MINORITY FACULTY DEVELOPMENT | Volume 16 | September 2003

Project Success: Opening the Door to Biomedical Careers—Perspective of an Alumnus
By Glenn Hall, Jr., Tufts University ‘04
Project Success alumnus (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)

Over the past decade, Project Success has brought more than 100 students eager to build careers in the biomedical field to Harvard-affiliated hospitals to work one-on-one with HMS faculty. Eminent scientists and physicians have invited these enthusiastic students into their laboratories and hospitals to learn first-hand how to conduct research and, at the same time, how to become successful. Not only has the program provided this fantastic research opportunity, but it has also allowed the student participants to meet peers who share similar interests and career goals.

I worked with Marianna Castells, PhD, MD at the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Research Laboratories at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 1999 on finding novel mast cell ligands critical in allergic response. In the summer of 2000, I researched with Frank Sellke, MD, Johnson and Johnson Professor of Surgery at HMS and Interim Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Cesario Bianchi, PhD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, HMS and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on defining a protein possibly responsible for edema after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery in pigs. And, for the past three summers, I have studied and researched with Robert Sackstein, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Institutes of Medicine on the molecular biology of a glycoprotein believed to be a bone marrow homing receptor. Because of my work with these outstanding professionals, I have mastered the art of networking with my fellow participants and preceptors, and I have built professional and personal relationships with my past preceptors that will last a lifetime. Moreover, I know how to conduct hypothesis- driven research quite efficiently. I can compose a concise and well-written scientific research paper; I can arrange a great presentation. I owe Project Success major credit for my success to date.

This summer 19 students participated in Project Success; four of them returned as alumni/ae. They worked at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Channing Laboratories, and Massachusetts General Hospital in such fields as infectious disease, cell biology, pediatric orthopedic surgery, ophthalmic research, and chronobiology. The students resemble those with whom I shared past summers at HMS—they too exude an interest in, and an intellectual curiosity about, science. From the first week of the program, this year’s participants appreciated the opportunity to be ‘on the cutting edge of science.’ For example, two of this summer’s participants, John Howard, a sophomore at St. Sebastian’s School, and Jasmine Mordon-Connally, a junior at Health Careers Academy, have been fortunate enough to be placed in a laboratory that focuses on basic molecular biology, as well as on complex cardiothoracic surgery in pigs; John and Jasmine shared their enthusiasm with me. Such amazing opportunities to both observe and participate are what create the beauty of this prestigious program. I am very glad to have this opportunity to thank all of my past and present preceptors. However, most importantly, I would like to extend my gratitude to Joan Reede, MD, MPH, MS, for giving me the chance to be a part of Project Success, and for introducing me to scientific research.