07/01/2025

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine: Student Researchers Shine at Medical Symposium

In early April, student researchers from the College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) took top honors at a poster symposium hosted by the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY).

Melissa Ikizoglu (right) and Katsiaryna Milashevich (left) received first-place honors for their poster.

The competition took place during the society’s annual House of Delegates Meeting, held April 3–6 in Tarrytown, N.Y., where Melissa Ikizoglu and Katsiaryna Milashevich were named first-place winners for their poster, “Unveiling the Impact of Vitamin C Deficiency in Pediatric Anesthesia: A Case Series and Comprehensive Literature Review.”

Abigail Wolf and Anna Mienko took third place for their work, “A Comparison of Surface Topography Structure to Tissue Function in Mouse Model of Colitis,” co-authored by Juliet Insinga, Research Associate Anthony Pellicano, and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences Vladimir Grubisic, M.D., Ph.D.

The students competed against 26 teams from allopathic (M.D.) and osteopathic medical schools across New York State. This included eight other NYITCOM teams, who shared impressive findings on heart damage caused by a powerful cancer drug and blood vessel complications following surgery, among other key topics.

Abigail Wolf (right) and Anna Mienko (left) display their award-winning poster.

In addition, the medical school had strong representation in the form of MSSNY officers and county delegates. For the third year in a row, Bernadette Riley, D.O., professor and director of the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome/Hypermobility Treatment Center, was elected MSSNY assistant secretary; she also serves as vice president for the Nassau County Medical Society. Other local county delegates, including alumnus Scott Landman (D.O. ’24) and students Ariella Bourdeau, Kristen Coletti, Siddhi Modi, Riddhi Modi, and Kaylee Bressler, also contributed to important conversations shaping the future of medicine.

Founded in 1807, MSSNY is the state’s principal nonprofit professional organization for physicians, residents, and medical students of all specialties. The organization is comprised of approximately 30,000 licensed physicians, medical residents, and medical students in New York State; its members participate in both the state society and their local county medical societies.

Originally published on New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine’s website: https://www.nyit.edu/news/articles/student-researchers-shine-at-medical-symposium/.