{"id":151348,"date":"2026-03-03T18:43:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T23:43:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=151348"},"modified":"2026-03-03T18:43:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T23:43:45","slug":"ucf-med-students-share-pediatric-research-globally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/ucf-med-students-share-pediatric-research-globally\/","title":{"rendered":"UCF Med Students Share Pediatric Research Globally"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three UCF medical students, who researched better ways to help children with cleft palates and other skull deformities, recently presented their findings to international scientific experts.<\/p>\n

They credit the College of Medicine<\/a>\u2019s required research module and their mentor, an Orlando pediatric plastic surgeon, with inspiring them to seek new knowledge that will help patients in the future.<\/p>\n

Fourth-year medical student Hannah Brown and third-years Leticia Lenkiu \u201920 <\/strong>and Rose Meltzer presented their research at the biennial International Society of Craniofacial Surgeons (ISCFS) in Shanghai. The society is comprised of surgical leaders from 30 countries worldwide, and it focuses on plastic and reconstructive surgeries that correct congenital malformations of the face, jaw, neck and skull.<\/p>\n

It marks the first time UCF students have presented at the conference, and it is rare for student researchers of any university to receive an invitation to participate at this level, says Raj Sawh-Martinez, chief of pediatric plastic surgery at AdventHealth for Children and the students\u2019 mentor.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom a career standpoint, you’re on the ultimate stage trying to demonstrate your work,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ve known them since they started as first-year medical students, and their growth has just been astronomical.\u201d<\/p>\n