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Akron Children’s Hospital announces 2019 summer research scholars

05-30-2019 (Akron, Ohio )

Thirteen students were competitively selected to participate in Akron Children’s’s Summer Pediatric Research Scholars (SPRS) program this summer. This year marks the 13^th anniversary of the SPRS program at Akron Children’s.

The students – college sophomores or juniors contemplating careers in healthcare – will conduct clinical research projects and be mentored by physicians, surgeons, nurses, therapists and other experienced hospital investigators. These mentors design research projects that can focus on enhancing patient safety or quality of care; evaluating effectiveness of new treatments, technologies, or methods; or improving the healthcare experience for patients and families.

“The SPRS program offers highly motivated undergraduate students hands-on experience conducting a clinical research study under the tutelage of Akron Children’s most experienced investigators,” said chief research officer Michael Kelly, M.D., Ph.D. “At the same time, these students are helping hospital researchers answer significant questions to improve our overall patient care.”

SPRS students also attend weekly educational classes on biomedical research and shadow Akron Children’s clinical teams in several pediatric medical disciplines. The 10-week program begins in June and culminates in August when the students present their research study results to members of Akron Children’s medical staff, researchers, academic partners, family members and peers.

Akron Children’s 2019 Summer Pediatric Research Scholars are:

Name	School	Major	Hometown
Elizabeth Fonte	Miami University of Ohio	Psychology and Pre-Med (class of 2020)	Copley, OH
Katilyn Malek	Indiana State University	Biology, Pre-Med (class of 2021)	Stow, OH
Nina Marich	Xavier University	Biology, Deaf Studies (class of 2020)	Seven Hills, OH
Nicole Bennie	Miami University of Ohio	Speech Pathology (class of 2020)	Medina, OH
Brittani Smith	Trine University	Biomedical Engineering (class of 2020)	Indianapolis, IN
Annika Kisha	Walsh University	Biology, Pre-Med (class of 2020)	Canton, OH
Chloe Wise	Ohio State University	Health Sciences (class of 2021)	Kent, Ohio
Sarah Turley	University of Mount Union	Biochemistry (class of 2021)	Sagamore Hills, OH
Kyle Pruitt	Kent State University	Biochemistry (class of 2021)	Ravenna, OH
Joshua Kasburg	University of Akron	Biology, Pre-Med (class of 2021)	Canton, OH
Morgan Rittenberger	Cleveland State University	Health Sciences and Linguistics (class of 2021)	Macedonia, OH
Elise Rickert	Kent State University	Speech Pathology (class of 2020)	Greenville, PA
Cecilly Kelleher	Ohio State University	Health Sciences and Pre-med (class of 2021)	Massillon, OH

Sponsored by the Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute, Akron Children’s SPRS program began in 2006. To date, more than 150 students have completed the program and several student investigations have been presented at national professional conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. Additional information about the SPRS program, including criteria, eligibility and important program dates can be found at www.akronchildrens.org/sprs.