Students, Faculty Recognized at Research Forum

Eight UW students and two faculty members were recognized for outstanding research abstracts and presentations at the Western Student Medical Research Forum (WSMRF) and Resident's Forum in Monterey and Carmel, Calif., this past winter.

The WSMRF and Resident's Forum are held in conjunction with the Western Regional Inter-Society Meetings of the Western American Federation for Medical Research, the Western Association of Physicians, the Western Society for Clinical Investigation, the Western Society for Pediatric Research, and the California Thoracic Society.

More than 350 research abstracts were submitted from medical students across the western United States and Canada. Residents, research fellows, and faculty members also submitted more than 200 abstracts. The UW had 81 student abstracts and presentations, more than any other medical school.

Six UW medical students were selected among the 20 subspecialty award winners for top student abstracts: Jennifer Moe, Cory Nitzel, Aaron Shur, Tracy Tylee, Paul Anderson, and Jacki Vasen. Two other UW students, Esther Fine and Giana Davidson, were among the students recognized for their presentations in the student scientific sessions.

Two UW faculty members received Outstanding Investigator Awards: Dr. Conrad Liles, associate professor of medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Molly Carr, acting assistant professor of medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition.

Several faculty members, in addition to Liles, served as moderators, including Dr. John Coombs, associate dean for regional affairs, rural health, and graduate medical education; Dr. Susan Marshall, assistant dean for curriculum; Dr. Tom Nighswander, WWAMI program clinical medical education coordinator at the University of Alaska, Anchorage; Dr. Wesley Van Voorhis, professor of medicine; and Dr. Bradley Anawalt, associate professor of medicine and physician at the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System.

In addition, Dr. Roger Rosenblatt, professor vice-chair of family medicine, was co-executive director of the event, and Brian Zeglen, administrative specialist in the UW Office of Regional Affairs, was co-program director.