The 76th Annual Senior Scientific Session was founded in 1946 by Dr. Leon Jacobson to provide fourth year medical students with a forum in which to present their research. Dr. Jacobson felt strongly that the Senior Scientific Session demonstrated what makes medical education at the University of Chicago so unique. Each year nearly one third of the graduating class participates in this event. This year, over half the graduating class took part in the Session.
In 2012, a grateful alumnus, Dr. Charles Pak, established the John D. Arnold, MD, Scientific Research Prize. This prize was established in recognition of the impact that his mentor had on his education and future career in research. The Arnold Scientific Research Prize recognizes students whose research accomplishments as medical students are based on ongoing, sustained work with a single faculty mentor. Mentors of the selected students are honored with the John D. Arnold, MD Mentor Award for sustained excellence in mentoring medical students.
This year’s John D. Arnold, MD Mentor Awards are bestowed upon:
Sarosh Rana, MD, MPH, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, who mentored Sarah Heimberger on a project titled Women's perspectives and attitudes towards the utility of angiogenic biomarkers in preeclampsia.
Lucy Godley, MD, Hospira Foundation Professor of Medicine; Professor of Human Genetics, who mentored Anase Asom on a project titled Germline loss of function BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations confer risk for primary hematologic malignancies.
Neda Laiteerapong, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine; Associate Director, Center for Chronic Disease Research and Policy, who mentored Tyler Miksanek on a project titled Time-Based Billing Preferentially Benefits Low Volume Clinics.
Milda Saunders, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, who mentored Daniel Ahn on a project titled Utility of Geriatric Assessments in Evaluation of Older Adults for Kidney Transplantation.
Senior Scientific Session by the numbers
Participants
Poster Presentations
Oral Presentations
Faculty Judges
Faculty Mentors
2022 Senior Scientific Session Award Winners
Catherine Dobson Prize
For the best oral presentation given by a student in the area of Scientific Investigation in Clinical Research or Social Sciences
| Student | Project | Mentor |
| Shira Fishbach |
15 High Rates of Ultraviolet-Signature Mutations in Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Parotid Gland and Prognostic Implications |
Nicole Cipriani, MD |
Leon O. Jacobson Basic Science Prize (MD/PhD students)
Granted to the MD/PhD student whose Basic Science Research is judged to be the most meritorious from among session participants
| Student | Project | Mentor |
| Alexander Guzzetta, PhD |
A Hedgehog-Fgf signaling axis patterns anterior mesoderm lineages during gastrulation |
Ivan Moskowitz, MD, PhD |
Leon O. Jacobson Prize (non-PhD Students)
For the best oral presentation given by a non-PhD student in the area of the Basic Biological Sciences
| Student | Project | Mentor |
| James Fan |
Is miR let-7c protective against Acute Chest Syndrome in Sickle Cell Disease? |
Gabrielle Lapping-Carr, MD |
Medical and Biological Sciences Alumni Association Prize
For the best presentation made by a student in the area of Applied Scholarship
| Student | Project | Mentor |
| Tyler Miksanek |
Time-Based Billing Preferentially Benefits Low Volume Clinics |
Neda Laiteerapong, MD, MS |
The Alpern Preisig Research Prize for Impact on Society – Oral Presentation
Granted to the oral presenter whose research was judged as most impactful on society
| Student | Project | Mentor |
| Itzel Lopez-Hinojosa |
A Qualitative Study of Violent Political Rhetoric and Health Implications for Spanish and Chinese Speaking Immigrants |
Elizabeth Tung, MD, MS |
Award for Best Poster Describing Applied Scholarship
| Student | Project | Mentor |
| Jorge Luis De Avila |
33 Historical Perspective on the Evolution of the Concepts and Pedagogy of the Health Equity, Advocacy, and Anti-Racism (HEAR) Course via Student Reflections |
Milda Saunders, MD, MPH |
Award for Best Poster Describing Scientific Investigation in Basic Sciences
| Student | Project | Mentor |
| Mark Dapash |
38 Dual TGF-β and PD1 blockade promotes germinal-center B-cell immune responses against glioblastoma |
Catalina Lee-Chang, PhD |
Award for Best Poster Describing Scientific Investigation in Clinical Research or Social Sciences
| Student | Project | Mentor |
| Aaditi Naik |
35 Factors Influencing the Likelihood that Black and Non-Black Patients with Pelvic Pain Proceed to Surgery |
Amanda Adeleye, MD |
The Alpern Preisig Research Prize for Impact on Society – Poster Presentation
Granted to the poster presenter whose research was judged as most impactful on society
| Student | Project | Mentor |
| Yazan Eliyan |
56 Olfactory Dysfunction Predicts the Development of Depression in Older US Adults |
Jayant Pinto, MD |
Franklin McLean Medical Student Research Award
Granted to the PhD Student who presented the most meritorious research in the medical field
| Student | Project | Mentor |
| Lia DeRoin |
43 Feasibility and limitations of cultured skin fibroblasts for germline genetic testing in hematologic disorders |
Jane Churpek, MD, MS |