VCOM-Carolinas brought together students, faculty, and guests on Feb. 20, 2026, for its annual Via Research Recognition Day, highlighting the depth, range, and real-world impact of student scholarship across campus.
The event featured a full day of poster presentations, oral sessions, and discussion, reflecting both the rigor of the curriculum and the collaborative culture that defines the VCOM-Carolinas campus. Students presented work spanning biomedical science, clinical research, public health, and case-based inquiry—demonstrating how research at VCOM connects directly to patient care and community impact.
A keynote address from physician-scientist Yusuf A. Hannun, MD, offered a perspective on translational research and the future of biomedical discovery, reinforcing the College’s focus on connecting students with leaders at the forefront of medicine.
Among the highlights of the day were student poster awards across multiple categories:
Biomedical Research
First Place: Diti Patel ‘28, Potential Protective Role of Polycytosine-Binding Proteins in Melanoma-Associated UV Damage
- Second Place: Rachael Baker ‘29 and Randi Dias ‘29, Thermally Activated Irreversible Homogenization of G-Quadruplexes in ALS/FTD-Associated Gene
- Third Place: Samuel Leiszler ‘28, Mechanisms of Action of G-Quadruplex on Transcription
Clinical and Educational Research
First Place: Sree Gayathri Annamraju ‘28, Outcomes of Implementing Oral Health Screenings in an Underserved Primary Care Setting
- Second Place: Hannah Elford ‘26, Comparing Childhood and Adult Trauma in Addiction Recovery
- Third Place: Cesar Prugue ‘26, Changes in USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK Pass Rate Among MD and DO Students After Pass/Fail Transition
Case Reports
First Place: Elena Gaston ‘27, A Rare Case of Sequential Contralateral Tubal Pregnancies
- Second Place: Jenny Park Curtis ‘26 and Danielle Pierson VCOM-Auburn ‘26, From Deficiency to Recovery: Resolution of Idiopathic CD4+ T-Cell Lymphocytopenia Following AML Treatment
- Third Place: Bryson Rose ‘27, Medical Management of Hemiballismus Secondary to Nonketotic Hyperglycemia in a Rehabilitation Unit: A Case Report
Via Research Recognition Day continues to be a cornerstone of the academic year at VCOM-Carolinas, reinforcing the importance of research in medical education and preparing students to think critically, contribute to scholarship, and lead in an evolving healthcare landscape.
