Medical Student Research Day

MEDICAL EDUCATION

On May 28, 2026, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai celebrated the Ninth Annual Karen Zier, PhD, Medical Student Research Day, continuing a tradition of student scholarship that spans more than 30 years.

Medical Student Research Day serves as the culmination of the scholarly work conducted by Mount Sinai medical students under the guidance of dedicated faculty mentors. As part of their medical education, every Icahn School of Medicine student completes a mentored scholarly project, developing the skills to ask meaningful questions, evaluate evidence, generate new knowledge, and contribute to advances in medicine and health care.

The 2026 event showcased 71 student research posters and three featured oral presentations spanning a wide range of disciplines, including clinical research, translational science, health services research, medical education, public health, artificial intelligence, and the biomedical sciences. Together, these projects reflected the intellectual curiosity, innovation, and commitment to discovery that characterize the Mount Sinai student experience.

Named in honor of Karen Zier, PhD, whose leadership helped establish a culture of student scholarship and mentorship at Mount Sinai, the event celebrates both scientific achievement and the collaborative relationships that make discovery possible. The projects presented this year demonstrate the critical role that research plays in preparing future physicians to advance patient care, improve health systems, and address complex challenges in medicine. Featured oral presenters were:

Olivia First, MS II
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment in Mucosal Melanoma: A Retrospective Analysis of the National Cancer Database
Mentor: Maaike van Gerwen, MD, PhD

Matt Jogodnik, MS II
Regional Selectivity of Pituitary Adenoma-Induced Cortical Changes Map to Glial and Endothelial Signature
Mentor: Raj Shrivastava, MD

Juhana Habib, MS III
Sleep-IBD Beliefs as Drivers of Sleep Medication Use: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study
Mentor: Hyder Said, MD

The oral presentation program opened with remarks from Mary Rojas, PhD, Director of the Medical Student Research Office; Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Chief Scientific Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System; and David C. Thomas, MD, MHPE, Dean for Medical Education and Chair of the Leni and Peter May Department of Medical Education.

We invite you to explore the 2026 Abstract Book and watch recordings of the oral presentations. These resources showcase the remarkable breadth of inquiry undertaken by Mount Sinai students and the faculty mentors who support their growth as scholars, investigators, and future leaders in medicine.