The Ferring Scholars Program is a three year program designed for high school students who are interested in careers in health care or biomedical research. The goal of the program is to provide participants with an in-depth and rigorous, mentored research experience throughout high school, in preparation for continued research experience in college and eventually graduate school.
The Program
Participants work closely with a carefully selected faculty member at Washington University School of Medicine to develop and conduct independent research projects. In addition to the research experience, the Program features journal club, individualized career counseling, social activities, and workshops directed at maximizing their high school and college experience.
The program includes students from high schools interested in the biomedical and health services research disciplines. The program is designed primarily for highly motivated and independent students that have excelled in and outside of the classroom.
Based on their interests and performance in their freshman year of high school, a group of students are selected by their high school science teachers and or principal . During the summer after their freshman year, the student spend two weeks on the medical campus in a variety of activities that includes a laboratory course sponsored by the Human Genome Sequencing Center, tours of the medical centers and information sessions about the careers in medicine from medical students, graduate students and potential mentors (physician scientists or scientists).
After their first semester of their sophomore year, approximately 50 percent of the students are selected to continue in the program based on academic performance during high school, extracurricular activities and writing skills demonstrated in the previous year. During the second summer students are paired with a scientific mentor to work in their laboratory at least six of eight weeks during the summer for 20 to 40 hours per week. The students also take an ACT preparatory course and are given assigned readings for weekly discussions with the program director and associate director. After the end of the summer (last Friday of July), a luncheon poster presentation is put together by the students describing their summer project. Family and school representatives are invited to attend.
During the third summer, the students are expected to complete at least six of eight weeks in a laboratory working on a hypothesis driven project and to present their work either as a poster or presentation at an end of the summer luncheon. In addition, students work on their personal college statements and start to prepare their college admission packets. With the assistance of their mentor and program leaders, students are encouraged to submit their work to regional or national scientific meetings and competitions for scientific awards.
A cohort of 10 young male high school students was selected for the program beginning in the summer of 2003 and ending after the completion of the 2005-2006 school year.
A second cohort of 15 female high school students began the program in the summer of 2005 and completed the program in the 2007-2008 school year. The combined Scholarship funding awarded for their freshman year amounted to $283,540. Two of the young ladies in this group were admitted into the St. Louis University Medical Scholar s Program. The Medical Scholars Program gives special recognition to exceptional first-year (freshmen) premedical students. It is intended to reduce some of the stress involved in the premedical studies program. Medical Scholars have the opportunity to gain early acceptance into Saint Louis University School of Medicine, in their sophomore year.The next cohort of fellows is in the planning stage.
FundingThe Ferring Scholars Program is made possible by the financial contributions of John and Allison Ferring through the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation. The cost of the program is approximately $25,000 per year, excluding time, support and resources donated by Washington University faculty and staff members.
Program LeaderMichael R. DeBaun, MD, MPHThe Ferring Family Chair in Pediatric Cancer and Related DisordersProfessor of Biostatistics and NeurologyWashington University School of Medicine660 S. Euclid, Campus Box 8116St. Louis, MO 63110Phone: 314.286.1174Fax: 314.286.2609email: debaun_m@kids.wustl.edu
Program AdministratorJoyce LinnProgram CoordinatorWashington University School of Medicine660 S. Euclid, Campus Box 8116St. Louis, MO 63110Phone: 314.286.1174Fax: 314.286.2609email: linn_j@kids.wustl.eduFerring Scholar Alumni - 2005 -2008
