Two VCOM-Carolinas students are gaining national research experience while representing the College on an international stage.
Camila Pacocha and Shadika Panta, both members of the Class of 2028, recently presented their research at the Keystone Symposia Conference: Spotlight on the Cancer Cell. The prestigious conference brings together leading scientists and researchers to share advances in cancer biology and emerging discoveries shaping the future of treatment and understanding of the disease.
The students are conducting their ongoing research under the mentorship of Bidyut Mohanty, PhD, VCOM-Carolinas discipline chair and associate professor for cell biology and physiology. Through his guidance, Camila and Shadika developed and presented their work among experts and innovators in the field.
VCOM-Carolinas dean Matthew Cannon, DO, praised both the students and their mentor.
“I am extremely proud of Dr. Mohanty’s leadership and his body of work in working with these two students, Camila and Shadika, on this research and the conference presentation,” said Dr. Cannon.
For Camila and Shadika, the conference offered more than just a platform to present—it provided a glimpse into the broader research community and the future of cancer science.
The conference was a fantastic experience for Shadika and me, and we learned so much. The research world is vast, and so many of the people we met and the talks we listened to had such profound ideas and data. We hope that we were good representatives for VCOM in the research world and are excited to see where it will go!
Their participation reflects VCOM-Carolinas’ continued commitment to fostering research engagement and mentorship opportunities for students. By working alongside dedicated faculty leaders like Dr. Mohanty, students gain hands-on experience that strengthens their understanding of biomedical science and enhances their preparation for future clinical practice.
Congratulations to Camila, Shadika, and Dr. Mohanty on this outstanding achievement.