Stimulus Money Creates at Least 22 Summer Jobs at Stanford Medical School

STANFORD, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
At the start of his summer vacation, Alexander Craig couldn`t have told you much
about the kidney, let alone medical science in general. "Dialysis?" he said. "I
didn`t even know what that was."

But now, Craig can rattle off nephrology terms with ease. His newfound knowledge
is the result of a job at Stanford University School of Medicine made possible
by a new federal program. Craig, 19, a Palo Alto native and a rising sophomore
at Princeton University in New Jersey, gets his paycheck courtesy of the
National Institutes of Health.

While many college and high school students across the nation have searched in
vain for summer employment, Craig is fortunate to be one the beneficiaries of
the NIH`s effort to train a new generation of scientists and physicians. As part
of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, known by most as the "stimulus
package," the NIH has allocated $21 million over two years for educational
supplements to existing research grants. The supplements are intended to create
jobs and promote student participation in research. More than 3,000 college
undergraduates, high school students and science teachers are expected to
participate, according to the NIH.

So far, at least 12 high school and 10 college students have received NIH
stimulus funds to work with researchers at Stanford medical school. [For a list
of the students, visit http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2009/july/summer-list.html.]
According to the agency`s Web site tracking of its Recovery Act spending,
Stanford has received more than $200,000 to support summer research experiences
that enable high school and college students to excel in medicine.

"The main purpose is to give something back, to give them some research
experience," said Marion Buckwalter, MD, assistant professor of neurology and
neurological science and of neurosurgery. She used stimulus funds to hire rising
Stanford sophomore Jeremy Goodman to a full-time summer position in her lab.

For Craig, who works in the lab of professor of medicine Glenn Chertow, PhD,
MPH, the experience is a chance to explore options before declaring a major:
Craig is interested in everything from medicine to classical languages to
electrical engineering. In the past month, he`s gotten a crash course in the
kidney and is assisting with research into the effects of dialysis on health.

"I`m learning how research works in an academic setting," Craig said.

Grace Lapier, 18, is having a similar learning experience in the lab of
associate professor of surgery Jill Helms, PhD, DDS. Lapier, who recently
graduated from Palo Alto High School, applied for several summer jobs at cafes
and yogurt shops, but heard nothing back. Many of her friends could not find
summer jobs, said Lapier. So rather than dishing out ice cream, she is now
researching craniofacial development.

"It`s probably more difficult than it has been," said Lapier, who will attend
Williams College in Massachusetts in the fall, about scoring some work in the
current summer job market.

The NIH-funded summer positions help bring students a step closer to attending
medical school. Jennifer Wang, 20, a rising senior at Stanford who is in the
midst of medical school applications, has worked in the lab of David Feldman,
MD, professor of medicine emeritus, for about two years. This summer, NIH
funding is making a full-time job in the lab possible.

In addition to helping Wang prepare to go to medical school, it also serves a
more immediate and concrete need by helping pay for next year`s college bills.
"Housing, room and board, tuition-the funding has helped cover those costs,"
Wang said.

Alec Barlow, 24, of Pleasanton, Calif., decided late in his college career that
he wants to go into medicine; he delayed his graduation from California
Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo to satisfy the prerequisites and
try to get some research experience.

Barlow`s opportunity arose when he found an opening in the lab of David
Stevenson, MD, professor of pediatrics, who researches neonatal jaundice. Barlow
is spending the summer conducting research, attending lectures and tagging along
on rounds in the neonatal intensive care unit. The NIH funding enables him to
live on campus instead of commuting from Pleasanton, he said.

Barlow splits the grant with Cynthia He, 20, a rising senior at Stanford who has
been fascinated with neonatology since she read a book excerpt about the NICU in
seventh grade. A biology major who also plans to apply to medical school, she
has worked in Stevenson`s lab for a year and a half, and will use the funding to
complete her senior thesis project. "It`s really been good for me to see how
neonatology works from the research point of view," she said.

Stevenson said he strives to give the students a comprehensive experience,
spanning from hands-on basic research to observations of bedside care. "I hope
to inspire them to be doctors who think critically and know how to deal with
information in a way that is most conducive to helping patients," he said of the
two students. "They can imagine how work they`re doing now will change care for
the future."

And whether the students are new to medicine or following a life-long dream,
each agrees that hands-on research experience is invaluable.

"I`m just really thankful I get to see this stuff," Craig said. "I don`t know if
I would have learned about it any other way."

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: A list of students with summer jobs at Stanford
supported by stimulus funds is available at
http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2009/july/summer-list.html.

The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation`s
top 10 medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care
and community service. For more news about the school, please visit
http://mednews.stanford.edu. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine,
which includes Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children`s
Hospital. For information about all three, please visit
http://stanfordmedicine.org/about/news.html.

Stanford University School of Medicine
Jonathan Rabinovitz, 650-724-2459 (Print Media)
jrabin@stanford.edu
M.A. Malone, 650-723-6912 (Broadcast Media)
mamalone@stanford.edu

Copyright Business Wire 2009