Kayla Switalla Honored with ASBrS Outstanding Scientific Presentation Award

Medical student, Kayla Switalla, was recently honored with The American Society of Breast Surgeons’ Outstanding Scientific Presentation Award at their 25th Annual Meeting for her research on "The Role of Clipping the Lymph Node in Clinically Node Positive Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: Impact on Axillary Surgery in the ISPY-2 Clinical Trial.” This award is presented to the most outstanding oral presentation by a medical student, resident, or fellow during the conference. Kayla conducted this research under the mentorship of Rita Mukhtar, MD, an associate professor at UCSF in the Division of Surgical Oncology. 

Kayla is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Minnesota who received a year-long UCSF Lobular Breast Cancer Research Program Fellowship (2023-2024) to conduct research with Dr. Mukhtar. Kayla is interested in general surgery and plans to continue her work in residency as an academic scientist. Dr. Mukhtar’s steadfast commitment to her mentees’ development and her ongoing support of their research projects underscore her role as an exemplary mentor. Congrats to all!