From The Director
By Steven P. Schmidt, PhD
Welcome to the Fall/Winter 2010 issue of The Informed Investigator.
The articles published in this issue focus upon themes of critical importance and priority to Summa’s research enterprise – namely, collaboration and mentorship of students in research.
As you all know Summa Health System is a founding partner and active participant in the community research collaborative entitled the Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron (ABIA). Now, slightly more than a year after its founding, ABIA is giving definition to its Centers and building agendas of research designed to support the work of the partner organizations and promote economic growth of the region. Many of you have asked what this really means and how ABIA will accomplish these goals. Scott Rainone, Director of Communications, and Allison Plante, Communications Associate, for ABIA have contributed an article for this issue of The Informed Investigator that summarizes the work of each of the Centers. The article provides clarity regarding ABIA organizational structure and goals.
Since 1997 Summa Health System has sponsored research opportunities to students through the Summer Fellowship Program. Many individual departments at Summa sponsored Summer Research Fellowship programs before central coordination of this program in 1997 so the program has a long and storied history at Summa. Projects are developed by Summa research mentors to offer a beneficial and educational experience in Basic (laboratory-based) biomedical research, Clinical Research and Behavioral Research for students. The 2010 Summer Research Fellowship Program was an overwhelming success. Thirty-five students from a variety of undergraduate, graduate and medical colleges were awarded the 240 hour fellowship from over 100 applicants. Along with the funded Summer Research Fellowship Program Students, seven students from Hudson High School and three McNair Scholars from The University of Akron were also awarded fellowships. Students eagerly participated in a variety of research projects. Data was gathered that detailed their scope of research conducted over the summer which was then translated into scientific posters. The scientific posters were displayed at the third annual interactive “Poster Day” highlighted at the Community of Research Meeting held on July 30th. The “Poster Day” was attended not only by Summa employees but also by the student’s family and faculty of the participating universities, promoting an even broader base of community involvement. The impact of this program upon students in developing their critical thinking and informing career decisions is incalculable. To offer a first-hand reflection upon this experience we asked Chris Kriebel, a graduate of The University of Akron, and a 2010 Summer Research Fellow in the Division of Surgical Education & Research, to write an article for this issue of The Informed Investigator. We know that Chris’ experience mirrors that of virtually all of the participating students.
I want to also acknowledge Augie Napoli in this column. Augie is leaving Summa Health System on November 24th after serving Summa for 4 years as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Summa Foundation to assume the role of Deputy Director of the Cleveland Museum of Art. There has been no one in a leadership role in the history of my experience as a Summa employee more passionate and supportive of research and education at Summa than Augie! Under his leadership the Summa Foundation has truly transformed how we think about ourselves and the vital role that research and education plays at Summa. Augie helped us to believe that we could be more than we ever thought we could be, and for that legacy we will be forever grateful. Please join me in congratulating Augie in his new role and in thanking him for his excellent service to Summa.
And finally, it is with mixed emotions that I tell you this will be the final issue of The Informed Investigator – at least in this form as we know it. The weekly Community of Research eblasts have supplanted the role this newsletter served for updates and news regarding the research enterprise at Summa, while readership of The Informed Investigator has remained strong, even increased, through time. But, I’m pleased that over the past three years The Informed Investigator served to elevate the profile of research here at Summa and throughout the community. We hope through time to transition The Informed Investigator to an electronic research journal for the System that will publish research reports in a traditional scholarly format. Many thanks and kudos to Heather Holmes and Leann Speering who did the heavy lifting in preparation of each issue of this newsletter. It has been a great project and I thank our readers for your comments and support and encouragement.