Student Still In Med School Making Difference In Fight Against Stroke

DETROIT (WWJ) She's not even out of medical school yet, but one Metro Detroit college student is researching how to identify people at risk for stroke.

WWJ Health Reporter Sean Lee says Rachel Hanke is one of thousands of researchers nationwide making a difference in the fight against stroke.

But unlike most of them, Hanke isn't even out of med school yet.

"It's exciting, I never would have thought I would be able to do research," Hanke said. "I knew I wanted to do some, it's really be important to advance our scientific knowledge."

The second-year student at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine just earned a grant for her work to identify patients at risk for stroke.

Her research focuses on looking for biological markers in the blood and plaque samples of patients with plaque buildup that impairs blood flow to the brain, which causes a stroke.

Hanke's findings could lead to the development of a simple blood test to help identify high-risk patients before stroke happens.

"To be able to dive in this early is incredible," she said.

School administrators says it's very uncommon for a second-year medical student to win a grant like Rachel did.

CLICK HERE for more information about the program.