The past quarter has been particularly productive for the students and trainees in Dr. Wong’s laboratory. Three laboratory members achieved the significant milestone of admission to medical school. Daniel Kim was accepted to the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine; Sarah Liu was accepted to the Loma Linda University School of Medicine; and Justin Kim was accepted to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Dr. Wong noted that while the laboratory will miss their daily contributions, their success reflects years of dedication, intellectual curiosity, and hard work. Their accomplishments also underscore the laboratory’s longstanding commitment to mentorship and professional development.
Another laboratory member, Kaitlin Bertrand, was awarded a highly competitive NIH-supported STEM-HERO scholarship. Through this fully funded program, she will conduct summer research in the laboratory of Dr. Goldsworthy at the University of Southern California, gaining valuable experience in translational biomedical research.
The laboratory also celebrated several entrepreneurial achievements. Kyle Sugita and his team were awarded first place and a $10,000 prize in the Shark Tank Competition sponsored by the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) for their work on innovative corneal reshaping technology.
In addition, Sarah Liu and Kevin Gurney were members of teams that won separate $10,000 business plan competitions focused on the development of a portable mechanical intravenous infusion pump designed for use in under-resourced healthcare environments. These projects exemplify the laboratory’s growing emphasis on translational innovation and the application of engineering solutions to address important global healthcare challenges.
Collectively, these accomplishments reflect the exceptional talent of the students and trainees in Dr. Wong’s laboratory and highlight the collaborative, multidisciplinary environment that continues to foster success in research, innovation, and professional development.