A gift of $100,000 from the Weill Cornell Medical College Alumni Association enabled 59 rising second-year medical students to conduct high-quality mentored research for elective credit last summer.
The eight-week program, offered to students between their first and second years of medical school, includes a stipend of $4,000 per student – a cost that had historically been shared by the principal investigator or sponsoring department and the Office of Medical Education. About 60 students request research funding each year.
In recognition of the Alumni Association’s decision to cover the stipend for students in the program, the research experience was officially renamed the WCM Alumni Association Summer Scholar Program.
“Thanks to the generous support of the Weill Cornell Medical College Alumni Association, the program not only continued amid a challenging federal funding environment, but also preserved stipends for all participating students performing research at Weill Cornell Medicine, ensuring that financial constraints did not hinder their ability to pursue scholarly growth,” said Dr. Joseph E. Safdieh, the Richard P. Cohen, M.D. Senior Associate Dean for Education and professor of neurology. “It has been an extremely fruitful collaboration for us, and the students are appreciative they could continue their research uninterrupted.”
In their Own Words: Two Students Share Appreciation for Support
Quotes were edited and condensed
Anisah Alladeen
“The Alumni Association supported my summer research at the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center by providing funding and facilitating mentorship that allowed me to pursue a dermatology outcomes project under the guidance of Dr. Kira Minkis, associate professor of clinical dermatology.
“I conducted a retrospective study on surgical site infection rates in immunocompromised patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery, a precise method of skin cancer removal. Our work focused on identifying risk factors, comparing infection outcomes between those who received prophylactic antibiotics and those who did not, and providing recommendations to the dermatological community based on our findings.
“I’m deeply grateful to our alumni community for their generous support and encouragement. Their belief in students like me has provided me with opportunities, and I’m especially thankful for the chance to further explore the field of dermatology through meaningful research and mentorship.
“Their support doesn’t just fund a research project. It also fuels purpose, curiosity and confidence to pursue this field. I carry their support with me and look forward to paying it forward to the next generation of students.
“Thank you so much for investing in my medical school journey."
Kwadwo Amoako-Boadu
“Last summer I investigated hypertension resilience among African Americans living in the rural Black Belt region of Alabama and North Carolina. Specifically, I'm studying why some individuals achieve blood-pressure control despite facing extraordinary challenges — extreme poverty, limited health-care access and systemic barriers.
“This question matters because the Black Belt faces a devastating health crisis. Stroke mortality is nearly twice the national average, 60% of African American adults have hypertension, and there are only three to eight primary care physicians per 10,000 people, compared to 25 nationally. Yet remarkably, some individuals maintain normal blood pressure despite these odds.
“The Alumni Association's funding allowed me to remain in New York City throughout the summer and dedicate myself fully to this research without financial worry. As a medical student, research experience is essential for residency applications, but this project means far more to me than strengthening my CV — it allows me to work directly with the patient populations I'm committed to serving throughout my career.
“I'm deeply grateful to the Alumni Association for investing in student research. Your support doesn't just fund projects — it enables medical students like me to pursue meaningful work aligned with our values, to gain transformative experiences and to build relationships with mentors who will guide us throughout our careers.
“Thank you for making this possible.”