Sydney Clontz, B.A.
Education:
- Bachelor of Art in Psychology – University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
- Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Candidate — University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
Personal Statement:
I am a medical student (class of 2029) currently working this summer through the T32 Addiction Summer Internship program in the Brain Imaging Research Center. I am working with Dr. Andrew James, Dr. Maegan Calvert, and Dr. Tatiana Wolfe on research that centers on white matter integrity in opioid use disorder. My long-term goal is to provide quality care for individuals with neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly in populations that often experience stigma and barriers to higher quality healthcare. I hope to achieve this through both research and compassionate patient care that improves treatment for those with substance use disorders and other underserved populations.
Ruhani K. Dhillon, B.S.
Education:
- Bachelors of Science in Human Biology with a minor in Social and Behavioral Sciences – The University of Texas at Austin
- Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Candidate — University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
Personal Statement:
I am a second-year medical student in the HEALS Lab of the Psychiatric Research Institute, supported by the NIDA T32 grant under the mentorship of Dr. Smith. My research interests include women’s health and translational addiction research, specifically research focused on helping advance addiction treatment for vulnerable populations, such as incarcerated people and pregnant/postpartum women. I hope to ultimately advance the field of medicine and improve access to proper medical care for marginalized communities, in order to implement such interventions in my own medical practice.
Caleb Fox, B.S.
Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry — University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
- Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Candidate — University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
Personal Statement:
I am a medical student at UAMS and a trainee in the NIDA-supported T32 Addiction Research Training Program under the mentorship of Dr. Paul Miller. My research interests focus on addiction medicine and the pharmacology of substance use disorders, particularly the metabolism and drug-drug interactions of synthetic cannabinoids. My long-term goal is to become a physician who integrates clinical care and research to improve prevention and treatment strategies for individuals affected by addiction.
Lillian Francis, B.A.
Education:
- Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology and Philosophy — Hendrix College, Conway, AR
- Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Candidate — University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
Personal Statement:
I am a second-year medical student in the HEALS Lab of the Psychiatric Research Institute (PRI) through the T32 Translational Training in Addiction Research Summer Internship Program under the mentorship of Dr. Melissa Zielinski. My research interests include strategies for integrating therapies for substance use disorder and increasing accessibility of mental health care for marginalized populations. I am passionate about improving health care outcomes for underserved populations, women’s health, and destigmatizing mental health education and services.