Medical Student Fellowship Awardees

The ASTRO Medical Student Fellowship Awards (formerly Minority Summer Fellowship Award) program introduces medical students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in medicine to the discipline of radiation oncology early in their medical education. Congratulations to the 2024 Medical Student Fellowship (MSF) awardees.

Launched in 2010, the MSF Awards Program has quickly grown into ASTRO's premier research and training program for medical students from groups underrepresented in medicine. Meet the ASTRO MSF Alumni below.

Special congratulations to the ASTRO-BCRF MSF: Mentor Award Recipients.

Current MSF Awardees

Amie Brint, 2024 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Project Title: Optimizing spatial fractionation peak/valley doses in (hyp)oxic tumor cells and consequences on bystander cells
Mentor: Robert Griffin, PhD, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Anna Dos Santos, 2024 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Project Title: Correlating Genetic Mutations Found on Next Generation Sequencing with Tumor Recurrence Following Radiation
Mentor: Matthew Deek, MD, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Ayanfeoluwa Kolawole, 2024 Basic Science Awardee

Medical School: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Project Title: Repurposing of benztropine for radiation sensitization in glioblastoma
Mentor: Kelli Pointer, MD, PhD, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Derealise Garcia Almedina, 2024 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Massachusetts General Hospital (Mass General)
Project Title: Assessing Upper Extremity Range of Motion Following Breast Reconstruction and Post-Mastectomy Radiotherapy
Mentor: Rachel Jimenez, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital (Mass General)

Erika Bello-Pardo, 2024 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Project Title: A Pilot Study of [18F]-PSMA PET/MR in the evaluation of Progression and Radiation Necrosis in High-Grade Glioma
Mentor: Joshua Palmer, MD, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Isabella Gomez Gonzalez, 2024 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (Hillman Cancer Center, UPCI)
Project Title: Disparities in oncologic outcomes for Black and Hispanic women treated curatively with endometrial cancer
Mentor: Parul Barry, BA, MD, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (Hillman Cancer Center, UPCI)

Model Zerfu, 2024 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: University of Washington
Project Title: Comparison of Scanning Beam Proton Therapy Versus Photon IMRT in Patients with Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung
Mentor: Jing Zeng, MD, University of Washington

Nancy Anabaraonye, 2024 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Project Title: Comparative Intraprostatic Evaluation of PSMA-Based PET-CT vs mpMRI as Imaging Biomarker of Androgen Receptor Signaling in High-Risk Prostate Cancer
Mentor: Curtiland Deville, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Preston Perez, 2024 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Inc.
Project Title: Predictors of Failure in Diffuse Large B-cell Patients with Incomplete Response Following CAR T-cell Therapy: The Role of Consolidative Radiotherapy
Mentor: Nick Figura, MD, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Inc.

Shaquia Idlett-Ali, 2024 Basic Science Awardee

Medical School: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Project Title: Interrogating contributions of the sensory neuroimmune axis to radioresistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Mentor: Sana Karam, MD, PhD, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

2023

Mariam Atobiloye, 2023 Clinical Awardee

Medical School:The University of Utah
Project Title: The Impact of Rural Residence on Patient Reported Toxicities and Outcomes of Cancer Treatment
Mentor: Gita Suneja, MD, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah

Zainab Balogun, 2023 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: University of Pittsburgh
Project Title: Stopping the Rise of Endometrial Cancer Deaths in Black Women: A Call to Arms
Mentor: Parul Barry, MD, University of Pittsburgh

Tyren Busby, 2023 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project Title: Evaluating Cardiotoxicity in Radiation Therapy of Thoracic Malignancies
Mentor: Eric Miller, MD, PhD, The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Antonio Franco, 2023 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: University of California, Los Angeles Department of Radiation Oncology
Project Title: Two-Year Patient-Reported Quality of Life from a Phase II Study of Postoperative Ultrahypofractionated RT for Prostate Cancer
Mentor: Amar Kishan, MD, University of California, Los Angeles Department of Radiation Oncology

Olufela Koleoso, 2023 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project Title: The Presence of Extensive Lymphovascular Invasion (LVI) is Associated with Higher Risk of Recurrence in Curatively Treated Breast Cancer Patients
Mentor: Atif Khan, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Fatima Madondo, 2023 Basic Science Awardee

Medical School: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Project Title: Repurposing Drugs that Block Human Ether-à-go-go Related Gene for Radiation Sensitization and Significance
Mentor: Kelli Pointer, MD, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Elizabeth Olatunji, 2023 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Project Title: Characterization of White Matter Injury and Its Correlation with Neurocognitive Outcomes in Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients
Mentor: Sahaja Acharya, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Linzi Paul, 2023 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans
Project Title: Impact of Pelvic Radiation on Muscle Volume and Pelvic Floor Radiation Therapy in Locally Advanced Endometrial Cancer
Mentor: Eric Donnelly, MD, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Asya Pitre, 2023 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
Project Title: Analyzing the Dosimetric Parameters and Treatment Timing of Adaptive Radiation in Cervical Cancer
Mentor: Kevin Albuquerque, MD, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UT Southwestern)

