Eve Schodowski is a rising junior from Cleveland Ohio pursuing a pre-medical Biology B.S. with a minor in Spanish at Cleveland State University’s College of Sciences and Health Professions. Last summer Eve established a passion for emergency medicine after completing a course at Cuyahoga Community College to earn her license as a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician. After clinical experiences with Cleveland EMS, Eve became an employee for Donald Martens & Sons Ambulance Company where she now serves the greater Cleveland area. Academic awards Eve has received include Cleveland State University’s President’s Award Scholarship, The College of Sciences and Health Professionals Dean’s and President’s List, Phi Mu Outstanding Academic Achievement, and a nomination for the 2017 Organic Chemistry Student of the Year.
Through the NSF REU Program at UMBC Eve will begin her first research experience this summer by working in a collaborative biomedical engineering lab with Dr. Erin Lavik and Dr. Jennie Leach. The primary objective of this research is to engineer hemostatic nanoparticles that closely resemble the mechanical properties of platelets. More specifically polyrotaxanes, which have yet to be applied as a biomaterial, are being investigated for application as a hemostatic particle due to their yet unprecedented range of platelet like properties such as high elasticity, strength, and capacity for self-healing. These particles would then be delivered intravenously to quickly treat widespread, uncontrolled, internal hemorrhages. Fatal severe blood loss can occur in 5-10 minutes and is associated with over 30% of civilian deaths before the patient reaches the hospital, and 50% of mortalities in military settings. Surprisingly, as unfavorable as these statistics seem, they have not changed in almost 40 years. Consequently the long-term success of this project has the potential to greatly improve patient survival, outcomes, and quality of life.
On a lighter note, in her free time Eve enjoys snowboarding, skateboarding, and playing guitar and piano. Additionally, she is a regular volunteer at MetroHealth’s Emergency Department where she assists patients, observes emergency trauma procedures, and practices her Spanish speaking and translating abilities. Eve is a member of the MetroHelath Pipeline Program, Cleveland State’s American Medical Student Association, and Phi Mu Fraternity, Rho Lambda Chapter.