Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Mentorship opportunities in medical research for college students spark their sense of discovery, inspiring them to take on new challenges and positioning them on pathways to lifelong careers in the sciences. As a leading pediatric research institute, we conscientiously invest in the training and professional development of the next generation of scientists. Matching students and faculty mentors through our Katz and Manne Research Institute Summer Scholars Program is one way we have a direct and positive impact. I would like to introduce you to Jonathan Hernandez and Kyle MacQuarrie, MD, PhD, one of the student-faculty mentor pairs from this year’s summer scholars program, and catch up with Liliana Aguayo-Markes, PhD, a past summer scholar and current research assistant professor at Emory University who has embarked upon a promising career as a social epidemiologist studying childhood obesity.

Now a senior studying biomedical engineering at Syracuse University, Jonathan found that his partnership with Kyle expanded his understanding of the diverse career paths available in medicine that could also encompass his engineering interests. While Jonathan has previous engineering research experience, this summer marked the first time he was exposed to medical research, and he credits Kyle with explaining the nuances of the field, as well as the impact our work has on pediatric health. Under Kyle’s guidance, Jonathan gained hands-on research experience in the MacQuarrie Laboratory by observing the spatial organization of chromosomes that might be impacting the development of rhabdomyosarcoma, a tumor of skeletal muscle. Jonathan’s work is now supporting research funded through a CURE Childhood Cancer early investigator grant recently awarded to Kyle. Pictured: Dr. Kyle MacQuarrie (left) and Jonathan Hernandez.

Reflecting on his own journey, Kyle credits dedicated mentors as contributing to his successful pediatric research career, particularly the first, a hematologist and family friend who gave a teenage Kyle his first chance to conduct laboratory research. To pay it forward, Kyle volunteered as a faculty mentor in the summer scholars program for the first time this year and welcomed the chance to support and inspire students from diverse, underrepresented backgrounds. His passion for teaching science was strengthened by the experience, which gave him new perspectives on how he presents his work to others.

In her journey through the 2014 summer scholars program, Liliana highlights one enduring lesson: how to be an effective and compassionate mentor. Guided by her summer mentors, Adolfo J. Ariza, MD, and Helen Binns, MD, MPH, she benefited from an atmosphere that encouraged open inclusive dialogue without judgement. They also offered her tailored guidance on her research project and navigated her through the intricacies of the publication process. These experiences have shaped Liliana’s own approach to mentorship. Like Kyle, Liliana pays it forward by inspiring confidence in her mentees, elevating their needs, helping them drive toward their goals, and ensuring they have as rich of a mentorship experience as she did. In doing so, Liliana contributes to cultivating a more vibrant future for the next generation of researchers. 

Thank you to those who served as faculty mentors for the 2023 summer scholars program. As we prepare for the 2024 program, I encourage you to consider applying to become a faculty mentor when we open the application process later this year. It is a wonderful way to engage budding researchers and shape the future of pediatric medicine. 

With kindness and respect,

Pat