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Miami-Dade and Broward County Medical Associations Announce Winners of Medical Students and Residents Research Competition

MIAMI, March 12, 2026 – The Miami-Dade County Medical Association (MDCMA) and the Broward County Medical Association (BCMA) proudly announced the winners of the 7th Annual Medical Students and Residents Research Competition, held Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Miami. The annual event recognized the outstanding research contributions of medical students, residents, and research fellows across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

The competition showcased 15 innovative research presentations reflecting a strong commitment to advancing medical knowledge, improving patient outcomes, and strengthening the future of healthcare in South Florida. Physician leaders from both counties served as judges, evaluating participants on scientific rigor, originality, presentation quality, and clinical relevance.

Medical Students

First Place: Hope Cherian “A Preliminary Analysis of Standalone and Adjunctive Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization for the Treatment of Very Large Subdural Hematomas.” Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. Miami Neuroscience Institute, Baptist Health South Florida.

Second Place: Evelyn Echevarria Cruz “Preclinical Analysis of the Therapeutic Potential of Resveratrol in Parkinson’s Disease.” Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Honorable Mention: Annabel Ricci “Preventing Intravenous Administration Errors of Epinephrine in the Emergency Department: A Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Approach.” St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies. Keralty Hospital Miami.

Honorable Mention: Hunter Moran “Socioeconomic analysis of pediatric onset inflammatory bowel disease at age 30: A population-based matched cohort study of patients and their siblings.” Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.

Residents and Research Fellows

First Place: Carol Williams, MD “To Increase PrEP Screening at Federally Qualified Health Center Doris Ison of Community Health of South Florida (CHI), Inc.” Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI).

Second Place: Kevin Pina, MD “Recurrent Metformin-Associated Lactic Acidosis on a Patient with End-Stage Renal Disease: Fatal Case Despite Biochemical Improvement.” Keralty Hospital and Keralty Research Center.

“The level of scholarship and professionalism demonstrated this year was exceptional,” said Dr. Julie Kantor, chair of the research competition committee and president-elect of MDCMA. “These students and residents represent the future of medicine, and their work reflects the intellectual curiosity and dedication that drive meaningful advancements in patient care.”

Dr. Adriana Bonansea-Frances, president of the Miami-Dade County Medical Association, emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration and intellectual curiosity among the next generation of physicians. “Medicine is about research, thoughtfulness, and your willingness to share with colleagues and peers,” she said. “We are here to support you.”

The MDCMA and BCMA extend their sincere gratitude to the evaluation committee for their time, expertise, and thoughtful deliberation in selecting this year’s winners. Their commitment ensures the continued success and integrity of this prestigious academic event. Appreciation is also extended to the competition’s prize sponsor, Altfest, for supporting the professional development of emerging physician leaders.

As part of their ongoing dedication to medical education and leadership development, MDCMA and BCMA encourage all residents and medical students to become active members and take advantage of advocacy initiatives, mentorship programs, networking opportunities, and educational resources designed to support physicians at every stage of their careers.

For more information on membership and upcoming opportunities, please visit:

www.miamimed.com/membership

www.bcma.com/membership

About the Miami-Dade County Medical Association

The Miami-Dade County Medical Association (MDCMA) is dedicated to advocating for physicians and their patients, promoting public health, and advancing the medical profession. Through educational initiatives, leadership development, and policy advocacy, MDCMA supports the medical community in delivering the highest standard of care.

About the Broward County Medical Association

The Broward County Medical Association’s (BCMA) mission is to promote the integrity of patient care and public health and enhance the professional interests of physicians in Broward County.

Contact:

Thaidee Ochoa
Director of Communications
Miami-Dade County Medical Association (MDCMA)
Broward County Medical Association (BCMA)
tochoa@cobbemanagement.com