Author Archives: Cory Van Dyke

One of UNC School of Medicine’s most unique features is its Scholarly Concentration Programs (SCP). Four medical students in the Class of 2026 shared their experiences in a scholarly concentration and all the benefits it has provided.

UNC School of Medicine launched a first-of-its-kind, innovative Step 1 review week for its second-year medical students. “Preparing for the USMLE Step 1 exam is one of the greatest challenges our students face on their journey to becoming physicians, and we wanted to reimagine how schools can support students through...

Dr. Alice Chuang, the associate dean for student affairs in the UNC School of Medicine, answered questions about the upcoming White Coat Ceremony, its significance and our community's celebration of this next step in the medical students' journey toward becoming a physician.

What happens when a medical student returns to the hospital that once saved his life? A summer global health rotation brought Jesus Viña Moreno (Class of 2028) back to his childhood hospital in the Dominican Republic, where he gained clinical skills and renewed confidence.

Travis Williams '20 (MD) makes his mark in Western North Carolina, caring for the community at Chatuge Family Practice in Hayesville. "We feel connected to the people and the land," Williams said. "We're investing in the future here."

Danielle Kapustin, class of 2027, will use the grant for her project “Transforming Embryology Education: Innovative Approaches to Interactive Medical Instruction” with the goal of better preparing students for board exams, clinical rotations, and excellent patient care in the area of embryology.

Adie Ramirez partnered with Fundación Para la Salud Integral de Los Guatemaltecos (FunSalud) to address chronic malnutrition in Guatemala. The team's research has led to the improvement of children's health there.

Pierina Parraga has participated in a number of research projects. The Carolina Medical Student Research Program helped Parraga find mentorship and her purpose in pediatric public health.

Giberson has been involved in a number of research projects at the UNC School of Medicine, including groundbreaking research involving the detection of surgical sponges. He hopes to bring innovation to the field of pediatrics.

Austin Coale and Joanmarie Lewandowski recount their medical school experiences at UNC School of Medicine ahead of Hooding Ceremony. Coale will be a general surgery resident at the University of Florida while Lewandowski will be a family medicine resident at Memorial Health University.

Six School of Medicine members were inducted into the Order of the Golden Fleece, UNC’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. Those inductees were James F. Howard Jr., MD; Lisa Long; Stephen Lostetter III; Cristy Page, MD, MPH; Angela Smith, MD, MS; and Jonathan Smith.

Joshua Walker hopes to celebrate UNC School of Medicine's 2025 Match Day by Matching into internal medicine on March 21. Walker helped revitalize Minority Men in Medicine at UNC and participated in Shop Docs, an initiative to address health disparities in minority communities.