Group awards second annual UMA/MSTP scholarship
In a presentation July 20, UMA’s executive committee named first-year Medical Scientist Training Program student Ryan Rhome its University Medical Associates/MSTP Scholar for 2004. The designation will include stipend support for Rhome’s first year in the program.
UMA
President, Dr. Bruce Elliott, center left, presents first-year MSTP student
Ryan Rhome with a plaque naming him the University Medical Associates/MSTP
Scholar for 2004. To his right is MSTP director Dr. Perry Halushka with
UMA Executive Committee members.
“I think this is great,” Rhome said. “Not just that I was chosen for the scholarship, but that UMA made it available to MSTP students. It’s great that we have physicians here who are willing to invest in the program,” Rhome said.
Rhome, who comes from Clover, S.C., graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens with a strong interest in genetics and psychology. He chose a science track in high school, and by his second year of college was selecting biomedical research and pre-medical courses. “I also volunteered in hospitals, shadowing doctors,” he said.
Rhome said he has about seven years ahead of him that will include training in research and medicine.
This summer, he worked under the mentorship of Larry Middaugh, Ph.D., in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He’ll enter his first year of medical school in the fall.
“The MSTP was natural for me. I like both the clinical and research sides of medicine,” he said. “This will give me the training in translational research to help bridge the gap between pure and applied science.”
Last year the UMA executive committee and board approved the creation of an annual-named scholarship for the MTSP program.
UMA selected Rhome for its second annual named scholar award, which includes payment for his first year's tuition and fees.
“We feel very strongly that our mission must include a strong endorsement and financial support for MUSC and the COM missions. This annual gift is in recognition of that.” said Bruce Elliott, M.D., UMA president.
“This is significant for both the MSTP and the UMA,” said MSTP director Perry Halushka, M.D., Ph.D. “The UMA’s continued support of this program is a testimony to its commitment to excellence and making a significant investment in the future of academic medicine. When I first proposed this scholarship to the UMA executive committee members, they immediately endorsed it and put their strong support behind it.
“On behalf of the MSTP, I want to thank the UMA for continuing to sponsor this scholarship,” Halushka said.
Friday, Aug. 6, 2004
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