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Medical student one of 14 nationwide to receive Sarnoff fellowship

Ryan Coute, OMS III, heads to the University of Michigan to conduct cardiovascular research on ways to optimize cardiac arrest treatment.

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In general, less than 25% of adults who suffer cardiac arrest while in the hospital survive. As a recipient of the Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation fellowship, Ryan Coute, OMS III, hopes his research will lead to improvements in interventions to help raise that percentage.

Coute is taking a year off from his studies at the Kansas City (Missouri) University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU-COM) and heading to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he will study the effect of early anticoagulation administration during extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for prolonged cardiac arrest.

“My role is to draw blood samples, perform various coagulation tests and analyze the data with the goal of characterizing the coagulopathy present during ECPR,” Coute explains. “Gaining a better understanding of these conditions will help physicians optimize treatment strategies in cardiac arrest patients who fail standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation.”

Ryan Coute, OMS III, runs a test as part of his research.

Coute, who began his fellowship in August, will also complete other projects, including data analysis on cardiac arrests in Michigan. He will present his research findings at the Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation conference in the spring and the American Heart Association conference next fall.

One of only 14 recipients nationwide to earn the fellowship this year, Coute is the second osteopathic medical student to ever receive a Sarnoff fellowship.

“Having another osteopathic medical student in this fellowship is going to help show others that the osteopathic medical profession aims to not only treat patients today but also heal the patients of tomorrow,” says Robert White, PhD, the dean of KCU’s College of Biosciences and Coute’s advisor.

Want to be a researcher?

The Sarnoff fellowship is a stepping stone for Coute, whose dream is to research cardiac arrest while teaching emergency medicine. For other students with research aspirations, Coute shares these tips:

  • If faculty members at your osteopathic medical school conduct research, talk to them and see if you can take part in their study.
  • Many programs throughout the country, such as the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Institutes of Health, offer research opportunities for medical students.
  • Foundations such as the Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation offer summer or year-long research programs.
    • “Above all, you need dedicated time to really immerse yourself to get the most out of the research experience,” Coute adds.

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