JACK’s summer scholars for neonatal medicine students
A mentorship program to foster careers in pediatrics and neonatal medicine
JACK’s Summer Scholars Program has a rich history of providing students with the opportunity to view the world of neonatology and pediatric subspecialties through clinical mentorship and research.
Scholars develop an understanding of multidisciplinary hospital care and quality improvement systems research. The program also enables participants to explore medical career opportunities in pediatric subspecialties such as general surgery, anesthesiology, neurosurgery and infectious diseases.
The program is funded by the Jack Cary Eichenbaum Fund, which was created in 2004 in honor of baby Jack, who was born too soon.
Learn more about past presentations and awards
Program goals
- Foster premedical and medical student interests in pediatric medicine careers
- Demonstrate the medical profession’s role in improving public health through exploration of various neonatal research and clinical care activities
- Use mentorship to educate scholars on the importance of a collaborative health care team environment in quality improvement and emphasize factors that are vital to developing medical professionalism
Medical students partner with a premedical undergraduate in a mentored basic or clinical research project in the division. Working as a team that is guided by faculty and fellow mentors, scholars learn the nuances of research design, analysis and presentation of final products including oral presentation formats and abstract development.
The scholars are exposed to a broad range of clinical activities, including:
How to apply
JACK’s Summer Scholars Program candidates are selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants. We encourage all levels of university students in good academic standing to apply, but we give preference to rising third- and fourth-year premedical students and rising second-year medical students.
Students receive a fellowship stipend ($1,200 for medical students and $800 for premedical students) and local housing for the duration of the program.
Program duration: June 2 – July 28, 2025
Application submission dates: December 2, 2024 – January 24, 2025
Interviews: February 3 – 28, 2025
JACK's Scholar selection: March 14 – 28, 2025
Karen Thompson-Weeks
Jack's Summer Scholars Coordinator
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2024 scholars
2024 JACKS Scholars presentations and awards
- Influence of Early Hyperglycemia and its Management on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants – Madison Hood - Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine; Sarah Mima - University of Notre Dame
- Identifying Antepartum and Intrapartum Risk Factors for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy – Emery Tran - University of South Carolina School of Medicine; Victoria Serra - Fordham University
- *Influence of Enteral Nutrition Type, Volume, and Time of Introduction on Risk of Growth Impairment and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in the Preterm Infants – *Adeola Abdulkadir - Eastern Virginia Medical School; *Bemnet Alemayehu - Virginia Commonwealth University
- Reticulocyte-Hemoglobin (Ret-He) as a Predictor for Growth Failure in Preterm Infants – Asad Siddiqui - University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine; Kamya Chakravarthi - Wellesley College
**Best JACKS medical student award, *Best JACKS undergraduate award
2023 scholars
2023 JACKS Scholars presentations and awards
- Association between reticulocyte hemoglobin content and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants. – Ashlynn McCall, Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, University of Houston Texas and Anaya Surve* Virginia Commonwealth University
*Best JACKS undergraduate award
- The Impact of Cardiac Dysfunction on the Severity of Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Infants with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy. – Jillian Paraiso, Albany Medical College New York and Guadalupe Ortega, Fordham University
- Lactation Support Disparities for Infants with Life-Limiting Conditions in the NICU. – Kaitlin McCarthy*, Eastern Virginia Medical School and Lamisa Nubayaat, Cornell University
*Best JACKS medical student award
- Influence of Early Hyperglycemia and its Management and Outcomes in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants. – Shaanit Sen, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and Alison De La Cruz, Wellesley College
2022 scholars
2022 JACKS Scholars presentations and awards
- Impact of mother’s own milk versus donor human milk on bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm very low birthweight (VLBW) infants – Demitra Chavez, VCU School of Medicine; Nevaeh Herndon, North Carolina A&T State University
- Early Cardiac Dysfunction and Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Infants with Pulmonary Hypertension – Victoria Anderson, Sidney Kimmel Medical College; *Megha Nair, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
Best presentation award
*Best JACKS undergraduate award
- Improving Family Centered Care in the NICU – *Laura Oing, Columbia University; Anneliese Boczek, VCU School of Medicine
*Best JACKS undergraduate award
- Influence of COVID-19 Infection During Pregnancy on Infant Neurodevelopment – Daphne Buitron, Fordham University; *Bianca Ghita, VCU School of Medicine
*Best JACKS medical student award
2021 scholars
- Identifying factors to optimize reduction in Postnatal intraventricular hemorrhage risk in extremely preterm Infants – Yasmin John, VCU School of Medicine, Charanya Uppalapati, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Assessing Mother’s Own Milk compared to Donor Human Milk to decrease Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in premature infants – Lauren Carroll, VCU School of Medicine, Trushaben Patel, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Identifying Factors to optimize sedation treatment in infant undergoing ECMO therapy – Prattyak Mukhopadhyay, VCU School of Medicine, Vaneeza Khan, Virginia Commonwealth University
2020 scholars
In the challenging times of the Pandemic JACKS responded by utilizing virtual platforms to address the goals of education.