Morgan DeBaun (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Catherine Striley, PhD, MSW - PsychiatryUniversity Attending: Washington University, St. Louis, MO Ann DePriest (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Anne Bowcock, PhD – Human GeneticsUniversity Attending: Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Codi Dye (Cardinal Ritter High School)Mentor – Kerri Morgan, MSOT, OTR, Sue Tucker, MSOT/OTR/L – Occupational TherapyUniversity Attending: Xavier University, New Orleans, LA Carissa Ferguson (Christian Academy)Mentor – Linda Larson-Prior, PhD - RadiologyUniversity Attending: Washington University, St. Louis, MO Julia Hilliard (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Carolyn Cannon, MD, PhD - PediatricsUniversity Attending: University of Denver, Denver, CO Mary Kralemann (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Monica Bessler, MD, PhD – Internal MedicineUniversity Attending: St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO Anna LeBoeuf (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Mary Carayannopoulos, PhD - PediatricsUniversity Attending: Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO Rachel Manno (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Anne Connolly, MD - NeurologyUniversity Attending: St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO Rachel Paul (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Allison King, MD, MPH – Occupational TherapyUniversity Attending: Boston University, Boston, MA Anne Ratermann (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Denise Wilfley, PhD – PsychiatryUniversity Attending: Truman State University, Kirksville, MOPoster Presentation: Development of an Internet prevention program for at-risk college women to reduce eating disorders. Ratermann, A.E., Sinton, M.M., Cunning, D., Aspen, V.P., Jones, M., Wilfley, D.E., Taylor, C.B. (2008). Society for Research on Adolescence Bi-Annual Conference, March 2008, Chicago IL. Allison Reed (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Kathleen Bucholz, PhD – PsychiatryUniversity Attending: Washington University, St. Louis, MO Rachel Roland (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Carmen Dence, MS - RadiologyUniversity Attending: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Ashley Shields (Cardinal Ritter High School)Mentor – Kerri Morgan, MSOT/OTR/L, Sue Tucker, MSOT/OTR/L – Occupational TherapyUniversity Attending: Truman State University, Kirksville, MO April Young (Cardinal Ritter High School)Mentor – Valerie Halpin, MD - SurgeryUniversity Attending: Truman State University, Kirksville, MO Abby Zulich (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Linda Cottler, PhD, MPH - PsychiatryUniversity Attending: Loyola University, Chicago, IL
Ann DePriest (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Anne Bowcock, PhD – Human GeneticsUniversity Attending: Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Codi Dye (Cardinal Ritter High School)Mentor – Kerri Morgan, MSOT, OTR, Sue Tucker, MSOT/OTR/L – Occupational TherapyUniversity Attending: Xavier University, New Orleans, LA
Carissa Ferguson (Christian Academy)Mentor – Linda Larson-Prior, PhD - RadiologyUniversity Attending: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Julia Hilliard (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Carolyn Cannon, MD, PhD - PediatricsUniversity Attending: University of Denver, Denver, CO
Mary Kralemann (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Monica Bessler, MD, PhD – Internal MedicineUniversity Attending: St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO
Anna LeBoeuf (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Mary Carayannopoulos, PhD - PediatricsUniversity Attending: Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO
Rachel Manno (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Anne Connolly, MD - NeurologyUniversity Attending: St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO
Rachel Paul (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Allison King, MD, MPH – Occupational TherapyUniversity Attending: Boston University, Boston, MA
Anne Ratermann (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Denise Wilfley, PhD – PsychiatryUniversity Attending: Truman State University, Kirksville, MOPoster Presentation: Development of an Internet prevention program for at-risk college women to reduce eating disorders. Ratermann, A.E., Sinton, M.M., Cunning, D., Aspen, V.P., Jones, M., Wilfley, D.E., Taylor, C.B. (2008). Society for Research on Adolescence Bi-Annual Conference, March 2008, Chicago IL. Allison Reed (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Kathleen Bucholz, PhD – PsychiatryUniversity Attending: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Rachel Roland (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Carmen Dence, MS - RadiologyUniversity Attending: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Ashley Shields (Cardinal Ritter High School)Mentor – Kerri Morgan, MSOT/OTR/L, Sue Tucker, MSOT/OTR/L – Occupational TherapyUniversity Attending: Truman State University, Kirksville, MO
