By Anissa Gabbara | Art by Dyanna Bateman
With his lab coat hanging comfortably on the coat rack in the corner, and his University of Michigan diplomas neatly adorning the wall behind him, Dr. Frank Davis (BS ’10, MD ’15, MedRes ’22) is clearly in his element.
Today, Davis is an assistant professor at U‑M’s Vascular Surgery Clinic and currently runs his own basic science laboratory that studies aortic aneurysms. Sixteen years ago, he was a Michigan first-year student studying molecular biology, with an interest in exploring research as a possible career.
Fondly reflecting on his academic and career journey, Davis credits U‑M’s Frankel Cardiovascular Center Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (Frankel CVC SURF) for changing his trajectory.
“If I didn't participate in SURF, I don't think I would have a basic science laboratory like I do today,” he said.
An eye-opening experience
The Frankel CVC SURF program is an annual, 10-week summer research fellowship offered to undergraduate students interested in basic cardiovascular research. Jointly funded by the Frankel CVC, Esperance Family Foundation, and American Heart Association, the program offers at least 30 fellowship positions, matching each fellow to a laboratory led by a Frankel CVC faculty member. Fellows also have the opportunity to participate in nationally recognized research in various areas, including blood clotting disorders, heart failure, and vascular biology.
As one of the largest fellowship programs in the Medical School, Frankel CVC SURF has been vital to introducing aspiring scientists to the world of research. Dr. Daniel Michele, chair of molecular and integrative physiology, and director of the Frankel CVC SURF program, emphasized the role of donor support in enabling students to gain experience over the summer while receiving a weekly stipend to help pay their tuition. Additionally, since the fellowship is a nationally competitive program, there’s an extra source of support to help out-of-state students with financial need to travel to Michigan to participate. Michele also highlighted the importance of growing the breadth of individuals from various backgrounds and educational experiences to develop an interest in the field.
“We have a particular interest in drawing students from underrepresented backgrounds, so we have a network of student advisors from minority-serving institutions that we contact every year to try to grow the diversity of the program,” Michele said.
As a Frankel CVC SURF alumnus, Davis considers the program an eye-opening experience that helped him understand what a career as a surgeon scientist could look like, whether it was testing hypotheses, getting involved in basic and translational research, or investigating patients’ medical questions. Since that summer, he continues to participate in research fellowships every year.
“Because of my interest in research, I did a two-year research sabbatical during medical school to go back and look at different cardiovascular disease states and how that might be applied,” Davis said.
Landing in the lab
Third-year Ph.D. pharmacology student Livia Stanger had her sights set on attending medical school after completing her undergraduate studies. But in order to apply, she knew she’d need to rack up more research experience.
Hailing from a small institution that wasn’t very research heavy, Stanger sought a summer experience that would give her the exposure she needed. After applying to numerous programs, she landed in the Frankel CVC SURF program, spending the summer of 2019 in the same lab where she’s currently pursuing her Ph.D.
“At the time, it was just a way to get myself exposed to research so I could move on and apply to medical school, but I ended up really enjoying it. And based on where I am now, I clearly enjoyed it enough to change my career path,” Stanger said.
Stanger currently works at the Holinstat Lab, where she’s discovering potential targets in platelets to treat cardiovascular disease. She speaks passionately about her project, which specifically looks at a drug—developed by the lab—that can potentially inhibit hyperactive platelet activation. The result?
“It could help prevent clotting in cardiovascular disease patients,” she said.
A ‘pivotal moment’
Teetering between two passions—medicine and research—aspiring physician Anjola Onadipe (Med Class of 2025) said the Frankel CVC SURF program not only provided a deeper understanding of basic science research, but it validated his decision to practice clinical medicine.
Part of the 2017 cohort, Onadipe joined the program with prior research experience under his belt. However, his experience in Frankel CVC SURF was an “intensive” one that proved to be a “pivotal moment” in his academic journey.
“At that point, I knew that I wanted to go to medical school, but it wasn't completely confirmed yet. I also considered combining research and medicine or doing a Ph.D. program, but the FCVC SURF program really provided clarification on what I wanted to do. And I think without the support, it’s likely that I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Onadipe said.
While talking about his time in the program, Onadipe recalled a particularly challenging lab procedure, the western blot, which is commonly used in research to identify and analyze proteins from biological samples. A stumbling block indeed, Onadipe gleaned from the guidance of his mentor, Dr. Justus Anumonwo, and when he joined another research fellowship the following summer, he mastered the technique—thanks to U‑M.
“A neat thing was there were some high school students shadowing in the lab, and I was able to teach them how to do the western blot. That experience at Michigan taught me the skills and endurance to be able to learn it, so that in the future, I could actually do it well and teach others,” Onadipe said.
Mentors of tomorrow
To Michele, investing in education or supporting a fellowship doesn’t solely impact one student; it has exponential impact.
“The biggest source of pride I have in the program is when the students that we've trained reach out to us eight to 10 years later, and they’re now in their first permanent position, training their own students, and maybe even participating as mentors in summer programs at their own institutions,” he said.
It’s a priceless investment that allows U‑M to continue to shape future leaders that are destined to make a difference. Michele puts it simply: “A person trained today becomes the mentor of tomorrow.”
