ASCO Award Recipient Shahrzad Zamani Hopes to Inspire Others

June 17, 2024

By Shayla Jones, student intern

From University of South Florida to Moultrie, fourth-year osteopathic medical student Shahrzad Zamani (DO '25) recently became the first PCOM South Georgia student to receive the prestigious Medical Student Rotation (MSR) grant from Conquer Cancer, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Foundation.

The ASCO MSR provides financial support for U.S. medical students from populations underrepresented in medicine who are interested in oncology. It allows the awardees to experience a clinical rotation or clinical research rotation in various patient care environments. These rotations can focus on direct patient care or clinically oriented research. Each participant is paired with a mentor who oversees their rotation and provides ongoing academic and career guidance.

“This award is a stipend that covers all expenses of any cancer institute and additionally funds attendance to the annual ASCO conference,” Zamani explained. “The goal of the award is to increase diversity in medicine for underserved communities.”

Marla Golden, DO '88, Dean of PCOM South Georgia, emphasized the significance of this honor, stating, “Receiving a grant for a clinical rotation at a prestigious cancer center is an incredible honor. This will distinguish Shahrzad in the upcoming highly competitive residency application process. Our students continue to excel and make us proud with their outstanding achievements.”

Zamani's passion for serving underserved populations began early, inspired by the disparities she observed in both urban and rural settings. Her ongoing research at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, focuses on cancer prevention and early detection among medically underserved populations.

“I've always been passionate about underserved populations, particularly in rural communities,” she said. “Access to cancer care is a significant disparity in many parts of the United States. My research aims to understand when and how people receive care and the barriers they face.”

Zamani learned about the ASCO opportunity through a newsletter.

“I am a member of the American College of Physicians, which is free for students to join, and they send out weekly newsletters,” she said. “Taking a few minutes to read the newsletter, they often have an opportunities section, and that's where I found this sometime in the summer of last year. I made a note of it. Once the application opened in October, I started to gather the materials to submit.”

Zamani ultimately gained both the award and a mentor, Daniel C. McFarland DO, at the Wilmot Cancer Center in Rochester, New York. As she transitions into this next phase in her medical education, her goal is to give back to the community.

“My short-term goal is to continue exploring residency opportunities and further my cancer epidemiology training,” she said. “My overarching goal has always been to reduce health disparity and contribute to health equity for rural communities, more specifically, in Florida, where I'm from, and in Georgia, where I went to school.”

Zamani also wants to thank her medical school village, who have helped her along the way.

She expressed gratitude to her mentors at PCOM South Georgia, saying, “I would like to thank all of my basic science and clinical faculty, along with the staff at PCOM South Georgia. They set us up for success and gave us the confidence to pursue opportunities.”

Zamani chose to attend PCOM South Georgia because of its mission.

“PCOM South Georgia provides a unique opportunity to serve a diverse and often underserved rural population,” she said. “This aligns with my passion for public health and my desire to make a tangible impact in communities that need it the most. Additionally, PCOM South Georgia's commitment to fostering a tight-knit learning environment was very appealing. The smaller class sizes ensure that we receive personalized attention and support from faculty. Even though I'm not physically in Moultrie today, the sense of community and the collaborative spirit among students and faculty continues to make my medical education a rewarding experience.”

Zamani encourages other PCOM students to apply for the Medical Student Rotation grant from Conquer Cancer in the future. Her advice to them is simple, “Go for it, and start early.”

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