From Questions to Breakthroughs: UCSF Medical Students Present Research at Spring Inquiry Symposium
Karen Reyes presenting at the 2025 UCSF School of Medicine Spring Inquiry Symposium
On May 12, 2025, 132 fourth-year UCSF medical students presented original research at the Spring Inquiry Symposium, held at Millbery Union on the UCSF Parnassus Heights campus. Projects spanned basic science and clinical science with qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and topics ranging from drug resistance in glioblastoma to the future of AI in health care.
The Symposium marks the culmination of the UCSF School of Medicine’s Inquiry Curriculum, which is designed to foster a lifelong “habit of mind” – transforming students from consumers of scientific knowledge into contributors to the field.
During their final year of medical school, students complete an independent project known as “Deep Explore”, with 12 to 20 weeks of protected time and dedicated faculty mentorship. An additional 24 students took part in the Yearlong Inquiry Program (YIP), receiving extended support including stipends, conference funding, and advanced training opportunities.
“Deep Explore and YIP foster the curiosity and growth mindset essential to every physician’s development,” said Ma Somsouk, MD, MAS, Associate Director of the Yearlong Inquiry Program (YIP) and faculty member.
Rita Redberg, MD, MS, Inquiry Curriculum Director, called the event “a celebration of the students’ work, and what they have achieved over the last year.” She added, “The challenges of recent years only reinforce the importance of all forms of scholarship in advancing health and health science worldwide.”
This year’s program included a “Fireside Chat” focused on Artificial Intelligence and the future of health care featuring Robert Wachter, MD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine, in conversation with Anna Park, Class of 2025. “AI has the potential to make care better, safer, and more affordable,” Dr. Wachter said, expressing optimism about the Class of 2025’s potential to shape the future of medicine.
Dean's Prize Recipients
Each year, ten students who demonstrate outstanding scholarship are awarded the Dean’s Prize for their contributions in Deep Explore or Yearlong Research. Winners are chosen based on the strength of their abstract, mentor nomination, and presentation to the faculty review committee.
Dean’s Prize in Deep Explore Awardees:
Arielle Ilano, mentored by Carissa Chu, MD, Assistant Professor of Urology
Arielle likes the collaborative process of research, working together with interdisciplinary colleagues to bring together different perspectives to shape an idea. Arielle and her team presented their project in multiple conferences across the country and plan to submit the manuscript for publication.
Kendall Islam, mentored by Meghana Gadgil, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine
Kendall enjoys that research gives her the chance to think creatively and to approach clinical questions with a skill set to answer them. She plans to submit her research manuscript for publication.
Anika Kumar, mentored by Nisha Acharya, MD, MS, Professor, Proctor Foundation
“Risk Factors for Long COVID Among Individuals with Non-infectious Uveitis in a Large United States Claims Database”
Anika considers research an incredibly powerful complement to practicing clinical medicine. She appreciates that the investigative process allows her to come up with innovative ways to answer clinical questions. She presented her research findings at the American Uveitis Society 2024 Annual Meeting and submitted a manuscript for publication.
Gunnar Mattson, mentored by Amanda Twigg, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology
“Experiences of Atopic Dermatitis Patients with Climate Change Exposures”
Gunnar loves research for its opportunity to convey the lived experiences behind complex public health challenges and translate them into insights that can drive more responsive, equitable care. He presented his research project at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting earlier this year and submitted a manuscript for publication.
Dean’s Prize in Yearlong Research Awardees:
Brook Abegaze, mentored by Ruby Ghadially, MD, Professor of Dermatology
“Aging Leads to Changes in both Keratinocyte Stem Cell and Committed Progenitor Proliferation”
Brook’s research project aims to investigate what aspects of keratinocyte proliferation kinetics change with age, whether these changes impact both keratinocyte stem cells (SC) and committed progenitors (CP), and if these changes are amenable to reversal. He found that while aged keratinocytes possess cell-autonomous changes that lead to aphasia, at least some of these changes are amenable to rejuvenation. Brook’s project has been presented at multiple conferences, earned an abstract award, and is under review for publication.