Abizairie Sánchez-Feliciano, 2023 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Case Western Reserve University - School of Medicine
Project Title: Validation of Spanish-Language Surveys for the Navigator-Assisted Hypofractionation (NAVAH) Program to Aid Hispanic-American Breast Cancer Patients
Mentor: Shearwood McClelland, MD, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

2022

Justin Chestang, 2022 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Project Title: Neighborhood Level Impact of Social Determinants and Built Environment on Screening Behaviors and Outcomes in African American Men with Prostate Cancer
Mentor: James Byunghoon Yu, MD, Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Matthew Eximond, 2022 Basic Science Awardee

Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project Title: Combination Immune Checkpoint Therapy and Radiotherapy for Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Mentor: Austin Kirschner, MD, PhD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Omar Guerrero, 2022 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: A.T. Still University of Health Sciences
Project Title: Medical Ineligibility for Liver-Directed Therapies for HCC Patients with Advanced Cirrhosis and Subsequent Transplant Drop-Out Rates
Mentor: Nima Nabavizadeh, MD, Oregon Health & Science University

Andjie Jeudy, 2022 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: St. George's University - Grenada
Project Title: Preoperative Radiosurgery in Glioblastoma: An Analysis of Perioperative Complications and Patient Reported Quality of Life
Mentor: Daniel Trifiletti, MD, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville

Valeria Londono, 2022 Basic Science Awardee

Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Project Title: Addressing Diagnostic Challenges for Hepatocellular Carcinoma through LIRADS Machine Learning Algorithm and Determining HCC Selective Biomarkers
Mentor: Freddy Escorcia, MD, PhD, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research

Jacob Mapp, 2022 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center
Project Title: Outcomes of a Single Isocenter Brain Multi-Metastases Linear Accelerator Delivered Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Mentor: Jared Robbins, MD, University of Arizona, College of Medicine-Tucson

Aliah McCalla, 2022 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Central Michigan University
Project Title: SRS as an Alternative to WBRT for Patients with Greater than 15 Brain Metastases
Mentor: Joshua Palmer, MD, The Ohio State University

Judith Njoroge, 2022 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center
Project Title: Assessing the Accuracy of a Novel Deep Learning-Based Auto-Segmentation Tool for Prostate Cancer Radiotherapy
Mentor: Joseph Caster, MD, PhD, University of Iowa

Miguel Noy, 2022 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Albany Medical College
Project Title: Dose-Volume Parameters to the Urinary Tract Sub-Volumes and Predictors of Genitourinary Toxicity in a Phase 2 Clinical Trial
Mentor: Alan Dal Pra, MD, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center/University of Miami Health Systems

Sonile Peck, 2022 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: University of Florida
Project Title: Evaluating Childcare Support in NCI Designated Cancer Centers for Patients with Young Children Undergoing Treatment
Mentor: Raymond Mailhot Vega, MD, MPH, University of Florida

2021

Valencia Henry, 2021 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Carolinas Campus
Project Title: The Determinants of Cancer Treatment Decision-making In the HIV Population: A Survey of US Oncologists
Mentor: Gita Suneja, MD, MS, University of Utah

Abigail Nwiloh, 2021 Basic Science Awardee

Medical School: Meharry Medical College School of Medicine
Project Title: Targeting NPM1 in irradiated cells inhibits NPM1 binding to RAD51, RAD51 foci formation and radiosensitizes NSCLC
Mentor: Michael Freeman, MD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Annie Nwiloh, 2021 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Meharry Medical College School of Medicine
Project Title: Evaluation of the STING pathway in castration-resistant and -sensitive prostate cancer cell lines
Mentor: Austin Kirschner, MD, PhD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Jazmyne Tabb, 2021 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: University of South Alabama
Project Title: Brain Morphology of Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Survivors
Mentor: Andrew McDonald, MD, University of Alabama at Birmingham

2020

Alikem Miriam Agamah, 2020 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Project Title: Analyzing the Predictors of Cognitive Outcome in Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients Undergoing Proton Beam Radiation
Mentor: Jeff Michalski, MD, MBA, FASTRO, Washington University in Saint Louis

Ian Keith Cruickshank, 2020 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: The Howard University Inc.
Project Title: Comparative in Silico Analysis of Scanning Beam Proton Therapy (PT) and Intensity Modulated Photon Radiation Therapy (IMRT) for Post-Prostatectomy
Mentor: Curtiland Deville, MD, Johns Hopkins University

Elizabeth Obi, 2020 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Case Western Reserve University - School of Medicine
Project Title: A Proposed Community- Based Interventional Program That Educates, Identifies, And Overcomes Barriers to Screening Mammography Among Homeless Women
Mentor: John Suh, MD, FASTRO, Cleveland Clinic Foundation

John Placide, 2020 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Project Title: Conditional Survival Analysis in laryngeal cancer: Patient-physician shared decision support in radiotherapy using precision risk clinical nomograms
Mentor: Clifton Fuller, MD, PhD, MD Anderson Cancer Center

