Research Mentor Fair Connected Students with Valuable Resources

Tailored for first year medical students but open to all the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix’s students, the inaugural Research Mentor Fair was held on the college's  campus in the Virginia G. Piper auditorium.

With more than two dozen booths, medical students and residents associated with the medical school could explore active projects, browse for mentorship opportunities and connect with basic science, translational and clinical departments at the college. Each booth had faculty leaders and coordinators ready to answer questions. The energy and enthusiasm was undeniably palpable.

Corey Casper, MD, MPH, a professor of Clinical Translational Science and Internal Medicine, as well as the chief research officer at Banner Health, served as a speaker for the event.

Dr. Casper encouraged students to engage with researchers working at the booths — each representing the different departments at the College of Medicine – Phoenix — and admire the acceleration of discoveries seen in medicine and research.

"Banner Health provides an exceptional opportunity showing the impact of research that couldn't happen anywhere else," Dr. Casper said. "That's because of this unique partnership with Banner Health, one of the nation's largest health care delivery systems, and the University of Arizona's incredible medical school, where we all stand today."

Fred E. Wondisford, MD, MS, MBA, dean of the College of Medicine – Phoenix, shared his experience as a medical student experimenting with different departments in medicine before finding his interest in endocrinology. He also provided insight on the importance of events such as this one.

“If you ask questions, research can provide answers,” Dean Wondisford said. “Our research has dramatically increased in the last couple of years and there’s a lot more opportunities for you here.”

Those that attended the event networked with fellow students and researchers in the College of Medicine – Phoenix’s community.

Vladmir Ermakov, a first-year medical student at the college, is interested in pursuing neurology or cardiology. He said he hoped to talk with a few researchers at the event and start conducting his own research soon.

“What I look for in a mentor is someone who is willing to share the path they took,” Ermakov said. “I can take inspiration from that, learn from what they have done and apply their advice on my path.”

First-year medical students Rebecca Rodrigues and Heidi Piña also attended. Piña is interested in pursuing surgery and is looking for a balance between guidance and autonomy from a mentor.

“I am looking for a mentor who can both guide and challenge me,” Piña said. “Someone who gives me space to make mistakes and learn from them but also helps me get back on track when I fail.”

Rodrigues and Piña are both serving as research chairs for the college’s Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA). Rodrigues said that, with this new position, the organization seeks to collect data focused on underrepresented communities.

“Something we’re looking to do is create a research track that connect students with potential research projects,” Rodrigues said. “We want to start conducting studies that demonstrate the impact LMSA has had on our Phoenix community.”

More than 160 medical students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and residents were in attendance.