Friday, November 3, 2017

LUCOM student-doctor places third at annual ACOI meeting

Thu, 02 Nov 2017Asa Keimig | LUCOM Marketing

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) student-doctor, Matthew Hadfield, recently placed third at the annual American College of Osteopathic Internists (ACOI) meeting, Oct. 11-15, at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md.

Hadfield, a fourth-year medical student, submitted a poster presentation on a project that he began at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Ma. The project focused on clinical trials genomic testing and how long it takes to have genetic profiling completed. His project showed that significant delays can occur, meaning longer wait times for patients to get enrolled. His presentation was one of 130 total entries.

After the initial poster presentation, he was selected as one of three finalists, who then had to perform an oral presentation. “He represented the school very well,” said Carl Hoegerl, DO, associate professor of Neurology. “He is a model student for LUCOM and this is one of those moments that we can be so happy as faculty when one of our mentees is able to do a project with us and present it.”

Hadfield was the only medical student who placed, competing against residents. “My oral presentation was ten minutes long and outlined the process for how archival tumor blocks are procured and ways in which genetic testing can be delayed,” he said. “I was very humbled as the conference had many great projects that were being presented by Internal Medicine residents from around the country.”

Hadfield first became interested in medicine during an internship that he completed in high school at a local community hospital. As an intern, he spent time throughout the week in a clinical laboratory, while also shadowing in the operating room. He chose LUCOM because of the exciting opportunity to be part of a new medical school.

After interviewing with Timothy O. Leonard, MD, PhD, senior associate dean of Academic Affairs, Hadfield saw how the faculty were more invested in the students than any other school that he had visited. “LUCOM has some of the best and most supportive faculty you could ever hope for,” he added. “Anytime I’ve ever reached out to a faculty member for help with a project or idea, they’ve been nothing but helpful and supportive and I think that’s one of the things that makes LUCOM such a special place.”

Hadfield hopes to continue performing research during residency and eventually have a career focused on patient care with researched intertwined.