COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH
Ashley Patton ( right ), a D . O ./ Ph . D . candidate , is focusing her dissertation on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease caused by a high-fat diet – a proliferating condition associated with the diabetes and obesity epidemics . She is working closely with her mentors , Kelly McCall , Ph . D ., associate professor of specialty medicine , and Frank Schwartz , M . D ., professor emeritus of endocrinology . In 2017 , Patton ’ s work earned a research poster award from the Endocrine Society – the same organization that awarded her a highly competitive summer research fellowship the previous year .
BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF MEDICAL RESEARCHERS
Patton is among a growing number of students participating in research supported by our college . Last year , more than 240 Ohio University students – medical , undergraduate and graduate – took part in Heritage College-based research activities . At the residency level , 87 research and scholarly projects at our partner teaching hospitals were registered with our Office of Research and Grants .
Research is fundamental to medical advances ; focused efforts throughout the college are cultivating our medical students ’ passion for inquiry and discovery . Supported by OHF Vision 2020 funding , our Office of Research and Grants has grown its summer Research and Scholarly Advancement Fellowship program , which introduces selected students to basic science and clinical research and scholarly activities under the guidance of a faculty mentor or college affiliate . International research opportunities are on the rise as well , with students contributing to international research projects through programs sponsored by our Infectious and Tropical and Disease Institute and Ohio University ’ s Global Health Initiative .