About

Alex Schick is a fourth-year medical student and aspiring neurologist at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. Alex is passionate about medical education, advocacy, and clinical research, with a strong record of leadership, scholarship, and mentorship.

Bio

Alex Schick of Buffalo, N.Y. attended Dartmouth College and the University at Buffalo (UB), where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with Highest Honors and Highest Distinction. At UB, Alex was a member of the Psychology Honors Program, Phi Beta Kappa, Tau Sigma Honor Society, the Undergraduate Psychology Association, and Psi Chi, where she served on the executive board. She worked as an undergraduate researcher and completed her honors thesis, “Elucidating the Critical Site of Angiotensin II Action in Enhanced Appetition” in Dr. Derek Daniels’ laboratory for the study of ingestive behavior, earning the Feldman-Cohen Award for the most outstanding psychology Honors Thesis and oral defense and the Dean's Outstanding Senior Award for the highest level of academic achievement and involvement in the Department of Psychology and the field of psychological science.

Following graduation, Alex was awarded a National Institutes of Health Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA), working in Dr. Kevin Hall's laboratory at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). She has presented at various national and international conferences including The Obesity Society’s Obesity Week, Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB), American Society for Nutrition, Society for Neuroscience (SfN) as well as at internal NIH conferences (NIDDK Scientific Conference, NIH Postbaccalaureate Poster Day). Beyond her research, Alex was also involved in leadership roles through the NIDDK Fellows Advisory Board. She served as Editor in Chief of NIDDK’s Informer Magazine, a committee member on the FAB Advertising Committee which helped organize the annual scientific conference, and a founding member of the NIDDK Fellows Wellness Committee.

As a medical student at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Alex has cultivated a diverse background in leadership, research, and advocacy. She has served as Vice-President of both the Interclass Senate and her Class Council and is a member of the Medical Education Pathway, where she has delivered lectures, facilitated clinical skills sessions, and mentored students, deepening her passion for teaching and trainee development. She is also the Founder and Director of the Meliora Educational Pathway Program (MEPP), a weekly after-school teaching and mentorship initiative for underrepresented Rochester high school students interested in science and medicine, for which she was recognized with the 2025 University of Rochester Presidential Award for Inclusive Excellence – Changemaker Award. She also founded and serves as Director of ACT FAST (Action in Crisis Training for First Aid and Safety Techniques), training Rochester high school students in CPR/AED and Narcan use, empowering them to respond to life-threatening emergencies. Her proposal was awarded an $18,000 Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Student Service Leadership Project Grant, and the program has reached over 100 students in its first year.

Alex's leadership extends nationally through the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA), where she has served as President of the URSMD Chapter, Region 2 Director, and now as Philanthropy/Fundraising Chair on the AMWA National Executive Board. For her commitment to mentorship, advocacy, and community-building, she was awarded the Anne C. Carter Student Leadership Award, AMWA's highest honor for medical students.

Her research interests focus on neurologic conditions and healthcare outcomes in underserved populations, which have led to several first-author publications and presentations, poster awards, and grants.

Outside of medicine, Alex enjoys reading, cheering for the Buffalo Bills, enjoying the outdoors, exploring local coffee shops, and spending time with her cat, Fern.

Awards/Honors

University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry Class of 2029 White Coat Student Speaker (2025)

Nominated and chosen from over 400 medical students across all class years to deliver the student address at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry’s Class of 2029 White Coat Ceremony. Selected by a committee of faculty and leadership for exemplifying the values, professionalism, and character the school seeks to cultivate in its students

National American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) Anne C. Carter Student Leadership Award (2025)

Awarded the prestigious Anne C. Carter Student Leadership Award by the National American Medical Women’s Association, the highest award given each year for outstanding student leadership demonstrating “exceptional leadership skills through vision, inspiration, innovation, and coordination of local projects that further the mission of AMWA by improving women’s health and/or supporting women in medicine."

University of Rochester Presidential Award for Inclusive Excellence – Changemaker Award (2025)

Honored as co-founder of MEPP for cultivating transformative change at the University of Rochester, selected from nominees across all undergraduate and graduate students at the University

New York State Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) Grant (2025-2030)

Grant for MEPP teaching program was awarded increased funding through 2030, allowing for program expansion.

University of Rochester Dean's Circle Dinner Student Speaker (2024)

Selected from 400+ students to speak alongside URMC CEO and Dean at prestigious Dean’s Circle Dinner.

Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Student Service Leadership Project Grant (2024)

My proposal "Action in Crisis Training for First Aid and Safety Techniques (ACT FAST)" was awarded a combined $18,000 in funding over 2 years from both the National Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AOA) and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

AMWA Inagual Women in Medicine Conference Top Poster Award (2024)

Awarded top poster for research on the MEPP pilot mentorship program to increase diversity and representation in medicine

American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) National Medical Education Scholarship (2024)

Selected as one of 2 recipients nationally for the AMWA Medical Education Scholarship Award, a $500 scholarship awarded based on the embodiment of the goals of AMWA, recognizing the contributions and accomplishments of outstanding women in medicine.

URSMD Annual Medical Student Symposium - Top Poster Award (2023)

Selected as top poster in the clinical research category out of 92 medical student presentations

SKAWA Foundation Summer Research Fellow (2023)

Selected as a recipient of the SKAWA Foundation endowed scholarship for top scoring summer research proposal out of ~120 submissions

NIDDK Scientific Conference Best Poster Presentation Award and Travel Grant (2021)

Recipient of a $1,000 travel grant for top scoring poster presentation at the 16th Annual NIDDK Scientific Conference out of 100 research fellow presenters (postbacs and postdocs).

NIDDK Director's Award (2020)

Honored with the NIDDK Director's Award, granted to the 2020 Fellows Advisory Board members for demonstrated leadership, achievement, and commitment to federal service as evidenced by various committee initiatives.

NIH Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (2019)

Selected as a recipient of a two-year postbaccalaureate intramural research training award, a selective full-time paid research position at the National Institutes of Health.

College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Outstanding Senior Award (2019)

Selected by faculty and the Dean of the College as the top graduating senior in the Psychology department, out of nearly 1000 graduating students, for “highest level of academic achievement and involvement in the Department of Psychology and the field of psychological science.”

Marvin Feldman and Walter Cohen Award (2019)

Recipient of the 2019 Feldman-Cohen Award, the highest award granted by the department for research, awarded to the student in the Psychology Honors Program who is judged by the examination committee, faculty advisor, and Director of the Honors Program to have the most outstanding psychology Honors Thesis and oral defense in a given year.