Med Student From Burr Ridge Named Finalist for Prestigious Fulbright Scholarship

Drexel University student Vanessa Prokuski was named a finalist for the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship for study and research abroad in 2012-13. Prokuski is a BS/MD student .

Prokuski is looking to research experimental surgical methods of spina bifida treatment in Spain through affiliation with Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca.

"Spina Bifida is a common and devastating birth defect. I will join the research team at Vall D'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona, Spain to help develop new surgical techniques to treat this condition. I will participate in research three days a week, from September 2012 to May 2013. On one day a week I will engage pediatric inpatients in art outreach, and one day a week will be used for language study and cultural activities," said Prokuski in a media announcement released by the university Monday.

After a lengthy process of drafting a proposal, selecting a host county and fine-tuning the research topic, Prokuski was chosen as finalist from national screening committees and has been passed to Spain committees for final selection. The grants will be awarded on an individual basis beginning in April.

"Until about a decade ago, the attitude of many of even Drexel's best students towards prestigious fellowships was that such fellowships were for the students in the Ivy League or the small great liberal arts colleges," said Dave Jones, dean of Drexel's Pennoni Honors College. "That attitude is history. Drexel students know they can be competitive with anyone."

Prokuski graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she studied Anthropology and English. According to an article in Education Insider last spring, she chose the Drexel University medical school program, because the students seemed happy there, and the school has a strong medical humanities program.

Prokuski said, during the same interview, that she decided to enter the field of medicine, because she found the experience of watching autopsies "enthralling" during an internship at the coroner's office. You can read the full Education Insider article here.

The Fulbright program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching opportunities. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for U.S. graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study abroad for one academic year.

Founded in 1891 in Philadelphia, Drexel is the nation's 14th largest private university and is ranked in the category of Best National Universities in "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report. Drexel is widely recognized for its focus on experiential learning through its co-operative education program, technology and use-inspired research.

*Information on Prokuski's being named a finalist for a Fulbright scholarship was provided by Drexel University in a media announcement.