From Herd to Hoyas

There are two things drawing Marshall student Laney Fletcher toward the field of medicine.

“Medicine is like an ongoing puzzle that requires continuous learning,” said the Elkins, West Virginia, native who is studying biological sciences at Marshall. “I find learning extremely rewarding, but what really pulls me to medicine is the opportunity to support patients during hardship. The ability to provide answers to unknown questions and positively impact someone’s life is a top priority of mine.”

Laney plans to attend medical school and become a physician, and this summer, she earned a tremendous opportunity along that journey. She was one of 10 students selected from a pool of 760, to participate in the CURE-M (Cancer Undergraduate Research Experience and Mentorship) internship program at Georgetown University.

The 10-week summer internship is sponsored by the American Cancer Society Center for Innovation in Cancer Research Training and Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. It allowed Laney to dive into full-time biomedical research on the Georgetown campus in Washington, D.C. After the 10 weeks, the CURE-M program provides a full year of continued mentorship, career development and scientific seminars through the 2026-2027 academic year.

Laney said she knew how competitive the internship was but decided to apply anyway because it aligned so well with her goals.

“I worked one-on-one with a primary investigator in his lab. I performed multiple lab processes that coincided with my project,” she said.

“My research project focused on testing a new medication for breast cancer survivors. In the lab, patient cells are treated, and healing is observed through a computer-based program. We hope to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and allow patients to find normalcy again.”

In the Georgetown lab, “We use multiple cell lines and patient samples in our experiments. It helped shape me into a better pre-medical student because I’ve learned how to think critically, troubleshoot problems, address a superior and turn a research question into a study,” Laney said. “Every skill will be beneficial in medical school.”

She expects to graduate with her undergraduate degree in 2028 and is glad she chose Marshall.

“Marshall offered an environment unlike any other,” she said. “It felt like a place I could call home and pursue my goals while growing independently. My father attending Marshall is what drew me here initially, but the beautiful campus and academic resource availability are what solidified my decision.

In her application for the Georgetown internship, Fletcher wrote: “…I am developing the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve my long-term goal of pursuing a Doctorate in Medicine. As I have become more aware of opportunities available for undergraduate students, cancer research has consistently stood out to me among the rest.

“The CURE-M program would be an ideal way for me to obtain research training and allow me to delve into the world of oncology… This program’s emphasis on supporting students with minimal exposure is exactly what I have been searching for and aligns perfectly with my background… It would provide me with a meaningful research experience…and mentors in a scientific research environment.”

That is exactly what the internship provided, Laney said.

“Throughout my journey, my support has come from peers sharing insights and offering guidance. This has been the most helpful and what I am most grateful for,” she said. “I really enjoyed this experience, and I encourage others to step out of their comfort zones and try new things.”