A recent graduate of the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita has earned the Lawrence E. Lamb Prize for Medical Research, one of the most prestigious prizes awarded by KU School of Medicine.

Grace Falk, M.D., was recognized for establishing an exceptional record of research during her undergraduate medical career and for showing exemplary promise for continued contributions to medical research following graduation.

She has "keen insight into the learning and researching process," as her research over the last few years has been "very impressive," according to letters of support for Falk. She has five peer-reviewed published manuscripts and is first author on four of the manuscripts, including three submitted for publication.

Falk, who graduated with honors, was also first author on two oral presentations along with a poster presentation to the Society of Critical Care Medicine's Annual Critical Care Congress, the Kansas Chapter of the American College of Surgeons and the Kansas Chapter of the American College of Physicians' Annual Scientific Meeting. Additionally, she presented her research at KU School of Medicine-Wichita's annual Research Forum.

Her goal is to be an otolaryngologist, focusing on the ear, nose and throat, as well as the head and neck, while working with medically underserved communities to address health disparities. One of Falk's recently submitted manuscripts analyzed predicted indigence of oropharyngeal cancer and available otolaryngologists in urban and rural regions.

"I cannot think of a better person than Grace Falk to walk alongside ear, nose and throat patients in their pain, and facilitate their recovery and growth," one letter of support stated, adding that "her unwavering dedication to medical research and achieving health equity for minoritized populations makes her the ideal candidate for the 2023 Lawrence E. Lamb Prize for Medical Research."

The Lawrence E. Lamb Prizes recognize exemplary accomplishments in the categories of medical practice, research and teaching, and are awarded to outstanding senior medical students at graduation. Nominations are solicited from KU School of Medicine deans and faculty, and a faculty committee selects the prize recipient in each category based on the evidence of outstanding performance and the assessment of their potential for sustained contributions in the future.

The prizes are made possible through the generous endowed gift of Lawrence E. Lamb, M.D., a 1949 graduate of KU School of Medicine.