Vardhaan Ambati, mentored by Shawn Hervey-Jumper, MD, Professor of Neurological Surgery
“Intraoperative Electrophysiologic Biomarkers Predict Critical Speech Sites in Glioma-Infiltrated Cortex.”
Vardhaan’s research project aims to assess the use of electrophysiological recordings of neuronal activity to predict critical language sites in the brain. He found that direct cortical mapping (DCS)+ sites demonstrate unique electrophysiological signature in both speech production and resting state and that resting state differences in electrical signatures can predict critical language sites. His research project was presented at multiple conferences, including the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS), where he received the First Place Award (Informatics Category) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2025 annual meeting, where he received the Conquer Cancer-Armstrong-Gilbert Endowed Merit Award.
Sahithee Batchu, mentored by Alain Algazi, MD, Professor of Medicine
“Outcomes of PD-1 Inhibitor Therapy for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Patients with Indolent Lymphoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Study”
Sahithee’s research project aims to describe the objective response rates, survival outcomes, and impacts on lymphoma disease stage during anti-PD1 treatment for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cuSCC) to better understand clinical efficacy of PD-1 antibodies. She found that PD-1 antibody monotherapy for cuSCC demonstrated high response rates and excellent survival outcomes in a cohort of patients with indolent CD5+ non-Hodgkin lymphoma, indicating that clinical outcomes may be comparable to an immunocompetent population. She plans to expand her research project across multiple sites within and outside the country.
Hannah Kang, mentored by Katrina Abuabara, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology
Hannah enjoys the intellectual stimulation provided by research, translating complex real-world questions into testable analyses that can inform clinical understanding and public health decisions. She plans to submit her research for publication and disseminate it to parent groups, including Global Parents for Eczema Research.
Janah May Oclaman, mentored by Bridget Ostrem, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology
“White Matter Injury on 7- and 30-day Head Ultrasound Associated with Brain MRI Abnormalities and Neurological Outcomes in a Modern Cohort of Preterm Infants”
Janah’s research project aims to determine the association between severity of grade in head ultrasound (HUS) with severity of grade in MRI and adverse neurological outcomes in premature infants with white matter injury. She found that there are increased odds for adverse neurological outcomes with increasing HUS grades and that early HUS can provide useful information to identify preterm neonates at higher risk for WMI on TEA brain MRI, neurosensory impairment, and cerebral palsy. She has presented her research at multiple conferences and submitted her manuscript for publication.
Youssef Sibih, Mentored by Shawn Hervey-Jumper, MD, Professor of Neurological Surgery
Youseff enjoys how research allows him to learn through the trial-and-error process. He presented his research at the American Association of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference and plans to submit his manuscript for publication.
Mentor Award Recipients:
Mentors’ dedication and guidance are integral to the students’ success in their research projects. In addition to the yearly student awards, the Inquiry Curriculum also gives Mentor Awards to honor mentors who excel in their commitment to education and creating a supportive, intellectually stimulating environment that promotes critical thinking and learning.
Dr. Somsouk emphasized, “the importance of having mentors one can trust, who can facilitate the mentee’s growth, and provide access to opportunities so they can succeed in whatever endeavor they pursue.”
Katrina Abuabara, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Dermatology
Nisha Acharya, MS, MD, Professor, Proctor Foundation
Manish Aghi, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurological Surgery
Selena Chan, DO, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Sarah Coates, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology
Michael Davies, MD, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Brian Feeley, MD, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Meghana Gadgil, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine
Shawn Hervey-Jumper, MD, Professor of Neurological Surgery
Vadim Koshkin, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine
Elaine Ku, MD, MAS, Associate Professor of Medicine
Bridget Ostrem, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology
Amy Padula, MSc, PhD, Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Merisa Piper, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery
Tami Rowen, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Alison Rustagi, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine
Lekshmi Santhosh, MD, MAEd, Associate Professor of Medicine
David Shearer, MD, Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Jay Stewart, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology
Elizabeth Whitlock, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care
As the Class of 2025 advances their careers, each learner will carry forward the critical thinking developed through four years of the Inquiry Curriculum. Many will continue engaging in innovative research and make notable contributions to medical inquiry.
