A Summer at Children’s National Medical Center in DC
OMS II Andrea Attenasio Researched Genetic Variances and Bone Health
Second-year Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) Middletown student Andrea Attenasio spent her summer at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC as a prestigious Nth Dimensions Scholar.
Nth Dimensions, an educational non-profit, was founded by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Bonnie Simpson Mason with the goal of increasing the number of women and minorities in orthopedic surgery. Only 29 medical students from around the country are accepted into the fellowship per year.
For her experience, Attenasio was paired up with Dr. Laura Tosi, head of bone health department at Children’s National. Attenasio shadowed Dr. Tosi and members of her team as they made their rounds and operated.
Attenasio contributed to Dr. Tosi’s research examining genetic variances—variations in DNA— that were found to influence BMI and looked at their effects on bone health.“I genotyped pediatric and young adult patients to see if there was any correlation between bone health genotypes and bone strength,” she explained. “Basically what we found was that people with these genetic markers had increased muscle volume and muscle strength but had decreased bone parameters— better muscles and less bone.”
“I genotyped pediatric and young adult patients to see if there was any correlation between bone health genotypes and bone strength,” she explained. “Basically what we found was that people with these genetic markers had increased muscle volume and muscle strength but had decreased bone parameters— better muscles and less bone.”Attenasio said her first year at TouroCOM Middletown prepared her for her summer experience.
Attenasio said her first year at TouroCOM Middletown prepared her for her summer experience.
“The first-year curriculum and genetics class helped me to be ready for anything they threw at me,” said Attenasio.
Attenasio presented the research at the National Medical Association Conference in Los Angeles at the end of the summer.
