MedTrack® Conference 2026

Padua celebrated its 2nd annual MedTrack® Conference, which highlighted MedTrack students' experiences exploring careers in healthcare, medicine, and medical research on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The event kicked off with a keynote address from alumna Pranjal Kashyap ’24, who presented research from a lab in which she works entitled, " NOTCH1 Haploinsufficiency Alters Endocardial Cell Differentiation." We heard from Best Externship Speech Award winner CC Thomas ’28, Franciscan Connection Award winner Ava Hawkins ’28, and Lead Researcher Award winner Peyton Scott ’27. Eighteen seniors delivered oral research presentations in breakout sessions and 40 students presented posters on their Externship experiences. Posters were also presented by Sarah Cigany ’27, who earned her CNA this past summer, Bianca Cordos ’28, who participated in the UH Future Nurse Academy, and Sophia Yonan ’27, who shadowed in pain management at the Cleveland Clinic. 

Other award winners were as follows:

• Best Externship Research Paper | Ava Behal ’28
• Best Externship Reflection Paper | Wen Li Hild ’28
• Best Externship Poster | Isabella Tomaschek ’28
• Best Innovation & AI Award | Isabella Rodriguez ’28
• Speech Finalist Award | Marie Stransky ’28
• Speech Finalist Award | Jacob Reyes ’28
• Speech Finalist Award | Rachel Klueber ’28
• Speech Finalist Award | Morgan Harrison ’28
• Speech Finalist Award | Keira Gaebelein ’28
• Science Communicator Award | Liam Ray ’27
• Methodological Rigor Award | Jacquelyn Tymkewicz ’27
• Impact & Translation Award | Sarah Cigany ’27
• Peer-Review Responder Award | Grayson Knight ’27

We are so proud of all of our students and their incredible accomplishments.