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Future Doctors Present Scholarly Capstone Projects

Clinician Scholar Symposium for graduating medical students hosted at UConn School of Medicine
Lauren Woods | Fri, Mar 7, 2025

On March 7 over one hundred fourth-year medical students presented their capstone scholarly projects at the annual Clinician Scholar Symposium at UConn School of Medicine.

Dr. Margaret Callahan sharing the keynote address for the 2025 Clinician Scholar Symposium at UConn School of Medicine.
Dr. Margaret Callahan sharing the keynote address for the 2025 Clinician Scholar Symposium at UConn School of Medicine.

The student presentations are a special part of the culmination of their medical school journey as they march toward UConn Health’s 54th Commencement on May 12 to receive their medical degrees.

The event’s keynote address was delivered by UConn School of Medicine alum Margaret K. Callahan, MD, Ph.D., who now serves as the chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at UConn Health and the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center. She spoke about the power of immunotherapy for cancer patients and beyond.

“I’m delighted to be back at UConn as a clinician scientist. My time here as a student was foundational in building this career – from clinical skills to research skills to my early interest in cancer immunotherapy – it all started here,” shared Callahan.

The soon-to-be future Dr. Cailyn Regan presenting her novel capstone project study findings in the Academic Rotunda on March 7.
The soon-to-be future Dr. Cailyn Regan presenting her novel capstone project study findings in the Academic Rotunda on March 7.

“We are thrilled that the UConn medical school community came out to support our graduating fourth-year students as they disseminated their scholarly work. We have had really great projects and presentations. We wish them continued success,” said co-chair of the Clinician Scholar Symposium Stefan Brocke, MD, Ph.D.

“Thank you to all the faculty mentors for making the successful journey of our medical students and their capstone projects possible,” said Jeffrey Pella, Ph.D., MSc., also co-chair of the Symposium.

One of the fourth-year student capstone presenters was Cailyn Regan, 26, of West Hartford. Her project focused on infertility which is widespread in the U.S. impacting approximately 15 percent of couples. She explored “Lutei nizing hormone (LH) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) stimulate ovulation in an epiregulin (EREG)-dependent manner.” Her faculty mentor was Lisa Mehlmann, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Cell Biology.

“My project helped to highlight previously unexplored feedback loops in the ovulatory process. Research like this can expose new targets to explore for future treatment of infertility, IVF, or other hormonal disorders,” says Regan. “Reproductive health is an area of medicine that interacts with both the clinical status and livelihoods of patients. Being able to appreciate and explore both the scientific and humanistic sides of medicine is a pillar I’ve always tried to align myself with.”

Regan’s capstone project presentation has been a long time coming.

Fourth-year UConn medical student Cailyn Regan of West Hartford.
Fourth-year UConn medical student Cailyn Regan of West Hartford.

“It’s surreal knowing that presenting my capstone that I’ve been working on for years is the only thing that stands between me and graduation. It’s been a long road but an enriching one,” she reports.

Regan is looking forward to National Match Day on March 21 with her fellow classmates in the Class of 2025 and hopes to be beginning her journey with a match to a surgical residency, likely with research years.

As she presented her capstone findings, Regan’s father Dr. Thomas Regan, assistant dean for Admissions and Student Affairs and an emergency medicine physician at UConn Health, beamed with pride.

“She’s the best, she knows the information, and gave a phenomenal presentation,” he exclaimed.

Double Husky Maxime Braun, 27, of Simsbury presented her capstone on “Artificial Intelligence Screening of Computed Tomography Images for Identification of Findings Requiring STAT Read by a Radiologist.” Associate professor of radiology Dr. Michael Baldwin served as her faculty mentor.

UConn medical school's Class of 2025's Maxime Braun of Simsbury.
UConn medical school’s Class of 2025’s Maxime Braun of Simsbury.

“Throughout my time in medical school, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a much more prominent presence in society, academia, and medicine. During my training, AI not only arrived on the scene but seems to have become ever more pervasive in day-to-day life. The role of AI seems to be questioned most heavily within the field of radiology,” Braun says.

Braun conducted research into the developments of AI use within the field as she hopes to pursue a diagnostic radiology residency training program and a future career in radiology.

“My research into the relationship between AI and the radiologist has led to my discovery of a few AI-driven tools that I had no previous knowledge of,” Braun reports. “A few of these screening modules that I have witnessed first-hand can detect breast lesions on mammograms, lung nodules on low-dose chest CT scans and, of course, large vessel occlusions on CT angiograms of the head and neck. While this project has certainly not wholly clarified the relationship between AI and radiology, it has confirmed that it is a highly effective triaging tool that increases efficiency for patient care.”

Braun adds, “As a future radiologist I am motivated to continue to investigate this relationship; it will be important to keep up with the development of AI as it will inevitably keep intertwining with the field.”

Maxime Braun, fourth-year UConn med student, presenting her capstone findings.
Maxime Braun, fourth-year UConn med student, presenting her capstone findings.

Braun’s conclusion about the Clinician Scholar Symposium: “It was remarkable witnessing and celebrating all that our class has accomplished. It’s pretty incredible how fast the past 4 years seemed to go by even when, at times, it felt like such a long road ahead. What I love most about UConn are the people I have met along the way. I will cherish the relationships I have formed with professors, mentors, staff, and life-long friends.”

Congrats to the future Dr. Regan, Dr. Braun, and all the future UConn-made doctors on their successful capstones!

Dr. Melissa Held, senior associate dean for Medical Student Education concluded, “This is one of my very favorite days of the year. I am incredibly impressed. Congratulations!”

UConn Health's Dr. Thomas Regan looks on as his daughter Cailyn Regan presents her final capstone project and follows in his footsteps to become a physician.
UConn Health’s Dr. Thomas Regan looks on as his daughter Cailyn Regan presents her final capstone project and follows in his footsteps to become a physician.

 

 

Additional information on the event and the presented capstones.