Young Researchers Win Osteopathic Medical Award

(June 2021) Six middle school and high school students received the Osteopathic Medical Award at the 73rd Annual State Science Day, held virtually for the second consecutive year due to the pandemic. Projects were judged in two divisions, 7th-9th grade and 10th-12th grade. The awards, which carry a total of $650 in cash prizes, are supported jointly by the OOA and Ohio Osteopathic Foundation.

The OOA awarded $150 for first place; $100 for second place; and $75 for third place. Priority was given to projects related to interrelationships between the body’s function and structure, the musculoskeletal system, or a holistic approach to medicine, including internal and external factors and preventive treatments.

Five of the OOA award recipients earned superior ratings from the OAS; four of the six won at least two sponsored awards; and one, Anjali Dhanekula, also won the Osteopathic Medical Award last year. Many of the projects this year centered on the coronavirus and vaccinations.

State Science Day, sponsored annually by the Ohio Academy of Science (OAS), is the pinnacle of 5th-12th grade student originated, inquiry-based science education.

The following received the Osteopathic Medical Award:

JUNIOR DIVISION, 7th-9th grade

FIRST PLACE
Haasini Mendu
A novel machine learning approach for the early detection of Parkinson’s Disease using acoustic measures
8th grade, Mason Middle School

SECOND PLACE
Ramya Rajan
Identification of Novel Genetic Biomarkers with Prognostic Utility in Lung Adenocarcinoma
8th grade, Mason Middle School

THIRD PLACE
Natalie Gerstenberger
Vaccines vs. Herd Immunity
7th grade, St. Helen, Newbury

SENIOR DIVISION, 10th-12th grade

FIRST PLACE
John Shin
Developing COVID-19 Diagnostic Programs Using Artificial Intelligence with Chest X-ray Data
10th grade, Hawken School, Gates Mills

SECOND PLACE
Anjali Dhanekula
The cGAS-STING Pathway in Rhabdomyosarcoma and Osteosarcoma
11th grade, Hathaway Brown, Shaker Heights

THIRD PLACE
Julia Goldhardt
The Effects Bacteria have on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Presented in the Lungs
12th grade, Lincoln High School, Gahanna