We are very proud of the following six TLRO graduates and two research staff who were accepted into medical school. Here is where they are heading and their reflections about their time in the TLRO:
Jack Baumann – University of Missouri School of Medicine
“Since joining the lab as a freshman I have grown tremendously in terms of lab and presentation skills, creative thinking, and collaboration. The connections I have made with professionals and fellow students in the lab have been instrumental in my undergraduate success and will continue to serve me well in the future. I will always be grateful for the time I spent working at the TLRO and would encourage any undergraduate students interested in medicine to consider working there.”
Casey Fogarty – University of Missouri School of Medicine
“I started working as a research coordinator for the spinal surgery department in April of 2018 and during my time here at the MOI I have learned countless lessons. I have had the privilege of working side-by-side with so many qualified and dedicated individuals, all of whom have used their own unique set of skills and talents to benefit our patients and the greater medical community. I am so sad that my time here at the MOI is ending, but I have no doubt that the experiences I have had here and the friendships I have made will prove to be an undeniable asset as I move forward on my journey to becoming a physician. Thank you ALL for the endless stream of love and support over the past few years, you have truly made them unforgettable!”
Emma Lepage – A.T. Still University, Kirksville
“I have been working at the MOI/TLRO since August 2015. It’s hard to pick a most memorable experience as I’ve had so many great ones, but one that sticks out currently is when I was able to sit down and chat with Dr. Ma at ORS. It was a clinic-meets-lab kind of moment and to have support from a physician that also does research and just talk was amazing. Obviously, I have learned a great deal about myself, the field of clinical and basic science research, and what to expect in the medical field, but I’d say the most valuable thing I gained are the relationships. There are so many amazing people I have gotten to meet, learn from, and have challenged me to better myself, and that is invaluable. I am forever grateful for everything and everyone here.”
Ishita Patel – University of Missouri School of Medicine
“My most memorable experience would have to be ORS 2020 when the lab team travelled to Phoenix, AZ. This particular year, I had the opportunity to be a podium presenter and share my research to an audience. Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed the time all of us got to spend together as we ended up bonding more as a group. Overall, this experience has taught me a respect for research and shown me how much time and energy researchers put into developing treatments for patients. It’s shown me that research is an integral part of medicine.”
Stephanie Quoss – Rocky Vista University, Southern Utah Campus
“I am very appreciative that I was given the opportunity to conduct research at the TLRO. Not only did I learn and grow as a student, I also gained a family. The student and staff at the TLRO are exceptional and I am grateful to have been a part of it.”
Sury Rawat– University of Missouri School of Medicine
“I started working at the MOI as a Spine Research Coordinator in May 2019 right after graduating. In this position, I’ve learned a lot about the behind the scenes workings in a hospital. While consenting patients and working in the research team I have improved my collaboration and communication skills. I have also made many amazing friendships and mentoring relationships. My most memorable experiences are all the celebratory food carry-ins which brought the research floor together from our separate roles and rooms. I am so grateful for this year at the MOI and know it will make me a better medical student and future physician!”
Muhammad Salim – University of Missouri School of Medicine
“I started working with the TLRO my freshman year through Mizzou Engineering’s Biomedical Engineering Department. My time as a researcher at the TLRO has allowed me to apply what I learned in my engineering and biology classes to real-world experiences. Participating in research has also helped me develop my professionalism, teamwork, and leadership. My most memorable experience would be attending various orthopaedic and engineering conferences. There, I was able to expand my understanding of medicine and science through interacting with experts in the fields. At these conferences, I witnessed the significant impact research has on health care and society as a whole.”
Luke Troyer – University of Missouri School of Medicine
“I started working at the TLRO in January of my sophomore year, 2018. My most memorable experience would be ORS because I got to learn a lot about what was going on in the Orthopaedics field around the world. The most memorable experience I had in Columbia, MO was my first research project and learning that a 9-day culture meant change the media every three days not just leave the culture for 9 days. The two most valuable things I gained were understanding and writing scientifically and learning about the finite details required for one specific research project.”
