Yale School of Medicine’s (YSM) annual Student Research Day (SRD) “honors the central role that research plays in the Yale System, culminating in the MD thesis, which is a milestone achievement for every graduating student,” said Professor of Medicine (General Medicine) Sarwat Chaudhry, MD, in remarks welcoming attendees to this year’s SRD, held on May 6, 2025. Chaudhry and Erica Herzog, MD, PhD, John Slade Ely Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary) and professor of pathology, together serve as associate deans for student research and oversee the research education and aspirations of Yale medical students across all years of the MD curriculum.
SRD is an annual event that celebrates the research accomplishments of YSM student investigators. In addition to the poster session, which is open to all health profession students, a centerpiece of SRD is the Jill and Lee Goldman, MD ’73 Plenary Scientific Session Oral Presentations, where five graduating students present their MD thesis in oral format. The day also celebrates mentors who support student research with the presentation of the John N. Forrest Jr., MD Prize for Mentorship in Student Research, and includes the annual Lee E. Farr, MD Endowed Lectureship, established to honor and inspire leadership, scholarship, and educational excellence. Taken together, SRD showcases the critical role of scientific research in improving health care for all people.
Impactful student research
The impact of research was demonstrated throughout the day. For example, in introducing Goldman before the student presentations, Chaudhry stated, “his career exemplifies the power of rigorous research to transform medicine,” sharing as one example that he developed the “Goldman Index,” a widely used tool for assessing cardiac risk in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Similarly, the five student thesis presentations, Herzog said, “highlight not only the breadth of their scientific interests, but also their collective commitment to understanding biology to improve patient care and, ultimately, health outcomes.” The five students who presented and their thesis titles were:
Rachel Levinson: “Pancreatic Cancer Risk After Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A National, Population-Based Study”
Niroop Rajashekar: “Generative Artificial Intelligence in Clinical Decision Support—Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses”
Tanner Metcalfe: “The Effect of the Ketogenic Diet on the Circadian Rhythmicity of Glymphatic Function in Mice”
Danielle Miyagishima: “Deconvolution of the Meningioma Microenvironment”
Daniel Thompson: “Evaluating Nebulizer Efficiency for Phage Therapy in Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas Infections”
Their theses reflected a broad spectrum of research across disciplines—in fundamental basic science, human translational research, development of lifesaving new therapies, artificial intelligence, and health services research—and, Herzog said, “exemplify the power of mentored investigation.” See their theses mentors here.
While the thesis presentations focused on four MD students and one MD-PhD student, the poster session, which launched the day, included over 75 posters from students in the MD, MD-PhD, MD-MHS, Physician Associate, and Nursing programs, and included patient-relevant studies ranging from early stage laboratory studies, to clinical trials and implementation science. (The list of student presenters and their poster titles can be found in the Student Research Day program.)
Honoring mentorship
In introducing the mentorship award, Herzog explained it was established to honor the legacy of Dr. John N. Forrest, Jr., “a visionary scientist, mentor, and founder of the Office of Student Research.” Herzog continued, “It is with deep appreciation for his contributions that we recognize a faculty member who embodies Dr. Forrest’s values of excellence, guidance, and unwavering support of student discovery.”
Forrest’s son, Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine) John K. Forrest, MD, presented this year’s award to Jeffrey Cohen, MD, MPH, assistant professor of dermatology and biomedical informatics and data science. Forrest described Cohen’s clinical and research leadership in the field of inflammatory skin diseases, but said, “What sets Dr. Cohen apart is his deep commitment to mentoring the next generation of physician-scientists. He is known by his mentees for his intellectual generosity, clarity, and unwavering support, often helping trainees translate curiosity into discovery and scholarship. His mentorship has empowered students to present nationally, publish their work, and pursue careers that blend clinical care with research excellence.”
In accepting the award, Cohen shared that it was so meaningful to be recognized for two reasons. First, “as much as I may give to students, they give back to me and more.” Additionally, he said, “I would not be here if not for the mentors I have,” and he encouraged the students to pay it forward one day and engage with students throughout their careers.
Changing the standard of care for millions of patients
SRD concluded with the Farr Lecture, which Daniel Drucker, MD, delivered in an engaging style, peppered with humor. Drucker, a clinically-trained endocrinologist, is the Banting and Best Diabetes Centre–Novo Nordisk Chair in Incretin Biology, and professor of medicine in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of Toronto. Drucker’s laboratory has made transformative contributions to the understanding of glucagon-like peptides and their role in metabolic disease. In introducing him, Nancy J. Brown, MD, Jean and David W. Wallace Dean and C.N.H. Long Professor of Internal Medicine, noted, “These insights have led directly to the development of new therapies for diabetes, obesity, and potentially heart disease—changing the standard of care for millions of patients worldwide.” She also stated, “Just as important as his scientific achievements is Dr. Drucker’s commitment to mentorship and academic leadership.”
In his keynote address entitled “New molecules and indications drive the future of GLP-1 medicines,” Drucker told the story of how he unexpectedly—and at first reluctantly—began his research in this area, and said that the research findings of the benefits of GLP-1 medicines with minimal downsides continue to amaze him. Drucker spent much of the talk fascinatingly describing past and continuing research and unanswered questions, including the potential impact of these medications to extend beyond their current indications for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnea, to unexpected conditions such as psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease.
Asking important questions
After characterizing his talk as a “tour de force,” Herzog asked Drucker what advice he would give medical students. “The most important part of a research project is the question,” he said, explaining you want to be sure that after all the work you put into research, people will be interested in it. “Test your question,” and if people want to know the answer, “you probably have a winner.” He also emphasized mentorship is important, encouraging the students to look for mentors who provide unwavering support and constructive criticism.
Drucker’s focus on the research question was consistent with a comment that Henry J. and Joan W. Binder Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases) and of Cell Biology Fred Gorelick, MD, made as the discussant for Levinson’s presentation. Levinson had shared that the specific aim of her research was to “explore the association of untreated [hepatitis C virus] with the risk of pancreatic cancer among veterans after adjusting for known risk factors.” At the beginning of her presentation, she explained that pancreatic cancer is often undetected until it reaches a late stage, making it the third deadliest cancer in the United States. However, when it is detected in Stage 1, its survival rate increases significantly, making it important to identify risk factors.
In his commentary, Gorelick noted, “In research, you make the greatest impact when you ask an important question. This is an important question. Your research could impact millions of people.”