Treating What We Don't Yet Understand
Jenny Kim Studies Chronic Pain and Neuroinflammation While Earning Her Medical Degree at TouroCOM Montana
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Jenny Kim, a third-year medical student at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) Montana, is forging a path in both medicine and research. Originally from Dublin, California, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience from Boston University before working as a clinical research assistant at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Her experiences fueled her passion for understanding chronic pain and neuroinflammation.
Now enrolled in Touro’s Medical Science Training Program (MSTP), a collaboration between Touro University and the Weissman Hood Institute at Touro, Kim balances medical school with hands-on biomedical research. Her upcoming research will focus on “Elucidating the Inflammatory Mechanisms behind Central Sensitization and Chronic Pain,” inspired by her academic interests and personal experiences.
“Working at the Weissman Hood Institute has been an eye-opening experience,” Kim says. “Collaborating with diverse researchers and engaging in both bench and clinical research has broadened my understanding of chronic pain. This program has highlighted the importance of integrating clinical insights with laboratory discoveries.”
“The MSTP at TouroCOM Montana deepens students’ understanding of medical research and equips them with the skills necessary to bridge the gap between laboratory findings and clinical applications,” says Dr. Tiffany Hensley-McBain, associate dean of research at TouroCOM Montana and principal investigator at Weissman Hood Institute. “What is particularly unique about this program is that students are able to participate in world-class bench research while also understanding the application and translation of research in a rural setting.”
In addition to her chronic pain research, Kim works in Dr. Hensley-McBain’s lab, where she assists with research investigating the mechanisms of increased inflammation in age and disease to identify potential therapies for these diseases. Her work aligns with MSTP’s goal of equipping future physicians with strong research skills to improve patient care.
“The MSTP has given me invaluable exposure to translational research,” she says. “Being able to apply scientific concepts to real-world medical challenges is an incredible opportunity.”
Kim’s passion for neuroscience stems from her family’s experiences. Her grandfather, who grew up in rural South Korea, was paralyzed on one side of his body due to childhood meningitis. He later underwent one of the region’s earliest brain surgeries. Her family’s journey from South Korea to Canada, and eventually the U.S., reinforced her appreciation for medicine and research, particularly in underserved communities.
Looking ahead, Kim hopes to match into neurology and continue studying chronic pain. She values TouroCOM Montana’s mission of improving healthcare in rural communities and sees research as a crucial component of addressing health disparities.
“Chronic pain is incredibly prevalent, yet it’s not well understood,” she says. “There’s so much room for growth in understanding why some people develop persistent pain while others don’t. By combining research and medicine, I hope to contribute to better treatments and outcomes for those who suffer.
