DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Maimonides Medical Center honored 14 first-year medical students at its annual Summer Research Experience event, which took place at the Barclays Center’s exclusive 40/40 Club the evening of July 31. 

The program, created in 2020, is aimed predominantly at minority students and those underrepresented in medicine. 

Founded by Afshin Razi, vice chair Orthopedics Department and Residency Program director, Jack Choueka, chairman of orthopedics, and Dr. Rushabh Vakharia, all under the Maimonides Medical Center umbrella, the cornerstones of the six-week program are performing research, learning the fundamentals of medicine or surgery and observing faculty in real-time. 

The curriculum includes one day in the operating room, two days in the office and two days pursuing research over the six-week course. 

Students attend departmental conferences, bi-weekly lectures, and weekly research meetings. They also have an opportunity to engage in dialogue with physicians and build mentoring relationships.