Two take part in NGMC research internship

A recent University of North Georgia (UNG) alumnus and a senior took part in the six-week Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Graduate Medical Education Summer Research Internship in May and June.

Mak Levine and graduate David Torres both expressed gratitude for the experiences they gained as they prepare to apply to medical schools. Each participated in individual and group projects as part of the internship, with the individual work being cases assigned by residents.

Torres, a May graduate from Gainesville, Georgia, with a degree in biology, was previously volunteering in the NGMC Emergency Department and heard about the internship through a volunteer coordinator at the hospital. His individual project was "Chronic myeloid leukemia following incidental hyperleukocytosis and splenomegaly: A case report." His group work was on rib fractures.

Torres is most interested in the neuroscience medical specialty, though the research internship afforded him a well-rounded experience.

"We got a glimpse of the lifestyle of each specialty," Torres said.

Torres presented earlier this year at UNG's 31st Annual Research Conference on a project where he partnered with faculty member Dr. Dobrusia Bialonska, professor of environmental microbiology, and fellow students to examine if certain probiotics contained all of the ingredients listed on their labels.

When Dr. Amy Anderson, senior lecturer of biology, had Torres in a course for the first time, she wasn't sure what to make of how quiet he was. She quickly learned he was processing the information and understanding it at a high level. Anderson appreciates his approach.

"That's the type of personality you need as a doctor: very calm, professional, intelligent, and able to perform under pressure," Anderson said.

Bialonska didn't get to know Torres until his senior year, which made her wish she had longer to collaborate with him.

"He's a rare gem," Bialonska said. "He's very modest while also being very hard-working and smart."

Levine, a senior from Woodstock, Georgia, pursuing a degree in biology, presented her individual research, "Cardiac undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma presenting as cardiogenic shock," at the end of the internship. Her group work was a retrospective study on whether injury severity and pattern differed between falls from trees and falls from ladders and roofs.

"The shadowing of residents gave a realistic picture of what it would be like to be a physician, particularly a resident," Levine said.

A cadet who is on a four-year Army ROTC scholarship, Levine is also a member of UNG's Honors Program who will serve as Honors president at UNG's Dahlonega Campus for 2026-27. She plans to commission in May 2027 and apply for an educational delay to attend med school.

Dr. Meg Smith, a professor of biology and director of Honors in Dahlonega, has worked with Levine on research and through Honors. Smith said Levine was meticulous in their research at UNG on whether moths preferred to lay their eggs on cabbage or kale.

"She has unparalleled commitment and time-management skills. She's a delight to work with," Smith said. "It was outstanding to have a group outside the university recognize her potential."