Summer Research Internship for Medical Students (SRIMS)

My name is Dave Dodson, and I am a first-year medical student at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. This summer I will working within the Trotman Laboratory examining the effects of Menadione, a vitamin K precursor, on tumor microenvironment within primary prostate cancer. My interest in prostate cancer research stems from a desire to contribute to advances in early detection, personalized treatment, and improved quality of life for patients. As a member of the Trotman Laboratory and a medical student within the Northwell Health system, I stand at an intersection between our research and it’s application towards patients within the long island region. I am currently interested in the field of urology.

In my spare time I enjoy playing basketball, working with my car, and woodworking.

I would describe myself as a resilient and driven individual, dedicated to making a meaningful impact on people’s lives through medicine, research, and service. I am a first-year medical student with aspirations to specialize in orthopedic surgery, particularly orthopedic oncology. My passion for research stems from its power to drive real-world change—it challenges me to think critically and creatively to solve pressing medical problems. I am especially fascinated by cancer biology, where understanding the molecular and genetic mechanisms of tumor development, progression, and resistance can translate into transformative therapies.I was drawn to Dr. Katherine Alexander’s lab because of its cutting-edge focus on nuclear speckles—key subnuclear structures that play a crucial but still mysterious role in gene regulation. The lab’s mission to unravel how nuclear speckles orchestrate gene expression, especially their influence on DNA positioning and speckle dynamics in cancer, aligns perfectly with my interest in understanding the molecular underpinnings of disease and improving patient outcomes. I am excited to contribute to building foundational models that could redefine how we approach gene regulation in both normal biology and cancer.

Outside of medicine, I am a passionate gospel singer-songwriter. When I’m not studying or conducting research, you can usually find me singing, playing guitar, and sharing music that I hope uplifts and inspires others.

I am a first-year medical student at the Zucker School of Medicine. I am currently interested in specializing in emergency medicine. I have always loved doing research and have been working in labs continuously since early high school. I enjoy using specific methods to try to find the answers to scientific questions. I particularly enjoy neuroscience research, as this is what I have been involved in most of my life, having written a thesis during my undergraduate years about behavioral patterns in mice with autism spectrum disorder. This is why I am excited to work in the Pouchelon Lab, to continue my research in the neuroscience field as well as connecting it more to medicine and development. This project allows me to continue my neuroscience research as well as work with ultrasound, which is another part of medicine that I am very interested in. I look forward to learning more during my time in the Pouchelon Lab this summer.

When not studying for school, I like to hang out with friends, play ping pong, pickleball, and juggling.