2019

Jonathan Smith, 2019 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project Title: Clinical outcomes and management of patients with a RT-induced lung cancer following breast radiotherapy
Mentor: Rachel B. Jimenez, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital

Rehema Thomas, 2019 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Project Title: Comparative Analysis of Scanning Beam Proton Therapy, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, and 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy in Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Mentor: Curtiland Deville, MD, Johns Hopkins University

2018

Amandeep Mahal, 2018 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Yale University School of Medicine
Project Title: The Effect of Race and Decision Aids on Physician Recommendation for Prostate Cancer Treatment Planning
Mentor: James B. Yu MD MHS, Yale School of Medicine

Zachary White, 2018 Basic Science Awardee

Medical School: University of South Alabama
Project Title: Impact of ANXA7 I1 Expression on PDGFRA and MET Endosomal Trafficking in GBM
Mentor: Markus Bredel, MD, PhD, The University of Alabama at Birmingham

2017

Michael LeCompte, 2017 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
Project Title: The Role of Hyperglycemia in Clinical Outcomes Predicted by Brain Metastasis Kinetics in Brain Metastasis Treated with Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Mentor: Michael Chan, MD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest School of Medicine

Kekoa Taparra, 2017 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Mayo Clinic School of Medicine - Rochester Campus
Project Title: CT Angiography for Cardiac-Sparing Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy
Mentor: Nadia N. Laack, MD, Mayo Clinic Department of Radiation Oncology

2016

Brittaney-Belle Gordon, 2016 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine
Project Title: Racial disparities in treatment and treatment delays for pancreatic cancer
Mentor: Ronald C. Chen, MD, MPH, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

Stephanie Thermozier, 2016 Basic Science Awardee

Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Project Title: Characterization of TGF-β Signaling in Fancd2-/-, SMAD3-/- and DKO Cell Lines
Mentor: Joel S. Greenberger, MD, FACRO, FACR, UPMC Cancer Institute

2015

Rasidat Adeduntan, 2015 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine
Project Title: Comparison of Coronary Artery Calcium Scores after Mediastinal Radiotherapy with Protons Versus Conventional Photon Therapy
Mentor: Karen M. Winkfield, MD, PhD, Harvard Medical School

Maxwell Ofori, 2015 Basic Science Awardee

Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Project Title: Is the chaperone nucleophosmin-1 a rational target for radiation sensitization of cancer?
Mentor: Michael L. Freeman, PhD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Oscar Padilla, 2015 Basic Science Awardee

Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Project Title: Feasibility of IMRT-planned simultaneous integrated boost as a strategy for dose-escalation of spine radiosurgery
Mentor: Kevin S. Oh, MD, The Center for Spinal Metastases at the Massachusetts General Hospital

2014

Angel Moran, 2014 Basic Science Awardee

Medical School: University of California Davis School of Medicine
Project Title: Protracted irradiation generates selective DNA damage linked to radiation resistance
Mentors: Jian Jian Li and Andrew Vaughan, UC Davis Dept. of Radiation Oncology

Aaron Parzuchowski, 2014 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Project Title: Incidence of Protocol Deviations in Pediatric versus Adolescent and Young Adult Populations with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and its Impact on Clinical Outcomes
Mentor: Stephanie Terezakis, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins

2013

Paul Adenuga, 2013 Basic Science Awardee

Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Project Title: The role of deferoxamine in the prevention of osteoradionecrosis in the rat mandible due to radiation therapy and synergistic bisphosphonate osteonecrosis
Mentor: Davood Varghai, MD, Case Western Reserve University

Tyler Vestal, 2013 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Project Title: Impact of radiation and metformin or propranolol on head and neck cancers
Mentor: Tony J. Wang, MD, Columbia University Medical Center

2012

Raymond Mailhot, 2012 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: Washington University in Saint Louis
Project Title: Proton therapy cost-effectiveness in the treatment of four malignancies
Mentor: Shannon MacDonald, Massachusetts General Hospital

Abimbola Orisamolu, 2012 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: University of Pennsylvania
Project Title: Evaluation of Current Standard of Planning Treatment Volume in Head and Neck Cancers
Mentor: Alexander Lin, University of Pennsylvania

2011

Melissa Vyfhuis (née Liriano), 2011 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Project Title: A Retrospective Study on Stage III NSCLC Patients: Factors Predicting Pathologic Complete Response Following High Dose Chemoradiation
Mentor: Steven Feigenberg, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Iman Washington, 2011 Basic Science Awardee

Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine
Project Title: Defining the Role of p21 in Radiation-induced Myocardial Injury
Mentor: David Kirsch, Duke University Medical Center

2010

Jean-Claude Rwigema, 2010 Clinical Awardee

Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Project Title: Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Resected Brain Metastases
Mentor: Dwight E. Heron, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Kimberly Thomas, 2010 Basic Science Awardee

Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
Project Title: External Thermal Enhancement with Magnetic Nanoparticles for the Sensitization of Breast
Mentor: Sunil Krishnan, MD Anderson Cancer Center

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