COSAM News Articles 2018 August COSAM Alumnus Begins Medical School and Offers Advice for Students

COSAM Alumnus Begins Medical School and Offers Advice for Students

Published: 08/14/2018

By: Tessa Battles

Wesley Curles, a Montgomery native and graduate of Auburn University’s Honors College, has been awarded an NCAA postgraduate scholarship. Wesley was chosen as captain of the 2016 and 2017 Division I Track and Field Team, selected for several service and achievement awards, and completed research investigating the link between Alzheimer’s disease and Type 2 diabetes during his time at Auburn University. He was able to do all of this while maintaining a 3.96 grade point average and pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences.  Curles is College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) Dean's Medalist and a recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. He is now attending medical school at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

During his time at Auburn, he particularly enjoyed Biochemistry II with Dr. Holly Ellis and Biomedical Physiology with Dr. Raymond Henry. He liked thinking through the biological processes in these classes and appreciated that they were tailored towards pre-med majors. Wesley also completed research with Dr. Ramesh Jeganathan in the nutrition department, studying Alzheimer’s disease and Type 2 diabetes. He states, “Dr. Jeganathan and his graduate students made a concerted effort to help me understand the reasoning behind my work. Instead of assigning me tasks that I didn’t understand, they helped me relate my role to the overall mission of the lab.”

As a COSAM student completing medical research and competing in numerous track and field events, Curles has an interesting perspective. He encourages incoming students to be bold in the pursuit of their goals and to ask someone for help or advice if they need it. Wesley says that if you are interested in shadowing or entering a research program, you should ask. He also encourages students to realize that professors and faculty of Auburn and COSAM in particular are ready and willing to help. The resources that Auburn has should be utilized especially if planning on attending medical school, or graduate school.

 

 

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