Research

Our mission at MSOM is to prepare physicians who are professionally accomplished, socially responsible, and community-oriented. Our research foci mirror these goals in that MSOM research starts in our own community to benefit the greater good.

Demonstrating our commitment to this mission and focus, we have instituted a novel and rigorous four-semester research course. Research and scholarly activities start in the first semester, and students will complete their initial research project by the end of their second year. The goal for MSOM students is to develop research that addresses health issues and disparities faced in our Western Maryland community and beyond, while also providing learners with a thorough understanding of high-quality research practices. Student research projects will focus on health issues faced our community and beyond, and those approaches may include clinical, biomedical, population health, health equity, or other types of research.

During these first two pre-clinical years, as part of this four-semester research course, students will work in groups with a faculty mentor to design, develop, implement, complete, and disseminate a research project. Students will build a strong knowledge foundation in research methods and an understanding of research statistics during the first part of the first semester. Following that, mentors and student groups will be selected. Students are supported heavily throughout the research process and will have weekly time within the curriculum to meet with their mentors as well as designated research time each week. MSOM resources, such as the Meritus Health Institutional Review Board (IRB), data support, medical librarians, and other research mentorship will be available for MSOM students. Students will present their work at the annual Meritus Scholar-Con and may also present at regional or national conferences or publish their research in a peer-reviewed journal.

MSOM students may also have the option to participate in research with faculty, preceptors, and/or residents during their clinical rotations in third and fourth year.

Audrey Vasauskas, Ph.D.

Associate Dean of Research 

Dr. Vasauskas received her BS in Biology from Mount Saint Mary’s University in Maryland and her PhD from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine (departments of Pharmacology and Comparative Medicine). She completed a four-year postdoctoral fellowship in the Center for Lung Biology at the University of South Alabama, and during this time received an F32 Ruth Kirschstein National Research Service Award by the National Institutes of Health to fund her work in pulmonary endothelial physiology. Her research has also been funded by the American Heart Association (AHA), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM). In addition to her pulmonary biology research, Dr. Vasauskas also has interest in the effects of proactive self-care and stress reduction, including nutrition, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), yoga, and exercise on disease prevention and reversal. This interest is expanding from investigating effects of wellness proactivity on not only the individual, but also entire communities.

Dr. Vasauskas has been conducting research and teaching physiology, biology, and medical science-related courses for over 15 years and has mentored undergraduate, graduate, and medical students in both industry and academia. Prior to her career in academia, she spent several years in the biotechnology industry, where she served as project leader for oncology diagnostic development.

Dr. Vasauskas has experience in developing and growing institutional research programs, overseeing multiple research projects, instituting and ensuring research compliance, maintaining and accreditation reports, and directing student and faculty research.  She most recently served as the Associate Dean for Research and Scholarly Activity and Associate Professor of Physiology at the Baptist University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Prior to that, she served as the Director of Research and Grant Development and Associate Professor of Physiology at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is also a registered yoga teacher and has been leading yoga classes since 2006.