UAB Heersink School of Medicine Student Meghna Katta, Cancer Awareness Network Founder and CEO Loretta Herring, and UAB General Surgery Resident Connie Shao, M.D., recently traveled to Washington, D.C., for the 2022 Health Datapalooza and National Health Policy Conference.

Meghna Katta was sponsored by the recently received Alice S. Hersh Student Scholarship; Loretta Herring received the 2022 Patient Scholarship on behalf of AcademyHealth covering registration and traveling costs; Connie Shao, M.D., was sponsored by the receiving the AcademyHealth Best Poster Award in 2021.  

Meghna Katta’s research on the role of trust in telemedicine has been recognized locally and internationally. Her research is funded by an institutional NIH grant “Short-Term Research Experiences Advancing Medical Students.” 

Loretta Herring has led significant local efforts to improve healthcare access among cancer survivors. The Cancer Awareness Network started training telemedicine educators in 2020, doing in-person and online training for people they have recruited, often those personally affected by cancer. Their efforts have improved healthcare access for many patients and has been recognized as a successful and impactful model.

“We had a great time in D.C., learning from and connecting with leaders in health policy,” said Shao. “It has been incredibly rewarding to work with such a passionate community leader and brilliant medical student – it’s wonderful that their initiative and impact here in Birmingham has been recognized on a national platform.”