OSTEOPATHIC Medical Student

Naman D. Shah

About me

A little about me….

I am a 3rd year medical student at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University (it’s a mouth-full, I know). I became passionate about medicine from an early age when I had a bone marrow transplant at 18 months old and that passion has continued to manifest itself and grow immensely. I am ecstatic to be almost through with medical school and have found my niche interest in medicine. I am an aspiring pediatric neurologist and want to work with kids with severe forms of epilepsy, headaches and other more rare forms of neurologic disorders.

I graduated from the Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University in 2017 after earning a B.A. with a concentration in cellular neuroscience. I completed my honors thesis titled “Is It Ethical to Use Deep Brain Stimulation to Enhance Learning Capacities in Children?”

I have an extensive background in neuroscience and in teaching/advising. I also have a strong interest in volunteer and non-profit work regarding medical issues affecting kids.

I am originally from sunny South Florida and currently reside in Memphis, TN for my clinical rotations. Outside of medicine, my interests include kayaking, biking, hiking, cooking, traveling, discovering new podcasts and watching classic films.

ExperienceS

American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists, founder and President at NYITCOM ARkansas

September 2018 - May 2019

• Established student chapter of ACONP at NYITCOM at ASU 

• Communicated with local neurologists and psychiatrists to come speak with interested students 

• Coordinated volunteer and shadowing opportunities for members such a Rocksteady Boxing Gym to benefit patients with Parkinson’s Disease

• Created volunteer opportunities with Arkansas State University for students to participate in Neurology Week

Student affairs representative, class of 2021 at NYITCOM Arkansas

September 2018 - May 2019

• Organizing events that help promote wellness and community amongst current students and the community

• Assist with house cup competition to promote friendly competition 

• Promote American Red Cross blood drives to students and local communities

Mentor, at nyticom Arkansas

September 2018 - Present

• Assisted incoming students to adjust to work-life balance required to succeed in medical school

• Accommodated a safe space for my mentee to discuss his goals, aspirations and values and helped him align all three for a prosperous first year

• Regularly meet with him to discuss ideas and thoughts about previous tests and strategies for improvement

CLASS PRESIDENT, class of 2021 at nyitcom arkansas

September 2017 - January 2018

• Served on Academic Affairs to collectively voice student opinions to the dean of Academic Affairs

• Facilitated monthly class meetings where students could come together to receive pertinent information and voice their concerns 

• Attended monthly curriculum meetings to help improve organization and structure of lectures

• Assisted on the committee to select the Student D.O. of the Year

SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES

Research

NYITCOM - Department of Basic Sciences, Jonesboro, AR

Research Assistant | June 2018 - present 

Mentor: Ghalib Alkhatib, Ph.D. 

Project Title:  Antiviral Agents for HIV-1 Infection

• Assist with experiments for determining effective antibiotics and appropriate doses for HIV resistance and therapeutic effects 

• Analyze data to determine if doses need to be increased or decreased accordingly 

• Conduct lab techniques such as western blots, gel electrophoresis, and cell transfer

NYITCOM – Department of Clinical Medicine, Jonesboro, AR

Volunteer Researcher | June 2018-August 2018

Mentor: Bhavesh Joshi, D.O.

Project Title: Osteopathic Approach to Common Pediatric Conditions

• Analyzed data from peer-reviewed research journals to determine osteopathic treatments for common pediatric conditions such as headache, seizures, otitis media and asthma.

• Compared treatment options for the different pediatric ailments and how it compares to adult treatments

Florida Atlantic University – Department of Medical Philosophy, Jupiter, FL

Senior Thesis Research August 2016 – May 2017

Mentor: Ashley Graham Kennedy, Ph.D.

Project Title: Is it Ethical to Use Deep Brain Stimulation to Enhance Learning Capacities in Children?

• Conducted review analysis to create a formulated senior thesis studying the overlap of philosophy, medicine and neuroscience to understand the effectiveness of deep brain stimulation for different pediatric conditions

• Reviewed published articles to make judgements on the adverse effects expected and whether it is considered ethical to provide children DBS to enhance learning

The Scripps Research Institute - Neuroscience Department, Jupiter, FL

Volunteer Researcher | September 2014 – July 2016

Mentor: Baoji Xu, Ph.D.

Project Title: The Effect of EIF4E Downregulation and How It Influences Autism 

• Executed guided research to understand the effects of EIF4E gene mutations and how it is implicated in autistic individuals

• Discovered how upregulation and downregulation of the EIF4E gene causes autismWorked on creating novel treatments for mice who had demonstrated autistic signs

• Learned how to perform basic lab techniques ranging from polymerase chain reaction, gel electrophoresis, rat CRE-LOX and brain imaging  

Publications

Shah, N., Kennedy, A.G., Maldonado, M, Is it Ethical to Use Deep Brain Stimulation to Enhance Learning Capacities in Children? The Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University, 2017

PRESENTATIONS

15th Annual Symposium for Scholarly and Creative Research – Poster presentation - Is it Ethical to Use Deep Brain Stimulation to Enhance Learning Capacities in Children?, April 7th 2017, Jupiter, FL
9th Annual iLead Student Leadership Conference, Finding Your Voice, September 17th 2016, Boca Raton, FL

Teaching Experiences

Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL

Teaching Assistant - Introduction to Pre-Professional Studies - January 2017- May 2017

• Facilitated open discussion about applying to medical school and how to study for MCAT

• Provided shadowing and volunteering opportunities in local hospitals by creating an easy application 

• Assisted with personal statement review for prospective medical applicants

Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL 

Tutor - Math 2013 - 2014

• Tutored students in algebra, geometry, introductory calculus and introductory statistics

• Held tutoring hours, helped with test corrections and homework

Education

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Anticipated May 2021
Jonesboro, AR

Florida Atlantic University Wilkes Honors College

B.A with a concentration in Cellular Neuroscience
Graduated May 2017