April Young (Cardinal Ritter High School)Mentor – Valerie Halpin, MD - SurgeryUniversity Attending: Truman State University, Kirksville, MO
Abby Zulich (Rosati-Kain High School)Mentor – Linda Cottler, PhD, MPH - PsychiatryUniversity Attending: Loyola University, Chicago, IL
Josh Aranda (Desmet)Mentor – John McKinney, M.D. - OtolaryngologyUniversity Attending: St. Louis University Samuel Cummings (St. Louis University High School)Mentor – Michael R. DeBaun, MD, MPH - Pediatric Hematology/OncologyUniversity Attending: St. Louis UniversityIsaiah Cole (St. Louis University High School)Mentor – Michael R. DeBaun, MD, MPH - Pediatric Hematology/OncologyUniversity Attending: DePaul University, Chicago, IL Douglas Dalton (Whitfield)Mentor – Michael R. DeBaun, MD, MPH - Pediatric Hematology/OncologyUniversity Attending: Xavier University, New Orleans, LA Malcolm DeBaun (St. Louis University High School)Mentor – David Haslam, MD - Pediatric Infectious DiseasesPoster Presentation: A Novel Screening Technique for Detecting Small Molecule Inhibitors of Shiga Toxin Trafficking." 46th Annual Midwest Sociey for Pediatric Research Scientific Meeting, October 20-21, 2005, St. Louis, MO. University Attending: Loyola University, Chicago, IL Billy Ferris (St. Louis University High School)Mentor – Brian Hackett, MD, PhD - Pediatrics Newborn MedicineUniversity Attending: St. Louis School of Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO Joe Repp (St. Louis University High School)Mentor – Daniel Low, MD - Radiation OncologySemi-Finalist: Siemens-Westinghouse Science Research Contest - Characterizing and Modeling Patient Respiratory Patterns for Radiation TherapyAbstract Accepted: Modeling of Intra-Fraction Organ Motion., J Repp, W Lu, J Hubenschmidt, P Parikh, S Mutic, J Bradley, D Low*, AAPB Annual Meeting, Orland, FLUniversity Attending: Duke University, Durham, NC Dave Venker (St. Louis University High School)Mentor – Brian K. Dieckgraefe, MD, PhD - Adult GastroenterologyPoster Presentation: Antagonism of Reg IV increases cell susceptibility to radiation-induced apoptotic death in a tumor xenograft model. Bishnupuri K, Kikuchi K, Luo Q, Venker D, Sainathan S, Houchen C, Anant S, Dieckgraefe B. Digestive Disease Week, May 19-24, 2007, Washington, DC.University Attending: Notre Dame, South Bend, IN (Electrical Engineering )
Josh Aranda (Desmet)Mentor – John McKinney, M.D. - OtolaryngologyUniversity Attending: St. Louis University
Samuel Cummings (St. Louis University High School)Mentor – Michael R. DeBaun, MD, MPH - Pediatric Hematology/OncologyUniversity Attending: St. Louis UniversityIsaiah Cole (St. Louis University High School)Mentor – Michael R. DeBaun, MD, MPH - Pediatric Hematology/OncologyUniversity Attending: DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Douglas Dalton (Whitfield)Mentor – Michael R. DeBaun, MD, MPH - Pediatric Hematology/OncologyUniversity Attending: Xavier University, New Orleans, LA
Malcolm DeBaun (St. Louis University High School)Mentor – David Haslam, MD - Pediatric Infectious DiseasesPoster Presentation: A Novel Screening Technique for Detecting Small Molecule Inhibitors of Shiga Toxin Trafficking." 46th Annual Midwest Sociey for Pediatric Research Scientific Meeting, October 20-21, 2005, St. Louis, MO. University Attending: Loyola University, Chicago, IL
Billy Ferris (St. Louis University High School)Mentor – Brian Hackett, MD, PhD - Pediatrics Newborn MedicineUniversity Attending: St. Louis School of Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO
Joe Repp (St. Louis University High School)Mentor – Daniel Low, MD - Radiation OncologySemi-Finalist: Siemens-Westinghouse Science Research Contest - Characterizing and Modeling Patient Respiratory Patterns for Radiation TherapyAbstract Accepted: Modeling of Intra-Fraction Organ Motion., J Repp, W Lu, J Hubenschmidt, P Parikh, S Mutic, J Bradley, D Low*, AAPB Annual Meeting, Orland, FLUniversity Attending: Duke University, Durham, NC
Dave Venker (St. Louis University High School)Mentor – Brian K. Dieckgraefe, MD, PhD - Adult GastroenterologyPoster Presentation: Antagonism of Reg IV increases cell susceptibility to radiation-induced apoptotic death in a tumor xenograft model. Bishnupuri K, Kikuchi K, Luo Q, Venker D, Sainathan S, Houchen C, Anant S, Dieckgraefe B. Digestive Disease Week, May 19-24, 2007, Washington, DC.University Attending: Notre Dame, South Bend, IN (Electrical Engineering )