Katie Strobe first naturopathic medical student ever awarded Poncin Scholarship
Kenmore, Wash. (June 19, 2012) – Bastyr University is pleased to announce that Katie Strobe, fourth year naturopathic student and student researcher, has been awarded one of the prestigious 2012 Poncin Scholarships, a state fund held in trust at Bank of America for advanced medical student researchers.
“Receiving this award is a pioneering step for alternative and complementary medical research to be further accepted and fiscally funded,” said Strobe. “This scholarship will allow me financial freedom to accentuate my naturopathic medical education by taking supplementary classes and attend an international integrative medical conference to learn more about current research and treatment options for cancer care, and bring that information back to our community.”
Strobe’s research will investigate how natural mushroom-derived extracts modulate and potentially strengthen antitumor immune responses to improve cancer therapies.
According to Cindy S. Keyser, CFP®, vice president of philanthropic solutions for Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Strobe is the first student studying naturopathic medicine to receive this honor. “This is a great way to educate people to the fact that naturopathic medicine is much more than just prevention and healing,” Keyser said. “The scholarship will help show there is also valuable medical research being done in the natural health arts and sciences.”
Others were equally excited about the news.
“As Katie’s research mentor, I am thrilled that she has been awarded the Poncin Scholarship ,” said Cynthia Wenner, PhD. “Both Katie’s co-mentor Dr. Hailing Lu (a researcher with the Tumor Vaccine Group at University of Washington) and I are appreciative that Katie will have the financial support to apply her excellent scientific training and immunology experience toward this type of cancer research.”
The Poncin Scholarship amount is $24,145.19 and will be distributed monthly from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. It is a medical research scholarship trust, created by the Will of Cora May Poncin to aid worthy and ambitious young people who are engaged in medical research as a part of any recognized institution of learning within the state of Washington.
