College of Medicine M.D. with Research Honors Program
The M.D. with Research Honors Program is available in the College of Medicine for medical students who desire to conduct research in an area of the health sciences in depth. Many students initiate their interest in research through the Medical Student Research Program, which supports medical student research prior to the first year and between the freshman and sophomore years of medical school. The Research Honors Program consists of: 1) selecting a mentor and preparing a proposal on a research project that will be carried out during the course of medical school; 2) ultimately preparing a manuscript which is submission-ready for a peer review journal; 3) giving an oral presentation of this work to members of the M.D. with Research Honors Committee, interested students and faculty members.
The student who satisfactorily completes these requirements will have the notation "Research With Honors" on their College of Medicine transcript and diploma. The program is open to all students (except those entering their senior year without research experience), who are in good academic standing and who arrange, during medical school, the time to devote to a defined and approved research project.
The Research Project
There are no restrictions on the type of project that may be undertaken. The only requirement is that each project contains an element of originality. In those cases where a student participates in an ongoing project, he/she must assume responsibility for that portion in which they are involved. The project can be pursued during the summer months and during senior elective time. Work during the summer may be supported by a stipend but work for which elective credit is received are generally not supported by a stipend. Students are encouraged, however, to seek extramural, research fellowships, if applicable.
Summary of Requirements for Completion
- The student should identify a faculty sponsor and department in which to work during their sophomore year if possible. The faculty sponsor must have an appointment in the Whiddon College of Medicine.
- The research project proposal (as defined in the Application) must be submitted to the Chair of the M.D. with Research Honors Committee by the end of the first semester of the junior year. Early submission is strongly recommended.
- Within 4 weeks of submission of the proposal, the applicant will make a presentation to the committee describing the proposal and the timeline for its completion.
- The student must submit a progress update, co-signed by the mentor, to the committee prior to January 15 of the senior year of medical school (a short report reiterating the specific aims of the project and the progress made on each).
- The student must prepare a manuscript ready for submission for publication prior to March 15 of the senior year and provide the committee with the copy
- The student must make an oral presentation summarizing the project to the members of the Research Honors Committee, interested students, and faculty members. The committee must approve the completed work as fulfilling the requirements for the program.
- The preparation of the manuscript and presentation of the work must be completed prior to certification to the Dean that the student has completed requirements for graduation with Research Honors.
Research Honors Program Application Guidelines
A proposal describing the research project to be conducted must be written by the student with the aid of faculty mentor and submitted to the M.D. with Research Honors Committee by the end of the first semester of the junior year. The proposal should clearly define a topic for study which can be completed during medical school. Within four weeks of submission of the proposal, the applicant should make a short presentation to the program committee describing the proposal and the timeline to completion. Project approval is based primarily on the scientific merit of the proposal.
Restrict the prospectus to ONE PAGE, single spaced - to include:
- TITLE
- BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE
- OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS
- SPECIFIC AIMS AND METHODOLOGY TO COMPLETE
Students should also submit a cover page [PDF] with mentor signature indicating that all training and committee approvals have been secured.
Students will present their project in full at the meeting and we will see preliminary data and have the opportunity to ask any questions.
Current and Past Participants
Students who are currently in the program or recently have completed the program are shown below.
Class of 2026
Nathaniel Olliff
Advisor: Dr. Glen Borchert
Department: Pharmacology
Project: "Human YRNA 4 (HY4) plasma levels are a prognostic indicator of, and are
potentially directly involved with, SARS-CoV-2 infection clinical severity"
Emily Hartsell
Advisor: Dr. Ray Langley
Department: Pharmacology
Project: "Differential Transcript Usage in Influenza A Infected Human Lung Organoids"
Harris Bolus
Advisor: Dr. Richard Honkanen
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Project: "A Proteogenomic Approach to the Pathophysiology of Jordan Syndrome"
Allen Perkins
Advisor: Dr. Christopher Francis
Department: Physiology and Cell Biology
Project: "Calcium flux behavior corresponding to IP3 concentration gradients in a
multi-cellular experimental and computational models"
Class of 2025
Rachael Motamed
Advisor: Dr. Robert Barrington
Department: Microbiology & Immunology
Project: "FPR-mediated wound healing in hyper-IgE syndrome"
Hanna Bobinger
Advisor: Dr. Amy Nelson
Department: Physiology and Cell Biology
Project: "Aβ1-42 oligomers induce pericyte dysfunction via p75 neurotrophin receptor"
Ryleigh Randall
Advisor: Dr. Amy Nelson
Department: Physiology and Cell Biology
Project: "Brain pericyte dysfunction in normal aging"
Chandler Hinson
Advisors: Kimberly Donnellan, M.D., F.A.C.S. & Andrew C. Bright, D.O.
