Some pioneers of science are born in the lab. Others discover their calling in unexpected places. Megan Jacobs, first year MD-PhD candidate, found her passion during a high school mock casualty event. While most of her peers focused on bandages and triage, Megan found herself not only fascinated by stabilizing patients but asking why something happened and how it could be fixed. That curiosity set her on a groundbreaking path: becoming a physician-scientist. 

Megan’s journey took a pivotal turn when she found the UofL Bridges to Baccalaureate (ULBB) program, an NIH-funded initiative for undergraduates interested in biomedical research. During her first summer, she mastered lab techniques, created a personalized development plan and gained career-building skills. By the second summer, Megan was immersed in the Corbitt and Neal lab, investigating the effects of prenatal cigarette smoke exposure and its potential links to metabolic issues later in life.

“I learned how to think critically, troubleshoot when things didn’t go as planned and feel confident interpreting results,” Megan reflected. “Those early experiences still shape how I approach challenges in the lab and the classroom, and they’ve taught me the persistence and curiosity that I’ll carry with me into my future career.”

Still, Megan faced a crossroads: the compassion and problem-solving of medicine or the discovery and innovation of research? With guidance from her mentor, she found her answer in  the MD/PhD dual-degree program – a path that would allow her to bridge both worlds.

“I’m drawn to research because of its potential to improve how we treat and care for children,” Megan shared. “I hope to help develop better therapies while also being the kind of physician who listens and supports families through every step of their care. My goal is to bridge these two worlds by first using what I learn from patients to ask research questions that matter most and then by bringing discoveries from the lab back to the clinic to create real change for future patients and their communities.”

Now in the early stages of her dual-degree training, Megan is already exploring pediatric cancer research in the Beverly and Siskind lab, seeking new uses for existing cancer drugs in an area where funding is limited. It’s the kind of translational research that holds power to directly shape patient outcomes.

“Megan’s path illustrates why physician-scientist training is so vital,” said Maxwell Boakye, associate dean for physician-scientist training. “By combining the compassion of medicine with the discovery of science, students like Megan are uniquely positioned to turn research into real advances in patient care. Our role is to ensure they have the mentorship, support, rigorous training and resources needed to pioneer the next generation of breakthroughs.”

As Megan charts her future, her persistence, curiosity and passion for discovery embody what we look for in pioneers of science. Her story reminds us that innovation begins with a question and grows through mentorship, opportunity and bold determination.

Want to be in the next generation of physician-scientists? Learn more about the UofL Bridges to Baccalaureate program and other research opportunities at the School of Medicine.