Ralph R. Jones, MD, FACS Pre-Medical Fellowship

The purpose of the Ralph R. Jones, MD, FACS Pre-Medical Fellowship program is to foster undergraduate research opportunities that enrich students’ understanding of the field of medicine and provide them with the experience necessary to stand out during the competitive medical school application process. This program allows students to understand the value of research but to also become involved in research projects that impact their community. Not only does the fellowship support students, but it also helps to support the research faculty with supplies needed to complete research projects.

The summer research fellowship is an opportunity for pre-medical students to engage in a rigorous ten week program, where they are expected to assist a Boise State faculty member that explores ways in which they can improve outcomes in the healthcare community through research. Students are awarded a stipend to participate in a combined employee and educational experience with a faculty mentor for 40 hours each week. The program serves as a much needed preparation tool for students as they begin to apply to medical school. Following their time in a lab with a faculty member, students are expected to present their research at the Idaho Research Conference and the Boise State Undergraduate Research Conference.

About the Ralph R. Jones, MD, FACS Pre-Medical Fellowship

The Ralph R. Jones, MD, FACS Pre-Medical Fellowship was established in 1998 by Ralph R. Jones, a surgeon in the Boise community for nearly 42 years. He served as president for both Saint Alphonsus and St. Luke’s medical staff and was active on numerous medical committees and boards. Through his work as a surgeon, Jones set aside funds to create a pre-medical endowment that would later be used to enhance the quality of pre-medical academic programs. It was his wish to offer Boise State students the opportunity to achieve their dreams of medical and related research careers.

Sadly, in 2004, Jones passed away at the age of 96. He was survived by his two daughters Judith Combs and Marcia Sands who, to this day, work to share their father’s wishes in continuing the fellowship for pre-medical Boise State students.

2023 Recipients of the Fellowship

The 2023 recipients of the Ralph R. Jones, MD, FACS Pre-Medical Fellowship share their experiences and research studies after participating in the fellowship program.

Christopher Orizaba

Pre-Medical Health Science Student

Christopher worked on a project along with Owen McDougal involving a dietary supplement called Kratom, studying the differing amounts of various compounds in Kratom products.. His hypothesis was that since there is no quality control for Kratom in the United States, there will be variation in the amount of eight active compounds called alkaloids between and within commercially available Kratom products.

Learn More About Christohper’s Research

Studied in Owen McDougal’s Lab

Christopher worked on a project along with Owen McDougal involving a dietary supplement called Kratom, studying the differing amounts of various compounds in Kratom products.. His hypothesis was that since there is no quality control for Kratom in the United States, there will be variation in the amount of eight active compounds called alkaloids between and within commercially available Kratom products.

Learn More About Christohper’s Research
Jocelyn Stephens

Pre-Medical Health Science Student

Jocelyn focused on projects relating to the elimination of microbes/pathogens using cold-atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) on different substrates. Assisting Ken Cornell, the main goal of their research on this project is to show that using CAP can increase seed viability and germination rates.

Learn More about Jocelyn’s Research

Studied in Ken Cornell’s Lab

Jocelyn focused on projects relating to the elimination of microbes/pathogens using cold-atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) on different substrates. Assisting Ken Cornell, the main goal of their research on this project is to show that using CAP can increase seed viability and germination rates.

Learn More about Jocelyn’s Research
Lauren Snider

Pre-Medical Health Science Student

Lauren worked alongside Don Warner, and her work was focused on creating small molecules that are designed to inhibit an inflammatory cytokine (a small protein important in cell signaling) that promotes cancer metastasis (most notably, breast cancer).

Learn More about Lauren’s Research

Studied in Don Warner’s Lab

Lauren worked alongside Don Warner, and her work was focused on creating small molecules that are designed to inhibit an inflammatory cytokine (a small protein important in cell signaling) that promotes cancer metastasis (most notably, breast cancer).

Learn More about Lauren’s Research
Maddie Summers

Pre-Medical Health Science Student

Maddie assisted Juliette Tinker, looking into AB5 toxins, protein complexes secreted by bacteria, as potential components of vaccines. She specifically looked at two AB5 toxins: artAB from Salmonella and heat-labile toxin (LT) from E. coli.

Learn More about Maddie’s Research

Studied in Juliette Tinker’s Lab

Maddie assisted Juliette Tinker, looking into AB5 toxins, protein complexes secreted by bacteria, as potential components of vaccines. She specifically looked at two AB5 toxins: artAB from Salmonella and heat-labile toxin (LT) from E. coli.

Learn More about Maddie’s Research