Areas that are specifically targeted were building medical professionalism, family centered care within Pediatrics and interdisciplinary programs for quality and safety in the areas of Neonatal Medicine, General Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Pediatric Anesthesia as well as Pediatric Primary Care.
Through incorporation of virtual clinical exposure with outstanding clinician-educators and medical researchers, the Summer Scholar's Program was able to foster students’ understanding of the provision of clinical Pediatrics within a hospital health system, demonstrate the ongoing value of medical research and query, as well as the importance of medical professionalism to improve patient care, quality and outcome.
This national program was shortened to a 6-week curriculum targeting rising 2nd year medical students at Virginia Commonwealth University due to limited access to personal health records outside of our medical center. Students joined in Research Quality and Safety ongoing projects within the setting of Neonatal Medicine in the Hospital.
Content addressed the specific history of the quality improvement process in healthcare, quality databases and improvement process tools and programs. Medical Student scholars were teamed directly with neonatal fellows virtually to apply this knowledge through completion of a mentored quality improvement project in neonatal medicine with mentorship, direction and oversight of Neonatal and Pediatric faculty and interdisciplinary staff of nurses, respiratory therapist, biostatisticians and others. The scholar teams worked on their assigned quality improvement or research opportunity virtually and developed with their mentor’s specific project objectives including, but not limited to, the use of appropriate tools, identification of measurable aims and evaluation methods, sustainable recommendations for process improvement and a comprehensive report abstract as well as developed final abstracts and oral presentations of findings and recommendations at the end of the summer program.
2020 JACK’s Summer Scholar presentations
- Assessing Seizure Risk in Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Affected Infants – Vahnee Garimella (VCU School of Medicine)
- Optimizing Postnatal Growth and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Preterm Infants – Manasi Mahashabde (VCU School of Medicine)
- Identifying Factors to Predict ECMO Circuit Health – Gianna Rotyliano-Sykes (VCU School of Medicine)
2019 scholars
2019 JACK's Summer Scholar Presentations
- Predicting Successful Extubation in ELBW Infants – John Min (Johns Hopkins University), Natalie Rivera-Rodriguez (Ponce Health and Sciences University)
- Optimizing Postnatal Growth of the Very Low Birth Weight Infant – Maribel Molina (Fordham University), Camara Perkins (CUNY School of Medicine)
- Enhancing Outcomes for the Infant Affected by Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy – Gaurav Agrawal (University of Alabama School of Medicine), Leena Penumalee (Virginia Commonwealth University)
- Improving Care for Infants with Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome – Edward Yang (Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine), Courtney Link (Bryn Mawr College)
2019 Scholar Awards
The JACK’s Neonatology Scholar Awards identify faculty and peers who best exemplify the attributes of humanism and professionalism in medicine.
The American Board of Pediatrics defines professionalism as one who “aspires to altruism, accountability, excellence, duty, service, honor, integrity and respect for others.”
The scholars vote to recognize and honor one faculty mentor as well one undergraduate, medical student and nursing scholar identified by his/her peers for exemplifying the attributes of humanism and professionalism.
- 2019 JACK’s Most Valued Mentor Award: Dr. Linda Meloy (Division of General Pediatrics)
- 2019 JACK’s Medical Student Award: Gaurav Agrawal – University of Alabama School of Medicine
- 2019 JACK’s Undergraduate Student Award: Leena Penumalee – Virginia Commonwealth University
- 2019 JACK’s Best Project Presentation Award: Enhancing Outcomes for the Infant Affected by Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy – Gaurav Agrawal (University of Alabama School of Medicine), Leena Penumalee (Virginia Commonwealth University)
2018 scholars
2018 JACK’s Summer Scholar presentations
- Evaluating the role of factors that alter early life blood pressure variability in the development of Intraventricular Hemorrhage – Stephen Dalton Petillo (Eastern Virginia Medical School), Grace Miner (Virginia Commonwealth University)
- Antibiotic Stewardship the NICU - Erin Kern (Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School), Conrad Dear (North Carolina State University)
- Improving Neonatal Withdrawal Syndrome at CHoR. – Corene Cantwell (VCU School of Nursing), Serena Fang (University of Utah, SOM)
- Increasing Maternal Milk Use in the NICU and New born Nursery at CHoR. - Sathya Areti – (VCU School of Medicine), Megan Foret (VCU School of Nursing), Kaitlin Hiciano (Fordham University)
2018 Scholar Awards
The JACK’s Neonatology Scholar Awards identify faculty and peers who best exemplify the attributes of humanism and professionalism in medicine.
The American Board of Pediatrics defines professionalism as one who “aspires to altruism, accountability, excellence, duty, service, honor, integrity and respect for others.”
The scholars vote to recognize and honor one faculty mentor as well one undergraduate, medical student and nursing scholar identified by his/her peers for exemplifying the attributes of humanism and professionalism.
