2018 Medical Marvels Research Competition A research competition for students in grades 9 and 10 Sponsored by the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and the Center for Workforce Readiness
The Northwell Health Medical Marvels Competition (Medical Marvels), established in 2013 by the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and the Center for Workforce Readiness, encourages science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) career pathways for 9th and 10th grade high school students. Medical Marvel's goal is to raise awareness of the multidisciplinary nature of STEM careers for students at all levels of academic prowess and interest, encourage creative thinking, and assist school districts and industry leaders in developing assets and improving the economic future of students.
A look back In 2017, more than 100 students across 28 Long Island school districts participated in the fifth annual Medical Marvels Competition focused on clean water. Winners include: First place, Newfield High School; second place, John F. Kennedy High School (BellmoreMerrick School District); third place, New Hyde Park Memorial High School. In addition, Jericho High School, Elwood - John Glenn High School, and Paul D. Schreiber High School won presentation awards.
Northwell Health is pleased to announce the 2018 Medical Marvels challenge focus: Prescription painkillers Background As recently noted in multiple news sources and with attempts at mitigation through federal and state initiatives, the United States is suffering from an opioid abuse epidemic. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others. These drugs are chemically related to one another and interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and brain. Opioid pain relievers are generally safe when taken for a short time and as prescribed by a doctor, but because they produce euphoria in addition to pain relief, they are often misused (taken in a different way or in a larger quantity than prescribed, or taken without a doctor’s prescription). Regular use–even as prescribed by a doctor–can lead to dependence. When misused, opioid pain relievers can lead to overdose incidents and deaths. Drug addiction leads to compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the addicted person and his/her family,
friends and acquaintances. Over a period of time, changes in the brain caused by repeated drug use affect a person's self-control and ability to make sound decisions. As a result, the addicted person will continue to experience intense impulses to take more drugs–and the cycle continues. You can find more information about opioid use here. Approximately 20 percent (48 million people) in the U.S. (age 12 and older) have taken prescription drugs for nonmedical purposes at some point during their lifetime. The prevalence of abuse increases as individuals age, with the largest increases in abuse occurring with the use of “legal” or prescribed narcotics. Early intervention and knowledge may help stem this trend. Long Island, in particular, is suffering from an increase in deaths due to the intentional and sometimes unintentional abuse of fentanyl. A New York Times article from December 28, 2016 highlighted this particular problem for Long Island communities, noting that more than 450 people died from an opioid overdose on Long Island in 2016 with half of those deaths attributable to fentanyl.
Long Island students in grades 9 and 10 are invited to participate in the 2018 Medical Marvels Competition, which consists of the following components: Hypothetical challenge You work for the New York State Department of Health (DOH), where drug addiction is high. For weeks now, you see on the news how many people have been dying from drug addiction in your area. A lot of young people in their 20’s and 30’s have resorted to drugs due to the misuse of opioids for chronic pain. The Councilman comes to your office to look for a way to end this crisis, as the number of deaths has been increasing day by day. 1. How will you and your team come up with a new solution to solve the opioid addiction crisis? 2. How will you and your team be able to relay a message to those affected by this epidemic so that they can seek help/medical treatment? 3. H ow will you and your team ensure that another epidemic like this won’t break out again?
Eligibility and requirements To ensure participants receive consideration in the competition, please review the following eligibility and participation requirements: Evaluation and awards eligibility School eligibility - Any New York State accredited educational institution located in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, New York City, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Westchester Counties is eligible to participate. Due to the expansion of the program, there will be a limited number of teams allowed to participate. The teams will be selected based on a first come first serve basis. A maximum of one team per institution will be accepted for awards and judging.
Student eligibility - Each team must have a minimum of three and maximum of six students. All student team members must be in 9th or 10th grade and actively enrolled in the educational institution designated on the submission. Number of teams - only one team per school can submit a proposal for judging, awards, and attendance at the Medical Marvels Competition in March 2018. If you have multiple teams wishing to participate, we encourage schools to host an internal competition in order to select one team to represent the school. The representing team does not need to be chosen until the final proposal is submitted on February 9th, 2018. Participation requirements Please submit your school’s form of intent by November 9, 2017. The information requested in the form of intent includes: –– School information –– Advisor and science chairperson contact information –– Notation if you are planning on having an internal competition This form of intent is not binding. If you have any questions, please email medicalmarvels@northwell.edu.
Evaluation and awards Evaluation process
Awards
The team representing your school is required to submit the completed proposal to medicalmarvels@ northwell.edu by February 9th, 2018. All proposals will undergo an evaluation and judging process, which will be conducted by a panel of scientists, clinicians and healthcare administrators using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant scoring criteria. Your school's team will additionally have the opportunity to present their completed proposal at the Medical Marvels Competition on March 9, 2018. Presentations and workshops will be held from 8am to 1pm. First, second, third, and presentation winners will be announced at the conclusion of the event. Student teams will bring their display boards and present to judges, researchers, and their fellow peers during the poster presentation.
–– The winning team will receive an award in the amount of $1,800. –– The second place team will receive an award in the amount of $1,000. –– The third place team will receive an award in the amount of $500. –– Presentation winners will receive an award in the amount of $300. Key dates –– November 9, 2017: Intent to participate due –– November 14, 2017: Detailed guidelines sent to schools –– November 15, 2017 at 4pm: Webinar for mentors/advisors –– December 12, 2017: Submission of student teams and contact information –– February 9, 2018 at 4pm: Written proposals due to medicalmarvels@northwell.edu. –– March 9, 2018 from 8am-1pm: Student presentations, workshops and awards ceremony from 8am to 1pm.
Follow this link to register your team.
Best of luck to all student teams!
For questions about the 2018 Medical Marvels Competition, please email medicalmarvels@northwell.edu or contact Kathryn Graves, Coordinator of Workforce Readiness, at (516) 472-6026.
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