Announcing Inaugural Recipients of the Advanced Medical Student Research Fellowship

May 22, 2025

The Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) is pleased to announce medical students Jacob Greene and Rebecca Tsai as the inaugural recipients of FAER’s Advanced Medical Student Research Fellowship (AMSRF). This newly introduced program expands on FAER’s Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship (MSARF) Program to offer past student participants the opportunity to spend up to one year focusing on anesthesiology research and receiving additional training under the guidance of a dedicated mentor. The program culminates in participants presenting their research at the FAER/eSAS: A Day for New Researchers event held annually at ANESTHESIOLOGY^®.

Both Mr. Greene and Ms. Tsai took part in the MSARF Program in 2023, hosted by the Stanford University School of Medicine and University of Michigan Medical Center, respectively. Ms. Tsai currently serves as President of the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ (ASA) Medical Student Component. 

“I’m thrilled to see the launch of FAER’s new Advanced Medical Student Research Fellowship (AMSRF) and for Jacob and Rebecca to be selected as its first awardees. I’ve seen time and time again how early exposure to research can impact career decisions and trajectories as a physician-investigator, especially when given the opportunity to learn from the many committed faculty mentors who support FAER. The eight-week MSARF program was already a superb offering in that regard, and the AMSRF will strengthen FAER’s support for anesthesiology’s aspiring scientists even further, giving students more time to immerse themselves in the field and receive thoughtful guidance and training from their mentor.

“I look forward to hearing of Jacob and Rebecca’s continued success during their time with the AMSRF, and seeing their work presented at FAER/eSAS: A Day for New Researchers at ANESTHESIOLOGY. I would also like to thank the host institutions of UCSF and the University of Michigan, and their respective faculty mentors, Drs. Pan and Bicket, for giving their time and expertise to these rising physician-investigators.”
- Chad M. Brummett, MD, Chair of the Academic Pathways Committee

FAER joins Dr. Brummett in his enthusiasm for this program and for Mr. Greene and Ms. Tsai’s selection as its inaugural participants.

To safeguard the future of science in anesthesiology, it is crucial that aspiring physician-investigators are provided with the skills, knowledge, and guidance early in their career to thrive in the long term. The AMSRF Program will do just that, building on the MSARF Program by extending participants’ immersion in the world of anesthesiology research and providing them with further training in scientific methods and research techniques, all under the tutelage of an experienced mentor.

Mr. Greene will complete his Advanced Fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco under the guidance of his mentor Jonathan Pan, PhD, MD, a 2014 Mentored Research Training Grant (MRTG) recipient. Mr. Greene’s project is titled “Elucidating the Pathway through which Dexmedetomidine Exerts Neuroprotective Effects in the Setting of Spinal Cord Injury.”

Ms. Tsai will complete her Advanced Fellowship at the University of Michigan Medical Center under the guidance of her mentor Mark Bicket, MD, PhD, a 2017 MRTG recipient. Ms. Tsai’s project is titled “Understanding Perioperative Care Gaps and Opportunities for Patients with Preoperative Opioid Exposure.”

“In the summer of 2023, I completed FAER's MSARF Summer Program. The day-to-day of carrying out my research project at Stanford University while learning about the intricacies of OR anesthesia was both extremely educational and incredibly fun. I was thrilled to learn about the AMSRF Program. This program will support my investigation into dexmedetomidine's ability to improve functional outcomes in the setting of spinal cord injury - a project I have been working on part-time throughout my time at UCSF School of Medicine. Now, I will be able to devote myself to this project full-time during my final year of medical school. I am extremely grateful to FAER for this opportunity to learn, grow, and enjoy the process of anesthesiology research.”
- Jacob Greene, Inaugural Advanced Medical Student Research Fellow

“I’m incredibly honored and excited to receive the Advanced Medical Student Research Fellowship! My 2023 MSARF experience was transformative. Under Dr. Mark Bicket's mentorship, I harnessed large data sets to improve the understanding of opioid-related surgical outcomes, leading to my first ASA presentation and the opportunity to step into ASA leadership roles! This additional year at the University of Michigan through FAER will uniquely advance my training and is the perfect next step in becoming a physician-investigator dedicated to excellent patient-centered care.”
- Rebecca Nika Tsai, Inaugural Advanced Medical Student Research Fellow

Please join FAER in congratulating Mr. Greene and Ms. Tsai on their selection. We would also like to join Dr. Brummett in thanking Drs. Pan and Bicket for mentoring anesthesiology’s next generation of physician-investigators, and their respective departments at UCSF and the University of Michigan for taking part in this program. Opportunities like the MSARF and AMSRF Programs would not be possible without seasoned researchers like Drs. Pan and Bicket generously contributing their time and expertise as mentors, and departments like those at UCSF and the University of Michigan offering their support.

For students interested in pursuing the Advanced Medical Student Research Fellowship, note that prior participation in the Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship (MSARF) Program is required. While applications for the 2025 MSARF Program have closed, application dates for the 2026 MSARF Program are included below, including application dates for established physician-investigators interested in hosting a student for the program. For more information on the MSARF Program, visit FAER’s dedicated webpage here.

2026 MSARF Summer Program Host Applications Open: September 15 – October 31, 2025

2026 MSARF Summer Program Student Applications Open: December 15, 2025 – January 31, 2026

THE FOUNDATION FOR ANESTHESIA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (FAER)
FAER is a related foundation of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). For over 35 years, FAER has been dedicated to developing the next generation of physician-investigators in anesthesiology. Charitable contributions and support to FAER help fuel the future of anesthesiology through scientific discovery. Funding priorities include: Research, Education, and Training. At the time of this article's publication, FAER has awarded more than $59 million in research grants and programs since 1986. To donate to FAER, visit FAER.org/donate.