antibody administration to protect against beta cell destruction and reverse type I diabetes in a mouse model.
Posted October 11, 2023