MD/PhD student combines research and medicine to advance pancreatic cancer research funding
Alyson Stevens began college with a strong passion for pancreatic cancer research, but little did she know her initial interests would lead her to supporting cancer research efforts at the national level in Washington, D.C.
Now a student in the West Virginia University School of Medicine’s dual MD/PhD program, Stevens is pursuing a PhD in Immunology & Microbial Pathogenesis with the goal of becoming a physician scientist, allowing her to combine her two passions: research and medicine.
With a strong family history of cancer, Stevens knew she always wanted to contribute to the field, but she was uncertain where this path would take her.
After joining Associate Professor Ivan Martinez, Ph.D., at the WVU Cancer Institute and serving as a patient ambassador for the oncology units at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital during her undergraduate studies, Stevens realized she didn’t want to choose between research and medicine, leading her to pursue a program that incorporated both.
“I loved being able to see both the bench and bedside aspects of the disease and decided I wanted to incorporate both research and medicine into my future career,” Stevens said. “The dual degree program seemed tailor-made for my goal of becoming a physician scientist, and my wonderful undergraduate experience at WVU made me decide to stay and pursue my MD/PhD here.”
Stevens’ interests recently extended beyond the classroom when she had the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C. with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) to further pancreatic cancer research funding.
During her visit, Stevens met with multiple congressional offices, including those of West Virginia senators Jim Justice and Shelley Moore Capito, to discuss the vital role of federal funding on the progress of pancreatic cancer research.
“Conversations are key to initiating change,” Stevens said. “This opportunity sparked a new passion, and I hope to participate in more conversations about the importance of cancer research funding in the future.”
The Altoona, Pennsylvania, native finds that working in medicine can involve more than the traditional lab expectations, and she emphasizes the value of health care professionals to share the impact of their research.
“As scientists, we can get focused on our own experiments and forget that it's up to us to speak up for the research we're doing,” she said. “It's up to us to practice good scientific communication by synthesizing our complex scientific jargon into something more approachable for both the public and, importantly, lawmakers, to be sure the importance of our work is conveyed.”
Stevens credits the hands-on experiences she had at the School of Medicine with preparing her to attend Washington, D.C. with PanCAN.
Stevens completed her undergraduate degree at WVU in Immunology and Medical Microbiology, which provided a strong foundation for her graduate-level work through research opportunities and academic support.
“Majoring in IMMB at WVU was the best possible choice I could have made to prepare me for both medicine and research,” she said. “The IMMB faculty gave me such a solid scientific foundation that I now have the confidence in my current MD/PhD program to branch out and explore scientific areas that I wouldn't have otherwise tried.”
She is also a recipient of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service F30 Award, a federal grant funded by the National Cancer Institute, giving her firsthand insight into how crucial federal support is in advancing cancer research. The award provides Stevens with funding for dissertation research aligned with NCI’s mission. As part of the application process, Stevens wrote a formal proposal consisting of the research strategy, training plan and how the grant will support her research.
In addition, Stevens participates in WVU’s Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program. CBTP provides specific mechanisms for students interested in a scientific career in the area of cell and molecular biology and in biomedical engineering to strengthen and develop their expertise in experimental design and methodology, to illustrate connections to health and disease, and to provide opportunities for networking.
Stevens credits her mentors, Timothy Eubank, Ph.D., and Brian Boone, M.D., in supporting her academic goals and encouraging her to attend conferences that have enhanced her leadership skills.
“My mentors have been very supportive by sending me to multiple conferences to present my work, even one as far as Maui, Hawaii,” Stevens said. “These events helped me network with a broad range of high-caliber clinicians and researchers from around the world.”
Stevens hopes to remain involved in conversations surrounding cancer research funding. Upon completing her dual degree, she plans to pursue residency in internal medicine followed by a fellowship in medical oncology, with hopes of focusing on immunotherapeutic clinical trials in cancer.
Learn more about the MD/PhD program at https://hsc.wvu.edu/research-and-graduate-education/graduate-education/phd-programs/mdphd-scholars-program/ .Students interested in exploring pathways to the MD/PhD program and other health professions careers can visit go.health.wvu.edu/pre-health.