06/14/2023

Meet OSMA Foundation Summer Scholar, Trent James

Developing the next generation of physicians!

The OSMA Foundation's Summer Scholars program provides stipends for medical students to pursue summer opportunities in research, community health, health advocacy and medical education programs.

Trent James

Summer Internship Program:
Research on alveolar clefts in the Plastic Surgery Department of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center.

Medical School and Year:
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Class of 2026

Undergraduate School:
Miami University in Oxford, OH

Hometown:
Deerfield, Illinois

How did you hear about the OSMA Foundation Summer Scholars stipend opportunity?
I heard about this summer scholars opportunity from Kiersten Woodyard De Brito, an MS3.5 at University of Cincinnati who is involved in both OSMA and the Plastic Surgery Department of CCHMC.

Tell us about your summer internship program. What are you working on?
This summer I will be conducting research on bone grafting for the repair of alveolar clefts. Specifically, I will be looking at a novel method of 3D analysis of alveolar clefts and the association between cleft volume and width and post-operative outcomes. The goal of the study is to determine if there is a greater risk of graft failure at a certain volume of cleft, and if this method of imaging analysis can provide a quantitative prediction of bone graft outcomes.

What impact has the OSMA Foundation Summer Scholars program had on you and your medical school goals and pursuits?
The OSMA Foundation Summer Scholars program has provided me with the opportunity to pursue my research goals in a field of great interest to me without concern for the financial burdens associated with this opportunity. As the research is unpaid, the stipend is helping to offset living expenses required for remaining in Cincinnati for the summer while conducting my research. I am extremely appreciative of the support of OSMA and the donors for contributing to my career development as a future physician.

What’s next for your medical career journey?
As a first-year medical student, I hope to continue to pursue new research projects throughout my years in school and beyond. I would love to continue to delve into the field of plastic surgery while learning more about other specialties through my clinical experiences.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I had the opportunity to study abroad at a hospital and medical school in Bangalore, India during undergraduate.