Information & resources

Medical student programs: Research

How to get started in medical student research
AMA Research Challenge

Learn about the five Research Challenge finalists and register for the finals
Medical student sitting on a stack of textbooks
Succeeding in Medical School

Failed Step 1 or Step 2? These specialties put less weight on exams

Feb 6, 2026 | 6 Min Read
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49 Min Read

AMA Research Challenge Winners

Top-voted five participants from the AMA Research Symposium poster competition presented their research to a panel of judges at the first ever AMA Research Challenge, resulting in co-winners of the event.

Research
AMA Research Challenge collage
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4 Min Read

Research on ventilator allocation, e-cigarettes lands top honors

Beating out nearly 1,000 other research entries, two medical students share the top prize in the first-ever AMA Research Challenge.

Publishing Research
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13 Min Read

Judges for AMA Research Challenge discuss vital role of research

The AMA is leading the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. See daily video updates on how the AMA is fighting COVID-19 by learning more about the AMA Research Challenge, taking place on Jan. 13, 2021.

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Research
AMA Update
AMA Research Challenge finalists
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3 Min Read

From a field of 1,000, 5 medical students vying for research award

Five med students, whose work represents the innovative thinking needed to drive medicine forward, are competing to win the AMA Research Challenge.

Publishing Research
Heerod Malekghassemi
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4 Min Read

Q&A with Research Challenge finalist Heerod Malekghassemi

His research on how front-line workers responded to PPE shortages earned Heerod Malekghassemi a spot in the AMA Research Challenge.

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Research
Succeeding in Medical School
Shamsh Shaikh
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4 Min Read

Q&A with Research Challenge finalist Shamsh Shaikh

The epidemic of e-cigarette use inspired Shamsh Shaikh to conduct research that resulted in a place in the AMA Research Challenge.

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Research
Succeeding in Medical School
Victoria Danan
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3 Min Read

Q&A with Research Challenge finalist Victoria Danan

Ventilator access in the pandemic’s first day was limited. Victoria Danan’s exploration of the topic earned her a spot in the AMA Research Challenge.

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Research
Succeeding in Medical School
Aimen Vanood index photo
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6 Min Read

Q&A with Research Challenge finalist Aimen Vanood

Sidelined from clerkship, Aimen Vanood began researching neurological manifestations of COVID-19. That work earned her a spot in the AMA Research Challenge.

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Research
Succeeding in Medical School
Eli Levitt index photo
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4 Min Read

Q&A with Research Challenge finalist Eli Levitt

The shocking prevalence of med student burnout led Eli Levitt to a poster presentation that earned him a spot in the AMA Research Challenge.

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Research
Succeeding in Medical School