Department: Surgery
Project: "Ablative CO 2 fractionated laser for functional and cosmetic improvement
of hypertrophic scarring in burn patients"
Parker Norman
Advisor: Dr. Meghan Hermance
Department: Microbiology & Immunology
Project: "Investigating co-feeding transmission of Heartland Virus between the North
American tick, Amblyomma americanum, and the invasive East Asian tick, Haemaphysalis
longicornis"
Cade Smelley
Advisor: Dr. Tyler McDonald
Department: Orthopaedic Surgery
Project: "Do Patient-Answered Versus Parent-Answered Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs)
Differ in Pediatric Fracture Care?"
Naden Kreitz
Advisor: Dr. David Williams
Department: Institutional and Academic Success
Project: "Opioid Education and Prevention from a Medical Student Perspective"
Class of 2024
Kiley Brady
Advisor: Dr. Casey Daniel
Department: Family Medicine and MCI
Project: "HPV vaccination rates and perceptions following release of COVID-19 vaccinations"
Residency: Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton | Family Medicine | San Diego, CA
Daniel Irelan
Advisor: Dr. Wito Richter
Department: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Project: "Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) as a therapeutic target in obesity and metabolic
syndrome"
Residency: Tulane Univ SOM | Internal Medicine |New Orleans, LA
Class of 2023
Sarah Fillingim
Advisor: Dr. Casey Daniel
Department: Family Medicine and MCI
Project: "Characteristics of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 among patients in a South
Alabama health system and associated risk factors"
Residency: University of Mississippi Medical Center | Dermatology | Jackson, MS
Class of 2022
Ryan Heslin
Advisor: Dr. Leander Grimm, Jr.
Department: Surgery
Project: "Association of surgical volume on rectal cancer outcomes: a longitudinal
single-institution study"
Residency: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | General Surgery | Dallas,
TX
Elise Mann
Advisor: Dr. Natalie Gassman
Department: Physiology and Cell Biology
Project: "The impact of DNA damage on PD-L1 upregulation in ovarian tumor samples"
Residency: Methodist Hospital | Obstetrics‐Gynecology | Houston, TX
William McDonough
Advisor: Dr. Wito Richter
Department: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Project: "PAN-selective inhibition of cAMP-phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) induces gastroparesis
in mice"
Residency: William Beaumont Army Medical Center | General Surgery | El Paso, TX
Class of 2021
Stuart McFarland
Advisors: Drs. David Weber and Mark Taylor
Department: Physiology and Cell Biology
Project: "Endothelial Trpv4 Channels are crucial mediators of Ca2+ signaling during
endothelium dependent vasodilation"
Residency: University of Mississippi Medical Center | Ophthalmology | Jackson, MS
Lane McLendon
Advisor: Dr. Casey Daniel
Department: Family Medicine and MCI
Project: "HPV and HPV vaccine knowledge and attitudes among young adults in Alabama"
Residency: University of Florida | Pediatrics | Gainesville, FL
Erin Schmale
Advisor: Dr. Jonathan Rayner
Department: Microbiology and Immunology
Project: "Towards the development of a high-throughput immunological assay to evaluate
neutralizing antibodies against Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus"
Residency: St. Vincent's East | Family Medicine | Birmingham, AL
Macy Vickers
Advisor: Dr. Casey Daniel
Department: Family Medicine and MCI
Project: "Examining factors associated with HPV vaccination uptake in Alabama and
the impact of providing an alternative vaccination setting"
Residency: University of South Alabama | Obstetrics and Gynecology | Mobile, AL
Class of 2020
Dylan Adams
