Maya Rakoczy (DO '28), a first-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) student at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), is focusing on addressing healthcare disparities within clinical trials for neurological diseases. Building on a strong academic foundation in neurobiology at Boston University, where she earned a BA/MS dual degree in biology with a specialization in neurobiology, Rakoczy's work is driven by her passion for science and desire to make a tangible difference in patient care.
“I am fascinated by the mystery of the brain, how both diseases and natural variances can ‘hide’ in the brain and only manifest at certain moments, or be completely invisible to the untrained eye,” Rakoczy said. “I have worked on neurology wards, volunteering to spend time with patients with neurological conditions from side effects of addiction, to cancer tumors, to strokes, to aphasias and dementias.”
It was through these experiences that she recognized the pressing need for diversity in clinical research—particularly in neurology, where diseases can manifest differently across populations—to better represent different racial and ethnic groups.
While exploring her interest in neurology and behavioral medicine as a clinical transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) technician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Rakoczy began working with her mentors, Dr. Christopher Magnani and Dr. Brandon Turner. With their guidance, she learned how they aggregated large datasets on ClinicalTrials.gov, and analyzed the data using different coding languages.
“I wanted to leverage this large database to understand disparities in clinical trial enrollment within neurology, and I hope these findings will help mobilize efforts to provide greater equity in future clinical trial access,” Rakoczy said.
In her role as a TMS technician, Rakoczy recognized the significance of integrating neurology, psychiatry and the unique needs of patients from diverse backgrounds, cultures and socioeconomic statuses in order to provide equitable care. Rakoczy observed that systemic gaps affect patient outcomes across specialties, and that many clinical trials in neurology significantly lacked representation of Hispanic and Asian populations.
“The problem with clinical trials is twofold: less than half of clinical trials done in the U.S. in neurology report any results to ClinicalTrials.gov, and of those, less than two-thirds report any race and ethnicity data,” noted Rakoczy.
This past summer, Rakoczy investigated the lack of diverse representation in clinical trials and completed the original research project, "Clinical Trials in Neurology Registered 2007-2018 Demonstrate Room for Improvement in Reporting and Representation of Race and Ethnicity," with her mentors, Magnani and Turner, along with help from co-authors. She presented the project within the theme of ethics at the Society for Neuroscience conference in Chicago, on Oct. 6.
“This project helped me understand how large-scale data can reveal trends that affect individual care,” Rakoczy said. “As a physician, I’ll need to balance both individual patient needs and broader population health trends.”
Rakoczy's experience at PCOM has deepened her understanding of healthcare disparities, and the whole-person approach of osteopathic medicine aligns with Rakoczy's goal to continue addressing disparities in patient care—both in research and in practice.
“PCOM has reinforced what I've learned about the many factors that influence health outcomes, including socioeconomic status, stress and lifestyle,” Rakoczy said.
Rakoczy hopes to pursue neurology, with a focus on its intersection with psychiatry. Her goals include continuing to keep issues like racial, ethnic and gender disparities at the forefront of medicine, highlighting the need for diversity in medical research and exploring how patients' perceptions of their own diseases influence treatment outcomes.
“Ultimately, I want to contribute to creating a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system,” she said.
For the past 125 years, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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