When Amanda Peluzzo, a seventh-year MD/PhD student, founded the Future Physician Research Symposium at The Lewis Katz School of Medicine (Katz), she hoped to create a space where medical students could share their work and build confidence as researchers.  

Sponsored by the Temple Chapter of the American Physician Scientist Association (APSA), and now in its sixth year, the event features presentations on various topics, from cancer research to public health interventions. The presentations demonstrate the breadth of interests among Katz students and the strong mentorship guiding them. 

"I wanted to create a forum where students could practice presenting in a supportive environment," said Peluzzo. "It's exciting to see how it has grown, and even more exciting to watch Tim and Emily step in to take it forward."  

This year, the symposium marked a new chapter as MD/PhD students Tim Hanlon and Emily Noonan, both in their third year, coordinated the event. The two are in the graduate school phase of their program and saw the opportunity not just as an organizational task, but as a way to strengthen the student research community.  

"Organizing the symposium gave us a chance to really highlight the diversity of projects Temple students are working on," said Hanlon, APSA Temple Chapter President and event co-coordinator. "It showed how research connects to patient care in ways that are immediate and impactful."  

Noonan, APSA Vice President and co-coordinator, added "The symposium is about research, but it's also about community. It's a chance to learn from each other, support each other, and grow together as future physician-scientists."  

Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS, The Marjorie Joy Katz Dean, praised the students' dedication: "This event celebrates the scholarship, curiosity, and determination of our students. Research is not just an academic exercise; it is a powerful tool to change outcomes, advance equity, and transform care."  

Peluzzo said watching the symposium under new leadership was a proud moment: "This has been a bittersweet moment for me because I am so passionate about research and the importance of a succinct presentation, but I knew this day would come eventually. I couldn't be prouder of Emily and Tim. Although I plan to continue remaining involved in the event next year before I graduate, I trust that this event is in good hands."  

"This event is not only an opportunity for students to put on their ERAS [Electronic Residency Application Service] application, but it is a worthwhile experience to be able to present a short but sweet 'elevator pitch' of your research," Peluzzo said. "The goal is to make students confident in summarizing their research in a way that captivates an audience within 10 minutes. The question period further prepares them to respond to anything an interviewer might ask."  

Noonan emphasized the teamwork involved: "There are a lot of moving parts in planning a schoolwide event, and I am so grateful for everyone who helped Tim and me out, the marketing team, Office of Student Support, Dean Goldberg, SGA, and beyond. The hardest part was making sure we communicated everything about event day clearly with the judges and presenters."  

Hanlon added, "Amanda started something that matters. We're just carrying it forward."