The Academic Associate Program in the Department of Emergency Medicine at North Shore University Hospital at Manhasset is a year-round, clinically-based research program, dedicated to preparing premedical students for careers in healthcare while helping to meet the needs of Emergency Medicine faculty and residents. Academic Associates are full-time employees with a variety of research, academic and administrative responsibilities. During their 1-year tenure, Academic Associates will have the opportunity to present research findings at both state and national emergency medicine conferences. Our five new Associates were selected from a pool of over 100 competitive applicants from all over the country.

Academic Associates assist emergency medicine faculty and residents in many aspects of the research process, and they have become the focal point of the Department of Emergency Medicine’s research infrastructure. Since the program’s inception in 1999, research output has increased, with the Academic Associates involved in several aspects of the research process including literature search and retrieval, identification of potential funding opportunities, grant application preparation, IRB proposal preparation, patient recruitment, data management, and scholarly writing support. It is also the Academic Associates’ responsibility to oversee the undergraduate Volunteer Research Internship Program, which is active throughout the academic year. Under the direction of the Senior Research Director, the Academic Associates are responsible for educating, training and managing the Research Interns, who are pre-health students recruited to fulfill research-based functions.

Click here to download the Academic Associate recruitment flyer.

If you would like to apply to become an Academic Associate for the 2009-2010 academic year, please e-mail a recent resume/CV, a cover letter and an unofficial transcript to Saumil Patel, BS at spatel2@nshs.edu, Si Zhang, BS at szhang1@nshs.edu or Mary Frances Ward, RN, MS, ANP at mward@nshs.edu.

2008 – 2009 Emergency Medicine Academic Associates

Luke Lam, BA

Luke recently graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a triple major in Biochemistry, East Asian Languages and Civilizations with a concentration in Chinese, and Philosophy with a concentration in Philosophy of Science. While in college, he was involved in a biochemical research project concerning the redox properties of peroxiredoxin6, an essential antioxidant lung protein. In his senior year, Luke conducted his independent study project on enzyme replacement therapy for Niemann-Pick disease.  Other significant experiences include his time spent as a general chemistry lab teaching assistant and a volunteer both at a geriatric unit in Kuakini Hospital in Hawaii and an ICU at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. During his free time, Luke enjoys reading and video games.

Mary Breige O’Donnell, BS

Breige graduated with honors from Stony Brook University in 2007 with a BS in Biology and a minor in Dance.  While attending Stony Brook, Breige participated in Up ‘Til Dawn, an organization dedicated to raising funds for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.  She was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and participated in Sigma Beta, NSCS, and Golden Key. Breige is familiar with the Department of Emergency Medicine as she served as an ED Representative from September 2007-June 2008. During her free time, Breige enjoys dancing and recently joined a new company based out of New York City.  For the 2008-2009 academic year, Breige will be an Academic Associate by day and a Nanny by night. 

Saumil Patel, BS

Saumil graduated magna cum laude this May from Stony Brook University with a BS in Biology, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Golden Key International Honor Society.  He enjoys shopping, dancing, food and is an avid follower of baseball, football, international cricket and European football. Saumil is very familiar with the Department of Emergency Medicine at North Shore University Hospital as he previously volunteered as a Research Intern from September 2006-April 2007 and has served as a Research Assistant through June 2008. As a Research Assistant at North Shore, Saumil co-authored several abstracts which were published in Academic Emergency Medicine and Annals of Emergency Medicine. As an Academic Associate for the 2008-2009 academic year, he hopes to expand his research efforts and gain a better understanding of the medical field.  Saumil is currently applying to medical school for matriculation in the Fall of 2009.

David Soohoo, BA

Dave is a Long Island native from Lloyd Harbor. He graduated cum laude from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine with a BA in Biochemistry. He spent his senior year completing an honors project in Biochemistry entitled “The Use of Cobalt (I) Catalyst in the Production of Linear α-olefin Products.” Highlights of his college activities include memberships in several student-based volunteer organizations in local townships. Dave’s hobbies include biking, hiking, running, fishing, and learning how to swim. During his year working as an Academic Associate, Dave will be applying to medical school in the hopes of matriculating in Fall 2009.

Si Zhang, BS

Si (“See”) graduated from the University of Rochester with a BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.  He was accepted as a Take Five Scholar to study the media and its possible polarizing effect on today’s political landscape. As a college student, he took part in a biological research study that aimed to map the yeast genome in an attempt to identify gene suppressors.  Si was also involved in a behavioral research study that looked at the nesting and breeding behavior of Chilean flamingos at the Bronx Zoo. In addition, Si has served as a teaching assistant for general chemistry and evolution, and volunteered at the White Plains Hospital Emergency Department. In his free time, Si enjoys listening to music, going to concerts, and being philosophical.