Intentionally Involved
Nicholas Brennan balances cutting-edge research and medical study with student leadership to benefit his campus community.
It's been a big year for Nicholas Brennan. An MD/PhD candidate, Brennan is in his seventh year at Upstate, currently completing his doctorate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. His dissertation investigates a novel, bioenergetic independent mechanism of mitochondria induced muscle atrophy during aging. Read more>>
Unanswered Questions
William Borchert '25 wants to contribute to the how and why in medicine.
For William Borchert '25, the thrill in life is the pursuit of the unanswered question. "I've always had a lot of intellectual curiosity about why and how things happen," he says. Take his approach to his current pathology elective. "Often in pathology it's about diagnosing a cancer. But I'm interested in what's around the cancer. What potentially caused it?..." Read more>>
Active Learning
A mock tumor board, designed by medical student Jacquelyn Knapp '24, provides a multidisciplinary learning experience on medical collaboration and decision making.
One patient had adenocarcinoma. Another was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. Because the cases were not straightforward, they were brought to the tumor board, where the radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, surgical oncologist, radiologist, pathologist and respiratory therapist could sit together... Read more>>
Conquering the Downhill Battle
As an adaptive ski instructor, Dan DeNoble helps those with intellectual and physical disabilities overcome obstacles and find joy on the slopes.
For more than 25 years, the Arise and Ski program in Syracuse has made skiing accessible for people with physical and developmental challenges, pairing experienced ski volunteers with those needing assistance. Fourth-year medical student Dan DeNoble '24 has volunteered with the program for more than a decade... Read more>>
Charting Her Own Course
Hannah Connolly wants to impact Health Inequities by changing the way medical students learn.
The road to becoming a physician is long, and one that most students seek to expedite rather than expand on. But Hannah Connolly '24 has never let the lack of an established path stop her... Read more>>
External Support
Upstate MD/PHD Students receive prestigious fellowships to forward their doctoral research.
In any academic environment, external grants are vital to funding research. For graduate students, the ability to secure their own funding-through a grant or fellowship-can signify a student's promise as an independent scientist... Read more>>
Finding Community
A Chronic Illness spurs medical student Nicole Spencer '25 to provide support for others.
As a first-year medical student, Nicole Spencer '25 never imagined becoming a patient herself. But shortly after she began her medical studies, Spencer began suffering episodes of dizziness and heart palpitations. She was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) ...Read more>>
Walking with Purpose
Nneka Onwumere '24 created a Mother's Day gift she hopes will keep giving.
On Mother's Day, a group of walkers traversed through downtown Syracuse to raise money for brain cancer research. Participants in the inaugural Upstate Brain Cancer Research Walk, which began on the Syracuse University campus and ended at the Upstate Cancer Center, were mostly family members of those impacted by brain cancer...Read more>>
Think Globally, Acting Locally
Medical student Alyssa Purdy has made global health a focal point of her medical education.
Every Tuesday, a medical team from Upstate Medical University conducts COVID-19 screenings for new Americans and refugees resettling in Syracuse. For medical students like Alyssa Purdy '22, volunteering to assist newly resettled refugees provides a global health experience in her own backyard. Read more>>
Admission Granted
Upstate students offer keys to success in applying to Medical School through a new podcast.
Andrea Price '24 and John Cote '24 are talking about their paths to medical school. For Cote, it was volunteering at a local hospital during college that solidified this desire. Read more>>
Telling Stories
For Mallory Rowely '23, practicing medicine and writing about it are deeply intertwined.
Facing cancer is a life-altering experience, one marked by uncertainty, fear, and isolation. But for some patients, writing about their experiences and feelings provides a powerful coping outlet. Read more>>