- 2018 JACK’s Most Valued Mentor Award: Dr. Linda Meloy (Division of General Pediatrics)
- 2018 JACK’s Medical Student Award: Erin Kern - Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- 2018 JACK’s Undergraduate Student Award: Megan Foret -VCU School of Nursing
- Best Scholar Project Presentation Award: Evaluating the role of factors that alter early life blood pressure variability in the development of Intraventricular Hemorrhage - Stephen Dalton Petillo (Eastern Virginia Medical School), Grace Miner (Virginia Commonwealth University)
2017 scholars
2017 JACK’s Summer Scholar projects
- Increased Thrombosis and Circuit Change Risk in Infants with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Receiving ECMO – Donna Koo (New York Medical College), Sneha Deepika Mettu (Wake Forest Univ).
Mentors: Noel Noh ( 3rd Year Neonatal Fellow); Henry Rozycki, MD; Russell Moores, MD; Karen Hendricks-Munoz, MD, MPH
- Assessing an Evidence-Based Nutritional Protocol in Very Low Birth Weight Infants –Faye Mendoza (VCU School of Medicine), Shailyn Finnegan (VCU School of Nursing), and Kristie Tu (Univ of Southern California). Mentors: Nayef Chahin (3rd Year Neonatal Fellow), Jenny Fox, MD; Anne Keeler, RD; Karen Hendricks-Muñoz, MD, MPH
- Antibiotic Stewardship: Evaluating and Improving Compliance for the Neonatal Sepsis Protocol –Brian Gu (Rutgers New Jersey Medical Center), Kaylie Erickson (VCU School of Nursing), Ariana Ram (Fordham Univ).
Mentors: Shajeer Noorudeen ( 2nd Year Neonatal Fellow), Joseph El Khoury MD, Jose L Muñoz, MD, Mark Astoria MD, Sheila Pedigo PharmD BCPS, and Karen Hendricks-Muñoz MD/MPH
- Evaluating the Role of Blood Pressure Variability in the Development of IVH of the High Risk Neonate –Justin Kochanski (Creighton Univ SOM), Ananya Venkatesh (VCU Honors College).
- Mentors: Akosua Ageyepong MD (2nd Year Neonatal Fellow): Tazuddin Mohammed, MD; Jie Xu, PhD; Leroy Thacker, PHD; Kerri Carter, MD; Judith Voynow, MD; and Karen Hendricks-Munoz, MD,MPH
2017 Scholar awards
The JACK’s Neonatology Scholar Awards identify faculty and peers who best exemplify the attributes of humanism and professionalism in medicine.
The American Board of Pediatrics defines professionalism as one who “aspires to altruism, accountability, excellence, duty, service, honor, integrity and respect for others.”
The scholars vote to recognize and honor one faculty mentor as well one undergraduate, medical student and nursing scholar identified by his/her peers for exemplifying the attributes of humanism and professionalism.
- 2017 JACK’s Most Valued Mentor Award: Dr. Linda Meloy (Division of General Pediatrics)
- 2017 JACK’s Medical Student Award: Faye Mendoza - VCU School of Medicine
- 2017 JACK’s Undergraduate Student Award: Ananya Venkatesh - Virginia Commonwealth University Honors College and Ariana Ram - Fordham University
- 2017 JACK’s Nursing Student Award: Shailyn Finnegan – VCU School of Nursing
- Best Scholar Project Presentation Award: Assessing an Evidence-Based Nutritional Protocol in Very Low Birth Weight Infants –Faye Mendoza (VCU School of Medicine), Shailyn Finnegan (VCU School of Nursing), Kristie Tu (Univ of Southern California)
2016 scholars
2016 JACK’s Summer Scholar projects
- Adherence to targeting the Golden Hour of Life to improve preterm infant outcome
- Synagis administration: Barriers to administration and hospital utilization
- Neonatal follow-up evaluations and utilization of early intervention referral
- Factors that increase phlebotomy in the VLBW: Opportunities to decrease transfusion risk
2016 Scholar awards
The JACK’s Neonatology Scholar Awards identify faculty and peers who best exemplify the attributes of humanism and professionalism in medicine.
The American Board of Pediatrics defines professionalism as one who “aspires to altruism, accountability, excellence, duty, service, honor, integrity and respect for others.”
The scholars vote to recognize and honor one faculty mentor as well one undergraduate and medical student scholar identified by his/her peers for exemplifying the attributes of humanism and professionalism.
- 2016 JACK’s Most Valued Mentor Award: Dr. Linda Meloy (Pediatrician, Division of General Pediatrics)
- 2016 JACK’s Medical Student Award:Elizabeth Tennant (University of South Carolina School of Medicine)
- 2016 JACK’s Undergraduate Student Award: Elizabeth Anteau (University of Notre Dame)
- 2016 Best Scholar Project Presentation Award: Adherence to Neurodevelopmental Assessment Referrals - Elizabeth Anteau (University of Notre Dame) Sherry Kwon (Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science)
