Student research is a vital component of the educational mission of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Its cornerstone program is the Shapiro Summer Research Program, supported by a generous endowment from the Herman and Gwendolyn Shapiro Foundation. Medical students participate in eight to ten weeks of research between their first and second year, mentored by Emergency Medicine faculty.
Research projects span a broad range of scientific investigation, and to enhance their summer research experience, students participate in research skills training sessions, roundtable discussions, journal clubs and clinical shadowing. The summer session culminates in poster presentations at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Annual Medical Student Research Forum each November.
2025 Shapiro Student Research Projects:
- Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) System of Care
Scholar: Michelle Orellana-Lopez
Mentor: Collin Michels, MD - Evaluating Antibiotic Prescribing in the Emergency Department for Acute Respiratory Tract Infections
Scholar: Uriel Paniagua, MPH
Mentor: Michael Pulia, MD, PhD - Variability in Clinical Exposure to Patients with Diverse Social Identities in Emergency Medicine Residency
Scholar: Mei Phillips
Mentor: Stephannie Acha-Morfaw, MD