Advisor: Dr. Sarah Sayner
Department: Physiology and Cell Biology and Center for Lung Biology
Project Title: “Regulation of pulmonary endothelial cell intracellular pH by sodium
proton exchangers (NHEs)”
Residency: University of Vermont | Neurological Surgery | Burlington, VT
Michael Marfice
Advisor: Dr. Natalie Bauer
Department: Pharmacology
Project Title: “Determination and characterization of extracellular vesicle populations
as biomarkers of the severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension”
Residency: South Baldwin Regional Medical Center | Family Medicine | Foley, AL
Class of 2017
Carmen Lopez
Advisors: Drs. Silas Leavesley and Thomas Rich
Departments: Chemical Engineering and Pharmacology
Project: "Hyperspectral imaging approaches for endoscopic colon cancer detection"
Residency: Tulane University | Internal Medicine | New Orleans, LA
Megan Zak
Advisor: Dr. Mark Taylor
Department: Physiology and Cell Biology
Project: "Influence of oxytocin-induced release of intracellular calcium stores on
KCa2.3 channels in uterine smooth muscle"
Residency: University of Utah | General Surgery | Salt Lake City, UT
Class of 2015
Hayden Hundley
Advisor: Dr. Hanes Swingle
Department: Pediatrics
Project: "Acquisition of toilet training skills in typical and atypical children"
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center | Anesthesiology | Pittsburgh,
PA
Class of 2013
Russell Terry
Advisor: Dr. Petra Rocic
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Project: "Impaired vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis and excessive proliferation
in coronary collateral growth in the metabolic syndrome"
Residency: University of Florida | Urology | Gainesville, FL
William Gannon
Advisor: Dr. Hanes Swingle
Department: Pediatrics
Project: "Craniofacial dysmorphism and developmental disorders among children with
chromosomal microdeletions and duplications of unknown significance"
Residency: UAB | Ophthalmology | Birmingham, AL
Class of 2012
Luke Wiggins
Advisor: Dr. Petra Rocic
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Project: "Role of matrix metalloproteinases in coronary collateral growth"
Residency: University of Southern California | Thoracic Surgery | Los Angeles, CA
Andrew Vincent
Advisor: Dr. Lalita Shevde-Samant
Department: USA Mitchell Cancer Institute
Project: "Understanding the diametric role of NUPR1 in human breast cancer"
Residency: University of Tennessee | Radiology | Knoxville, TN
Class of 2010
Aaron Mates
Advisors: Drs. Val Grishko and Albert Pearsall
Department: Orthopedics
Project: "Role of hyaluronic acid in mitochondrial function and mitochondrial-driven
apoptosis following oxidative stress in human osteoarthritic chrondrocytes”
Residency: University of South Alabama | Orthopaedic Surgery | Mobile, AL
Contact Information
Christopher Davies, Ph.D., Chair
Associate Dean for Research
Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine
5795 USA Drive North, Mobile, AL 36688
Phone: (251) 341-3826
cdavies@southalabama.edu
Skye Andrade, Program Coordinator
Office of the Associate Dean for Research
Whiddon College of Medicine, CSAB 232
Phone: (251) 461-1910
skyeandrade@southalabama.edu
M.D. with Research Honors Committee Members
Barrington, Robert, Ph.D. | Department of Microbiology & Immunology
Langley, Raymond, Ph.D. | Department of Pharmacology
Richter, Wito, Ph.D. | Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Weber, David, Ph.D. | Department of Physiology & Cell Biology
Tyler, Shannon, M.D. | Internal Medicine-Infectious Disease, USA Health Physicians Group
Roveda, Kelly, M.D. | Associate Dean, Student Affairs
Soltys, John, M.D. | PE Neurology-Clinical Services, USA Health Physician Enterprise